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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think school staff should make care provision for their dogs?

530 replies

LoveTheirDogs · 07/10/2021 12:02

Our headteacher and business manager have both got dogs in the last six months. Now they're bringing those dogs into school. They're saying that the dogs are 'school dogs' which seems to mean that they're dogs that mostly hang around in school. They've also scheduled a number of 'enrichment activities' for the kids so that they can 'learn how to interact with different species' ie their dogs. AIBU to think this is taking the piss and they should just make provision for their dogs same as any other working person rather than having the whole school have to go to these (non-accredited) 'courses' that clearly cost a fortune and are only being put on so that BM and HT can tick a box that says everything is ok with them bringing their pets to work?

OP posts:
LST · 07/10/2021 15:07

@Comedycook

So do human beings

And adults who work in schools are DBS checked to mitigate risk.

And who rubs dog shit in their eyes?

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

Hence why the risk assessment is so important

I'll say again. They're not going to let the dogs just shit all over the show.
Rosesareyellow · 07/10/2021 15:11

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

This could happen in any wood or park where unfortunately people don’t pick it up.
At school someone presumably would pick it up. I feel sorry for all these children who have parents with such a hysteric attitudes to dogs, and other low risk things in general. Of course there are risks - as with everything in life. You’re child is more likely to get hurt in a traffic accident than by a dog - presumably that doesn’t stop you driving to places Hmm

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:13

@Rosesareyellow

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

This could happen in any wood or park where unfortunately people don’t pick it up.
At school someone presumably would pick it up. I feel sorry for all these children who have parents with such a hysteric attitudes to dogs, and other low risk things in general. Of course there are risks - as with everything in life. You’re child is more likely to get hurt in a traffic accident than by a dog - presumably that doesn’t stop you driving to places Hmm

Schools have risk assessments for when they take children out and are around traffic.

You say they'd "presumably" pick up the dog mess. Well, presumably isn't good enough for a school. You need written rules in place

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:16

This could happen in any wood or park where unfortunately people don’t pick it up

Likewise, a child could pick up a used needle and syringe in a park. However, I'd expect that they wouldn't be lying round in a school playground.

Rosesareyellow · 07/10/2021 15:22

Schools have risk assessments for when they take children out and are around traffic.

Dog shit is now a greater threat to children than cars… I’m learning very interesting things in this thread.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:24

@Rosesareyellow

Schools have risk assessments for when they take children out and are around traffic.

Dog shit is now a greater threat to children than cars… I’m learning very interesting things in this thread.

Well no one said that.
maddening · 07/10/2021 15:25

As someone with a bad allergy to dogs yanbu, if they say no peanuts, kiwis etc then no dogs on that basis.

Dogs are a personal preference, in a shared workspace they should not be included (except guide dogs only -.and then there should be management to ensure that those with a guide dog and those with allergies are accommodated appropriately.)

LST · 07/10/2021 15:28

@Comedycook you are telling me that you think a school may possibly leave dog shit lying around for kids to pick up, fall in etc? Really?

Dobbyafreeelf · 07/10/2021 15:30

I think your being totally ridiculous tbh!
I highly doubt the head teacher is allowing them to roam freely round the school!!!
So long as the kids are not being forced to interact with them then I really don't see an issue.

At my primary school the head routinely used to being her two dogs in and they would snooze the day away in her office.
It was a privilege to be sent to the heads office to see the dogs! That was 25years ago!

My mum teaches at a school where multiple members of staff have dogs. The kids are encouraged to learn about interacting with the dogs safely but never forced to.
Adults who are scared of dogs need to take responsibility for their own fears and either deal with them or establish ways of coping around them.
Kids who are scared of dogs generally are better being regularly exposed to dogs in a controlled environment than being allowed to avoid the issue indefinitely.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:30

[quote LST]@Comedycook you are telling me that you think a school may possibly leave dog shit lying around for kids to pick up, fall in etc? Really? [/quote]
No...I'm saying a plan needs to be in place so that if there is dog mess anywhere in the school or grounds, they have measures in place to deal with it promptly and hygienically...rather than a vague, "presumably someone will pick it up"

LevantHera · 07/10/2021 15:32

I have snakes in my classroom. What I've noticed is that almost every child likes them, whereas many adults are scared of them. I hope that by having been around my snakes, some children are prevented from developing irrational fears of them in the future.

