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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this primary school sounds military

71 replies

SunshineAndStorms · 01/04/2023 22:50

My son was walking along with his hands behind his back today and I laughed and said, why are you doing that. Thinking it looked quite amusing as I'd not seen him do that before. He said that they have to walk around the school with their hands behind their backs when the teacher is taking them to places, like the hall for lunch etc. The teachers do it too apparently. My son is only 5 and I just think this sounds odd and quite military. It's a primary school! And surely it's not the safest way to walk around in case of falling over.

I'm now questioning whether my son should be at a school that makes children do this sort of thing.

OP posts:
Motheranddaughtertotwo · 01/04/2023 22:52

Is it a private school? I’ve never heard of it before, I think it’s too much.

Original poster
SunshineAndStorms · 01/04/2023 22:58

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 01/04/2023 22:52

Is it a private school? I’ve never heard of it before, I think it’s too much.

@Motheranddaughtertotwo no not private. Just an ordinary stste school

OP posts:
AussiUnHomme · 01/04/2023 22:59

Don't be ridiculous. The military don't walk around with their hands behind their backs.

SomePosters · 01/04/2023 23:03

Sounds like a measure brought in to deal with kids messing about and hitting each other

CeliaNorth · 01/04/2023 23:31

Sounds like a measure brought in to deal with kids messing about and hitting each other

Yes. A way of making sure they keep their hands to themselves and don't get into any pushing and shoving as they're walking around.

LuvSmallDogs · 02/04/2023 00:31

I agree with PP, the school has had enough of flicking/hair pulling/shoving in the corridors. Needs must as the devil drives - DS1's class is so full of a-holes/whinging/tale telling that his teacher has made a "Tattle Box" for kids to post notes in so she can read them at the end of the day!🤦🏼‍♀️

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 02/04/2023 00:33

I've seen this on a TV doc it was an extremely posh London Private School so not unheard of but not the norm

steff13 · 02/04/2023 00:35

It sounds like a reaction to kids not keeping their hands to themselves.

frenchfancy81 · 02/04/2023 00:36

Do they call it proud walking?

RafaistheKingofClay · 02/04/2023 00:37

SomePosters · 01/04/2023 23:03

Sounds like a measure brought in to deal with kids messing about and hitting each other

Not just that but also touching/ripping and destroying displays, artwork and anything else at small child height.

LuluBlakey1 · 02/04/2023 00:41

I've seen it before (I work in various schools). It's to make them keep their hands to themselves in spaces where it is hard for teachers to see them all.

CarmonEileen · 02/04/2023 00:52

The children do this in the school I work at. As Frenchfancy says- it's called proud walking.

MrsToothyBitch · 02/04/2023 01:00

I've heard of this before- usually so one keeps ones hands to oneself. I am a total trip hazard though so whilst I see the logic, I personally don't like it.

peppermintteagirl · 02/04/2023 01:28

I distinctly remember this being what we did at primary school in the late 80s/90s (in NZ). I've never given a second thought and have no idea why we did it. I think we had our hands behind our backs when we were standing too (e.g. if we stood up at assembly). It was definitely not a 'militant' school - just a normal primary school.

NQOTDarling · 02/04/2023 07:04

Nothing wrong with that! Teachers know where litttle fingers are (e.g not stuck in fences/doors/in another child's face) and good for posture
Take a breath, children aren't being militarised!

Tarantellah · 02/04/2023 07:12

Sounds like a bad school where they’ve had to take these measures to prevent kids hurting each other or damaging school property.

Original poster
SunshineAndStorms · 02/04/2023 07:45

I just thought it sounded a bit much.

OP posts:
Abcdefgh1234 · 02/04/2023 07:49

No its not too much. Its disciplined.

GoodChat · 02/04/2023 07:51

It sounds like a good idea to me

TomatoFrog · 02/04/2023 07:53

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Wheelz46 · 02/04/2023 08:00

We used to be partnered up and have to hold hands, would have much preferred the hands behind the back method 😆

mrsorangepyjamas · 02/04/2023 08:02

MrsToothyBitch · 02/04/2023 01:00

I've heard of this before- usually so one keeps ones hands to oneself. I am a total trip hazard though so whilst I see the logic, I personally don't like it.

Their hands aren't tied behind them, if they trip they put their hands out instinctively! 🙄

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:03

SunshineAndStorms · 02/04/2023 07:45

I just thought it sounded a bit much.

Much better than teachers having to deal with loads of little kids pushing each other, pulling hair or pulling things off the walls as they walk past.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:04

MrsToothyBitch · 02/04/2023 01:00

I've heard of this before- usually so one keeps ones hands to oneself. I am a total trip hazard though so whilst I see the logic, I personally don't like it.

They're not in handcuffs - if they trip or slip they can still put their hands out!

ThreeFeetTall · 02/04/2023 08:05

They do this at the local primary (academy but just a normal state primary) also no running even at break time Confused