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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really pissed off about constantly having to replace stuff?

182 replies

Opalsandemeralds · 16/02/2022 13:10

Black pens. Purple pens. Whiteboard markers. Rulers. Glue. Pencils. I am a teacher.

I’m fucking sick of it (grouchy rant) and while I’m no Boris fan, it’s been like this since I started teaching so it isn’t a political rant, it’s kids being dickheads rant. For some reason it’s really got to me today.

OP posts:
Maryann1975 · 16/02/2022 13:27

Yanbu
I’ve always provided my dc with everything they need for school but I know not everyone does. Eg, when I queried why a Glue stick was only lasting a couple of weeks, it turned out it was being passed around because it was the only one on the table so there was 8 of them using it. School have a blanket ‘we do not provide stationary’ rule, which I don’t blame them for at all. School budgets don’t stretch far enough and Why should teachers be paying for it out of their own money.

I remember once a student said something like "it's only a 10p pen, chill out" and I thought that summed it up
I agree with this. I’m a childminder, the amount of times I have to ask school age dc to stop banging felt tips as it ruins them is ridiculous. The response that I can just buy more infuriates me. But if parents have a high disposable income and don’t mind repeatedly replacing stuff then the children will never learn to be careful with their things. It makes me sad really and is so wasteful.

Theladyinthepinkcoat · 16/02/2022 13:28

Well if it makes you feel any better I work with fuly grown adults and the exact same things happen. Nothing, I repeat nothing, can be left unsecured because otherwise it will wander off. Pens, stationery, post its, biscuits, milk, mugs, cups, cutlery and bowls. Our canteen had to resort to plastic disposable cutlery and a cutler amnesty.

clarrylove · 16/02/2022 13:28

Behaviour point for lack of equipment. At our school students have to buy replacements off the teacher.

Cherrysoup · 16/02/2022 13:28

Yup, swap phone or shoe for pen. Guaranteed you get your stuff back. What sort of school is it? As form tutors, we check equipment every am reg. Kids without get points. If it’s persistent (and we’ve checked that it’s not a PP child or that there’s not some genuine reason for the lack), they get detention.

EducatingArti · 16/02/2022 13:28

How much do you spend on such items. Can you bribe them? ( I know you shouldn't have to) eg if you habitually spend more than £10 a year on such things per class ( yes I know that you shouldn't have to) show them the £10 at the start of the year and explain that you will be using it to buy replacements for unreturned/broken/ misused items.
You will buy biscuits for the last lesson of the year with whatever is left. Keep a running total somewhere with names of offenders if possible. Peer pressure might make them take care?

CraftyGin · 16/02/2022 13:28

I'm sure there isn't really a solution. It's an age-old problem.

I used to go to the pound shop to stock up.

Counting in and out is tedious (and you could get into an argument unless you label all your stuff).

One school I worked in had pencil case checks at form time, and that worked well.

Original poster
Opalsandemeralds · 16/02/2022 13:29

Yep, @CraftyGin Sad

Sometimes it really pisses me off.

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 16/02/2022 13:31

@Opalsandemeralds

Organising something in return for the pen would lead to arguments (they don’t actually care if they have the pen or not!) and more disruption.

‘What? My phone? I’m not giving HER my phone.’
‘I’ll just switch it off.’
‘I’ll just turn it on silent.’
‘I’ve got a calculator.’
‘I ain’t even GOT a phone.’
‘He’s lying! Miss, he’s lying!’

Arghh, that’s stressing me out just thinking about it!

I think maybe you should swap schools. There are schools with respectful students who bring equipment (mostly!)
Original poster
Opalsandemeralds · 16/02/2022 13:32

Well, yes, although most of them tend to be somewhat competitive. Or private!

OP posts:
shouldistop · 16/02/2022 13:34

Could you be honest with the students and point out that the stationary comes from your own wages. Teenagers are naturally very self centred and won't have considered this.

CounsellorTroi · 16/02/2022 13:35

@LolaSmiles

YANBU

I remember once a student said something like "it's only a 10p pen, chill out" and I thought that summed it up. They genuinely couldn't see why them breaking pens or not looking after resources might be a problem. They seemed to have no regard for other people's property or having a duty ro look after equipment for other students to use.

Then it dawned on me. Some adults in life have no concept of responsibility or looking after things unless it's their money. It's hardly surprising that some students also have those views too.

