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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:
popcornlover · 09/09/2020 21:00

If your son caught covid from the teacher you’d be complaining then too.

Why should the teacher touch the bottle? She’s probably under strict instructions.

Monkeynuts18 · 09/09/2020 21:01

@LouiseNW

OP said:

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.

BatShite · 09/09/2020 21:06

Stuff like this makes me really angry. My sister is a teacher and is raging at the amount of stories there has been like this. On her daughters first day back, hewr water disappeared by first breaktime (still no clue where it went, assume someone else too it but don't know), and apparently was told that its just tough, its against the rules to use a cup and she would just have to go all day without a drink at all. Luckily her friend had a caprisun she had for her dinner along with water, so gave her hers, if not for that friend..a 8 year old would have gone all day without even a sip of a drink? Seems so harsh. But not opening a bottle for a kid is much worse IMO. Humanity appears to be chucked in the loo at the min for 'roolz'

Cissyandflora · 09/09/2020 21:06

The rules are actually to protect your child. And we really need to take responsibility for our own children. Sorry but it’s not always teacher’s fault.

Motormouthvan · 09/09/2020 21:07

I would not be impressed at all. Year 1 is still young to me and teacher should have used common sense - washed hands. Sometimes I can’t open my stainless steel water bottle! Especially with all this hand washing/cream etc.

HandfulofDust · 09/09/2020 21:09

If your son caught covid from the teacher you’d be complaining then too.

If he caught covid off her it probably wouldn't have been from the water bottle. They'll be touching the same banisters and door handles all day. She could hav washed her hands before and after opening the water bottle.

LouiseNW · 09/09/2020 21:09

Monkeynuts18

Why the problem at school then, I wonder?

iskwobel · 09/09/2020 21:09

I would be very surprised if you will get a face to face appointment to complain about this at the moment.
It's a shame that the water bottle was too hard to open on this occasion but it's not neglect or abuse or worthy of a huge complaint.
Also a water bottle that needs to be unscrewed is the most impractical thing you could possibly give a young child as if it gets knocked over all the water spills out every where ( over books or other children or work ) and it will need refilled. If the child puts the lid down on the desk or the carpet or sandpit. the screw part is going to pick up whatever germs or yuk are lying there.
There are loads of reasons why the teacher might not have wanted to help.
Maybe he asked her at a really random time or in the bathroom or while she was with a group. Who knows. Maybe it was just after handwashing or maybe she was going to help but forgot.
The main thing is you weren't there and you can't know but he's really not harmed.
Just get him a more sensible bottle and praise him for being an independent big boy who can manage on his own.

oakleaffy · 09/09/2020 21:09

@Tabletoppp Was it a shop bought bottle of water? if so, they can be really tricky to open, even for me with adult hands.. Especially ''tit top'' bottles..they have quite tough caps to crack off.

Pepperwort · 09/09/2020 21:12

Personally I'd have done it for him and then washed my hands. Tbh social distancing is ridiculous in schools, you can't do the job and social distance. Some people are scared though.

WhatamessIgotinto · 09/09/2020 21:14

@Iamagree please don't tell me you're a teacher if you think this is ok. Someone mentioned shielding upthread. I've been shielding since March and went back to work this week - am I anxious about it? Yep, of course I am, but I'm also taking all precautions I can without making the children feel even more worried than they already do. It wasn't thirty children, it was 1 and this teacher could have easily dealt with this ridiculous issue in a safe and sensible way but chose not to. So yes, a dick.

Chantelli · 09/09/2020 21:14

I simply cannot understand who these people are who think it is remotely appropriate for a child of 6 to go without water.
The teachers got better things to do?
The rules are in place to make sure your kid doesn't get covid?
If an adult with reduced capacity in a care home was refused water by care workers there would be outrage.

Because the victim is a 6 year old boy who is required by law to attend a setting which doesn't meet his basic needs, this is somehow OK?

oakleaffy · 09/09/2020 21:15

[quote mumwon]@OwlBeThere
I very much doubt this
what we had is those (totally unhygienic ) water fountain things for in between & some dc drank from the taps ( goodness knows how we survived) & in primary school until Thatcher robbed dc of milk - we had milk in the morning[/quote]
Yes..Those allegedly had 'bogies' put in them...I heave at the thought... but we also had a cracked teacup in the loo that we filled from the sink taps..no washing between..How did we survive?!

cassgate · 09/09/2020 21:16

I am a TA and we have been told not to touch water bottles unless absolutely necessary. Having said that I have and will continue to help refill water bottles when needed. I refilled 6 today as kids were on the field doing pe. Normally, we have jugs of water in class and I ask the children to open the bottle and I pour in water from the jug. During pe it was easier for me to take the bottles inside and refill for them. I sanitised my hands before taking the bottles and then washed my hands once I had given them back.

cardibach · 09/09/2020 21:17

@HandfulofDust

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.

I bet she’s not. My primary school was a Vitoria building. No water fountains. Drinks only at lunch - glass of water. Bottles or even glasses on desks is a really recent development. 9-12 is 3 hours without a drink, then say 12.30.3.30 another 3. One lunchtime drink wouldn’t do any harm. In this case, the child had a headache and hadn’t had the lunchtime drink, which isn’t good, and I do think the teacher could have solved the issue (I’m a teacher).
LouiseNW · 09/09/2020 21:17

Victim?

iskwobel · 09/09/2020 21:18

@cassgate did you sanitise or wash your hands in between each bottle and bring each bottle out separately? If not that's probably not a fabulous idea.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 09/09/2020 21:23

@Chantelli

I simply cannot understand who these people are who think it is remotely appropriate for a child of 6 to go without water. The teachers got better things to do? The rules are in place to make sure your kid doesn't get covid? If an adult with reduced capacity in a care home was refused water by care workers there would be outrage.

Because the victim is a 6 year old boy who is required by law to attend a setting which doesn't meet his basic needs, this is somehow OK?

This. Children are vulnerable for the simple fact that they are small humans who cannot do many things without assistance.
Chantelli · 09/09/2020 21:23

@cassgate that makes me so happy to hear. Thank you for being lovely to those kids and taking the time to meet their needs and keep yourself and them safe. Wish everyone in school had the same approach Flowers

theresaplaceforus · 09/09/2020 21:40

@Tabletoppp as a teacher this is totally wrong - we have the option of putting Single use gloves on if we want to while helping children with water bottles, she could have asked him to place it on the table do it for him and then washed her hands. Or like for the few children who forget their water bottle we will give them a paper with some water when they get thirsty and send a note home to remind about the bottle.

theresaplaceforus · 09/09/2020 21:40

Paper cup

Pixie2015 · 09/09/2020 21:44

That’s so sad

WhatifIfeellikeacat · 09/09/2020 21:44

OP, you are not being unreasonable. The teachers could have done it using a towel or wearing gloves or just washed hands after that.

year5teacher · 09/09/2020 21:44

YANBU, honestly with the risk of breathing in the same air as 30 10 year olds all day, touching a water bottle is not something I would worry about. She should have just washed her hands after.

lioncitygirl · 09/09/2020 21:44

The teacher sounds absolutely stupid. I would bring it up. It’s negligent and dangerous. What if it was a very hot day? She could have sanitised here hands before and after. Common sense should prevail surely. 🤦🏻‍♀️