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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be irked that teacher wouldn’t open 6-year-old’s water bottle at school?

229 replies

Tabletoppp · 09/09/2020 18:47

Just that really. 6-year-old came home very thirsty and said he has a headache. I took his water bottle out his bag and said, “oh you didn’t drink anything?”

He said he couldn’t get the cap off (It wasn’t on that tight, but oh well!), and that he asked his his teacher to help and she said no, she can’t touch his water bottle because of Covid.

So all day he drank no water.

Aibu that she should have helped him and then just washed her hands?!

OP posts:
nosswith · 09/09/2020 19:00

I would not have opened it with my hands. Perhaps if I could have had a piece of paper or unused cloth between hands and bottle, but not otherwise.

guineapig1 · 09/09/2020 19:01

I would be equally unimpressed OP! As pps have said she could have sanitised, opened bottle and resanitised. The “rules” have overtaken the ability of some people to apply common sense and critical thinking.

Original poster
Tabletoppp · 09/09/2020 19:02

This is the water bottle he always uses when we’re out. He opens it himself every single time. I don’t know why he couldn’t today (I can’t remember screwing it particularly tight but I must have!). In fact, he usually fills it up and puts it in his bag himself.

I was skeptical, so I made him do a role play - me playing him and him playing the teacher. Apparently she said “we can’t touch each other’s things, sorry”. He didn’t tell her he was asking because he was struggling, and he didn’t ask anyone else.

Can’t decide whether or not to mention it to her. Maybe a bit pointless now?

But anyway, I will send him with one of those flip straw ones tomorrow.

OP posts:
AuntyPasta · 09/09/2020 19:02

If it happened like that then she was being unreasonable but I’d imagine it was something that got lost in translation unless this teacher has a history of being awkward. For example, maybe she said to the class, “You have to be in charge of opening, refilling and closing your own water bottles because of the virus,” rather than your DS specifically asking if she would open his bottle because he couldn’t get it open.

AuntyPasta · 09/09/2020 19:04

X posts. Just one of those things.

SprogletsMum · 09/09/2020 19:04

@nosswith why? If your hands are washed before and after surely there is no risk at all? Not being arsey just wondering if there's something I'm missing.

Polnm · 09/09/2020 19:05

Opening 30 and sanitising between each one?

Fizzingsherbert · 09/09/2020 19:07

I work in year one and opened numerous water bottles today so the children could refill them. I simply washed my hands each time.

BanditsBum · 09/09/2020 19:07

YANBU

People seem to have forgotten that a virus can be washed off of hands and seem to think that it will leap off of things like water bottles and attack them.

HeyBlaby · 09/09/2020 19:07

'Opening 30 and sanitising between each one?'

It wasn't 30 though, was it.

Original poster
Tabletoppp · 09/09/2020 19:08

I barely know his teacher - he’s had her less than a week. She seemed nice from the very brief sightings I got!

I probably get especially irked about minor school stuff for him because, unlike his siblings, he doesn’t really like school and he’s very shy.

OP posts:
marmitegirl01 · 09/09/2020 19:08

And at another school a parent kicks off because staff have touched something belonging to a child

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 09/09/2020 19:09

Even if it was the case that she couldn't help him open the bottle, why couldn't she just have given him a cup with water in. Our school have the plastic cups, every kid writes their name on one and uses it before and after lunch if they need a drink that's not from their lunch box.

lotsolove · 09/09/2020 19:10

If she can't figure out hand washing before and after touching the bottle then I don't have high hopes for her tbh.

mrsnorrismeow · 09/09/2020 19:12

What an absolute dick.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 09/09/2020 19:13

It's a really tricky one, some parents would kick off because the teacher touched their childs things.

On balance I don't think I would mention it, but go with the simpler water bottle tomorrow.

Original poster
Tabletoppp · 09/09/2020 19:13

Yes I was thinking she could have done that! I know they can’t use the cups anymore, but there are (in normal times) cups for kids to help themselves to water through the day. It’s tricky. I don’t know! Glad to know I’m not alone in feeling quite Hmm that she wouldn’t open it!

He’s young in his class (August birthday), so maybe his teacher expects them to all be very grown up in year 2!

OP posts:
lyralalala · 09/09/2020 19:15

I'd be annoyed at that. If they're going to be that picky then they should have rung you to say he couldn't open it. Did he have another drink to have at lunchtime?

LikeaSnowflake · 09/09/2020 19:15

I am teacher - Primary. If I have to give things to the children or touch their things, I wash/sanitise my hands, do it and then repeat hand washing/sanitising.

I am surprised by the lack of common sense approach here. The needs of the children need to be considered and the risk here seems minimal. I may have ‘narrated’ what I was I was doing to make it clear it is not something they should be doing (touching each other things) but it was unavoidable and carried out safely. Alternatively, we also have disposable gloves at my school in our classroom as an option too.

HandfulofDust · 09/09/2020 19:16

As a kid we weren’t even allowed a drink at school other then lunch time, and yet somehow we all survived. One day isn’t going to kill him/her.

I bet you're remembering incorrectly. Or if not your school was unusual. Not drinking all day is very detrimental to the health. Imagine being at work and not being allowed a drink of water. I do think she could have opened his water bottle for him. My son drank his on the way in the other day (I didn't realise the place they normally fill their water isn't available any more). His teacher filled it up for him.

twilightermummy · 09/09/2020 19:17

I’d be absolutely livid.
My 6 year old’s teacher re-plaited one of her bunches for her yesterday.
I teach kids all day long and would never be so cruel.
I don’t know why but this has really annoyed me!!

Aragog · 09/09/2020 19:17

It seems odd that she wouldn't help and not like most teachers I know, even in this times. If it really is the case it seems that the school, or individual teacher, has been somewhat OTT in their response. She could have sanitised her hands, opened it and sanitised again.

Before going in all guns blazing do check first that there has been no crossed wires or misunderstandings.

ZenZebra · 09/09/2020 19:17

I work in a primary school. The guidance we've been given is to encourage children to have a go at opening their own bottles and packets but to help them if they still can't manage.

Pud2 · 09/09/2020 19:19

I’m a teacher and I would’ve opened it and washed my hands. That’s perfectly reasonable.

SoManyActivities · 09/09/2020 19:20

I work in a school and I haven't thought twice about this kind of stuff?! Can't believe she wouldn't open it for him!

You do need to send him in with a water bottle he can open though. Nothing more frustrating than a water bottle that a kid can't actually drink from, either because they can't open it, or they can't drink from it without tipping it all over themselves!