Rosesareyellow · 07/10/2021 15:35

Likewise, a child could pick up a used needle and syringe in a park. However, I'd expect that they wouldn't be lying round in a school playground.

Depends on the type of park you frequent with your children I suppose. If it’s a well known heroin den I would avoid - I don’t need a risk assessment for that, it’s just common sense.
I still don’t understand why there would be all this radioactive shit on the playground. (Honestly if a child touches dog shit by accident 99.99999999% they just wash it off and no one ends up blinded.) If the dog shits it will get picked up - the chances of being blinded by dog shit are probably less than a child being blinded by a pencil in school.
Anyway - plenty of cats shit on my child’s school field… if we write a risk assessment for it do you think they’ll stop??

TirednWorried · 07/10/2021 15:36

So long as the kids are not being forced to interact with them then I really don't see an issue.

I would love to know how posters on here with a fear of spiders/snakes would feel if their DH brought home half a dozen tatrantulas and a few venemous snakes to live in the house with the cheery words 'it's ok darling, i won't force you to interact with them'

Blossomtoes · 07/10/2021 15:41

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

Impossible not to know. At least if you have a fully functional sense of smell. It stinks. And why are they in greater danger of this in school than elsewhere?

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:43

@Blossomtoes

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

Impossible not to know. At least if you have a fully functional sense of smell. It stinks. And why are they in greater danger of this in school than elsewhere?

They're not but schools are held to a higher account. I don't write a risk assessment if I take my child to a museum ..if the school takes my DC to a museum, they do.

Its really quite simple to understand.

Blossomtoes · 07/10/2021 15:45

It’s fucking illogical bollocks is what it is.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:46

@Blossomtoes

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

Impossible not to know. At least if you have a fully functional sense of smell. It stinks. And why are they in greater danger of this in school than elsewhere?

Honestly if a child touches dog shit by accident 99.99999999% they just wash it off and no one ends up blinded

How about children with Sen? Will they understand to do this? What about kids who just haven't noticed? There are all kinds of dangers and things that could go wrong with having a couple of rescue dogs in a school, but some posters struggle to think in an adult way and cannot see beyond "yay, cute dogs". It's pathetic really

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:47

@Blossomtoes

It’s fucking illogical bollocks is what it is.
What is? Schools having risk assessments?
Sloth66 · 07/10/2021 15:49

This is really about senior school staff combining somewhat dishonestly , to present their money saving pet care choices as altruistic actions.

These aren’t therapy dogs, they are staff pets!

2bazookas · 07/10/2021 15:50

@Comedycook

I'd absolutely hate this. My dd hates dogs...she'd be on edge all day knowing one was in the building
Isn't she just the kind of person who could benefit from a well-behaved dog in school?
Blossomtoes · 07/10/2021 15:52

What is? Schools having risk assessments?

You know perfectly well I’m talking about your illogical catastrophising.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:53

Isn't she just the kind of person who could benefit from a well-behaved dog in school

Perhaps a properly trained therapy dog introduced very slowly to her. But a rescue from abroad when I don't know it's background or history? Hell no

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 15:53

@Blossomtoes

What is? Schools having risk assessments?

You know perfectly well I’m talking about your illogical catastrophising.

No I don't know that.

Do you think dogs should be kept in schools and no risk assessment done?

Blossomtoes · 07/10/2021 16:03

Do you think dogs should be kept in schools and no risk assessment done?

No, I think a risk assessment should be done if dogs are present in schools. I don’t think parents who know nothing about/ hate dogs should have any input.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 16:07

@Blossomtoes

Do you think dogs should be kept in schools and no risk assessment done?

No, I think a risk assessment should be done if dogs are present in schools. I don’t think parents who know nothing about/ hate dogs should have any input.

Parents don't write risk assessments do they? Whether parents hate dogs or not is neither here nor there. From an objective point of view, dogs can be dangerous. Like all sorts of other things. Traffic, vehicles, school trips, playground equipment, peanuts, medicine.