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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:
Gunpowder · 02/04/2023 08:05

It’s how the men in the royal family walk. And if you work in a posh hotel you have to walk/stand like that too.

KatherineofGaunt · 02/04/2023 08:08

I work in a school that does this! It's not a school full of bad behaviour or is a bad school itself. It's just the corridor rule - walk on the left with your hands behind your back, quietly. Adults included.

Never seen a child or adult hurt themselves due to this. There are a couple of children who have mobility problems and they just don't adhere so they can walk in the way that works for them.

I don't see any problem with it at all. The corridors are nice and calm compared to the other primary schools I visit in the week!

Switchwitch · 02/04/2023 08:10

My dds school did this to lead up to ofsted coming in and it seemed to be the main focus of the ofsted report, that the children were well behaved and not running in corridors. I thought it sounded like they had sapped the soul from the school.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:16

It's interesting how all the people saying how awful it sounds aren't the ones who've actually experienced it.

My school had similar rules 30 years ago and it was totally fine. It meant nobody got ran into or injured and there couldn't be any complaints of "Miss, Jane touched my hair" or "Sir, Toby ripped the poster!".

Made things a lot easier and cut down on lots of minor drama.

HubertTheGoat · 02/04/2023 08:22

You'd be amazed at how many children think it's appropriate to walk down the corridor with their arms out touching, and inadvertently over time, ruining all the displays along the wall. Schools often have lots of little rules to keep things ticking over nicely. Better than having to constantly tell children off.

KatherineJaneway · 02/04/2023 08:28

SomePosters · 01/04/2023 23:03

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

Agree with this

Natsku · 02/04/2023 08:29

Sounds wrong for 5 year olds, they're so little! DS is 5, he runs and jumps and has fun in the corridors, all the little ones do. At DD's school they don't do anything like that either, they can walk however they like (perhaps jumping on the balance things along the way) but no running because its more crowded so not safe to run.

Whinge · 02/04/2023 08:36

DS is 5, he runs and jumps and has fun in the corridors, all the little ones do.

I can't imagine any school allowing all of their students to run, jump and have fun in the corridors. Corridors aren't the place for silly behaviour, and if everyone is running and jumping around it must be chaos, not to mention dangerous to other students.

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 02/04/2023 08:36

It sounds like a good idea to keep kids calm and disciplined. They won't break their noses if they fall, their hands are behind their backs, not trapped in their pockets. At my dc's primary school they had to sit with their finger over their mouth in a shush position. Where discipline is visible and rules are in place, kids feel safe.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:38

Natsku · 02/04/2023 08:29

Sounds wrong for 5 year olds, they're so little! DS is 5, he runs and jumps and has fun in the corridors, all the little ones do. At DD's school they don't do anything like that either, they can walk however they like (perhaps jumping on the balance things along the way) but no running because its more crowded so not safe to run.

Do you not see how potentially dangerous that is?

30 5yo's running and jumping in school corridors is a recipe for someone to end up flying and stood on by a load of other exciteable children.

CJCreggsGoldfish · 02/04/2023 08:42

I’ve read about it in a book by Paul Dix called ‘When adults change everything changes’. My headteacher has started implanting some of his ideas in our school. The premise is that kids will copy adults, but it’s also about modelling positive language. Dix calls it ‘fantastic walking’.

No child should be running or jumping about in corridors - I’ve filled in many a bump slip because kids have bashed into each other.

Natsku · 02/04/2023 08:44

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:38

Do you not see how potentially dangerous that is?

30 5yo's running and jumping in school corridors is a recipe for someone to end up flying and stood on by a load of other exciteable children.

Show quote history

He's in nursery still, they are encouraged to be active all day there. If I pick him up when they are coming back from snack time I see them running and enjoying themselves. It's not crowded like a school though, running isn't safe in a busy school but they don't have to walk in a specific way either to not be dicks.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:48

they don't have to walk in a specific way either to not be dicks.

It's much easier to get 30 5yos to behave by putting basic rules in place 🤷‍♀️

Whyarewehardofthinking · 02/04/2023 08:51

We are planning on trialing something like this ourselves but because of very boisterous teenage boys who are effectively groping each other through the corridors. They are always hanging off each other which is turning corridors into mini mosh pits.

Whyarewehardofthinking · 02/04/2023 08:53

CJCreggsGoldfish · 02/04/2023 08:42

I’ve read about it in a book by Paul Dix called ‘When adults change everything changes’. My headteacher has started implanting some of his ideas in our school. The premise is that kids will copy adults, but it’s also about modelling positive language. Dix calls it ‘fantastic walking’.

No child should be running or jumping about in corridors - I’ve filled in many a bump slip because kids have bashed into each other.

Paul Dix is a dirty word in many schools, especially when poorly implemented by poor SLT. I haven't seen that name for a few years!

Lonelyplanet · 02/04/2023 08:54

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.

Sounds like a normal school who have had to take measures to protect children. These measures may only be temporary until the children learn to walk safely through the building. A bad school would ignore poor behaviour.

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/04/2023 08:55

Natsku · 02/04/2023 08:29

Sounds wrong for 5 year olds, they're so little! DS is 5, he runs and jumps and has fun in the corridors, all the little ones do. At DD's school they don't do anything like that either, they can walk however they like (perhaps jumping on the balance things along the way) but no running because its more crowded so not safe to run.

Running, jumping and having fun in the corridors isn't really conducive to everyone's safety as they can't be looking where they are going all the time. Running is for outside where there's more space.

Rosula · 02/04/2023 08:55

Abcdefgh1234 · 02/04/2023 07:49

No its not too much. Its disciplined.

Sounds like the reverse of disciplined, if the teachers can't keep order without resorting to this measure.

I would want to know whether they've done a risk assessment and whether they make exceptions for children with mobility and proprioception difficulties.

Hbh17 · 02/04/2023 08:55

It sounds very sensible, and great to hear that the school is serious about good behaviour.

rainbowstardrops · 02/04/2023 08:55

My school does this. It was started by a rather 'strict' teacher and then it just carried on for the whole school.
I can't say I like it and I wouldn't do it but it does keep a level of calmness in the corridor, especially as the children are expected to walk in silence to the hall for assembly too.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:59

Sounds like the reverse of disciplined, if the teachers can't keep order without resorting to this measure.

It's a simple, easy way of preventing silly behaviour and accidents with large groups of small, excitable, energetic children.

Often the easiest way to ensure everyone's safety is to put rules like this in place. It doesn't mean teachers can't keep order, to means they can focus on getting kids around safely without worrying about someone getting hurt.

moveoverye · 02/04/2023 08:59

does it really improve posture? might try it!

Natsku · 02/04/2023 09:01

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 08:48

they don't have to walk in a specific way either to not be dicks.

It's much easier to get 30 5yos to behave by putting basic rules in place 🤷‍♀️

Well I suppose that's the bigger issue - one, perhaps 2 if lucky, adult(s) trying to keep 30 5 year olds in order. It's not enough. If its the only way then I guess its needed but it's sad to me.

Meredusoleil · 02/04/2023 09:02

I think it sounds fab! Might have to try it with the kids I teach 🤔

moveoverye · 02/04/2023 09:02

Whyarewehardofthinking · 02/04/2023 08:53

Paul Dix is a dirty word in many schools, especially when poorly implemented by poor SLT. I haven't seen that name for a few years!

Show quote history

Really? I’m the reverse, I visit many schools on a daily basis. Paul Dox’s book has cropped up serveral times and always in the happiest, calmest schools.