This. When aI was working I controlled the stationery budget. I was amazed how many people regarded things such as usb sticks as a consumable and lost them constantly. I had to keep them in my desk drawer otherwise I’d constantly be reordering them.
HollowTalk · 16/02/2022 13:36

@SuperAsymmetry

We have to provide our kids with their own stuff (y4) and replace when needed, we get sent a message. So YABU for doing it out of it own pocket
She's being unreasonable? Have a think about this. If you're teaching 30 kids and some don't have their own stuff, what is she meant to do?

All she is asking for is that they treat her possessions with respect.

VelvetChairGirl · 16/02/2022 13:38

at my sons school he has his stationary and if he is missing a part of his stationary he gets a detention every day for missing equipment until he replaces it.

this even applied on the 2 occasions a girl took his pens in front of the whole class and broke/chucked them in a bin, and she never gets in trouble no matter how many other students complain (I wonder who's child she is).

I am endlessly in poundland buying pens and rulers

TheFutureIs · 16/02/2022 13:38

Know this feeling. I'm don't buy stuff myself but it still irks me when kids don't respect equipment I've lent out.

Pens - I've trained them to write name on the board and sanction is 15 min detention if they lose/damage/don't return

Glue sticks- I had 4 kids inn detention recently for wilful destruction of multiple glue sticks. I also count in/out

Love/hate how far removed from the realities of working in a secondary school are

C8H10N4O2 · 16/02/2022 13:45

@theqentity

I can guarantee most aren't stealing them on purpose, most are wandering off with them.
Apart from the fact that you presumably don't know the kids concerned, how is it materially different to the OP if they are wandering off with them or actively stealing them? Both show a lack of respect for other people's property and a careless attitude.

Judging by the recent thread were dozens of posters thought it was absolutely fine to nick stuff from hotels (not the small toiletries - towels, dressing gowns, even a pair of curtains) I'd assume the OP is teaching their kids.

Jvg33 · 16/02/2022 13:47

It is annoying op. Back in the day, if you didn't have a pen, you didn't write. Now it's you didn't have a pen, it's because my teacher didn't give me one. Very much a blame the teacher thing now. Behaviour in secondaries is getting worse. Equipment is a big problem.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 16/02/2022 13:48

One of my colleagues bought some pink sparkly I love Jesus pen, they were always returned.

shouldistop · 16/02/2022 13:48

@Duracellbunnywannabe

One of my colleagues bought some pink sparkly I love Jesus pen, they were always returned.
Genius
ReggaetonLente · 16/02/2022 13:48

I'd love to know what schools lots of you are working at or send your kids to after reading some of these suggestions and the pure bafflement at kids turning up to class with no pens. Asking for some of my boys' shoes would end up with several being launched at my head

TheHoptimist · 16/02/2022 13:50

@SuperAsymmetry

We have to provide our kids with their own stuff (y4) and replace when needed, we get sent a message. So YABU for doing it out of it own pocket
You must live in a very middle class world
TheHoptimist · 16/02/2022 13:53

@Cherrysoup

Yup, swap phone or shoe for pen. Guaranteed you get your stuff back. What sort of school is it? As form tutors, we check equipment every am reg. Kids without get points. If it’s persistent (and we’ve checked that it’s not a PP child or that there’s not some genuine reason for the lack), they get detention.
And what happened to the school that swapped shoes for pens?

That didnt work out did it?

gingergiraffe · 16/02/2022 13:54

Often I found the pens etc I had leant for the lesson abandoned on the floor after the class had left. I would gather them up and lend those to pupils without. I sometimes told pupils to ask a friend if they could borrow one or ‘scab’ one off someone else. They hated the inference that maybe they didn’t have a friend to ask or that borrowing one was suggesting scabby behaviour. Usually they did have a pen but were too lazy to get it out and it was just a delaying tactic to starting or doing any work. So frustrating though.

Theyellowflamingo · 16/02/2022 13:56

I went an entire secondary school career without needing glue sticks. Glue sticks were for crafts in primary school. We used a ring binder and hole punched paper, worked very well. Now they seem to use glue all the time, plus all the paper wasted sticking paper into pages of an exercise book. Can’t you just plan lessons that don’t involve glue?!

5zeds · 16/02/2022 13:57

How much money are we talking?

Whataplonkerheis · 16/02/2022 13:58

My DC forgot her protractor recently in maths. The teacher gave them a loan of one in exchange for a shoe. I thought that was an excellent way of ensuring it was returned.