Think this school policy is ridiculous

[sadbutdontknowwhy]

Secondary school
DS15 has had his phone confiscated for the 3rd time this term.
Absolutely fine, he shouldn't have had it out so deserves the punishment
However, they won't give it back to him at 3.15. A parent has to go and collect it.
Tried to explain that 1, it means one of us leaving work, and 2, he needs it to access the gym straight after school, and 3, it his property but they won't budge. It stays with school until a parent can collect
In no way am I kicking off about the confiscation, but I'm fuming I'm also being punished as well!
Arghhhhh. Rant over.

I think the policy at my dcs school is end of day return and then if problem is persistent then it gets confiscated for a week. I'm ok with that as long as school will facilitate any comms needed to me about any unexpected changes in their whereabouts after school eg detention, clubs etc
If my DC couldn't get to the gym in that time, tough luck.

Kids managed without mobile phones for millennia!

there is some posters that don't seem to understand the inloco parenatis thing. teachers are well within their rights to conveacate phones or whatever that a child is using to distract and distrupt no wonder some kids are so bloody entitled i mean "stealing" phones my god !

Those who disagree with the policy of making a parent pick up the phone (my DC's school has the same policy) ... what do you think is the appropriate sanction for using your phone when you shouldn't do?

Just confiscating it just means the child can't use their phone during school hours, but they shouldn't have been using their phone anyway, so it's actually no sanction at all ...

My son does a great deal of his homework on Apps on his phone. The school sets and endorses this homework.

Do you also disagree with schools who regularly confiscate knives from children?

This is 3rd time. He must know by know when he can or carnt use his phone. As I said, how hard is it to keep the phone in his bag?

Well he could. It would definitely be an inconvenience and it might mean he never leaves it at school again. Possibly worth the inconvenience to you over the break I f it worked

For me it would depend on how they are actually "misusing" their phone.

If they are being sanctioned for getting out their phone in the corridor or in class to check where they need to be for the next lesson and the school only makes the timetable available on an app - what are they meant to do?

Sounds daft but schools do come up with pretty illogical and draconian things these days unfortunately.

You're unhinged!!

So he's been caught for the third time doing something that he knows is against the rules. That's disrespect for the school. But he's now also showing disrespect for you OP. Because he knows that third strike means parents having to take time off to collect the phone and he doesn't care. He doesn't care that you have to lose time or money collecting his phone. He doesn't care that you're inconvenienced.

What part of the policy are you having trouble with? It seems clear to me that they want some parental intervention and seems this is the only way they can achieve that. At least it has got your attention, even if you are still making excuses for your son by blaming a condition that he has not been diagnosed as having.

There are people in school post 3.15 so you could arrange to collect it later. If your son gets it back at 3.15 from the teacher what exact is his deterrent/punishment? He isn't supposed to have it out in school time anyway. And third time?!

I agree with the school. They’ve given him two chances already, he’s not stuck to the rules so that’s why they’ve involved you.
The fact he’s finding things difficult at school shouldn’t mean he gets away with it.

If I were you I’d be focusing on getting to the bottom of why he keeps doing this.

And? Tell him to stop having is phone out

I think it just wouldn’t be enough of an inconvenience for the kids- if they know they can just get the phone at 3.15 then it’s worth risking getting it out at 2, for example, as even they get caught it’s no big deal. So this makes it much more likely they’ll think twice about taking it out (the school are obviously fine with you leaving it with them for as long as you like-it’s not them pressuring you to get it that same day- it’s your son). Phones in schools are so disruptive, I think this is a good rule.

Surely ds should have considered that before he ignored the rules about phones and got it out AGAIN after the first two warnings?

Stop blaming school for trying to enforce some sort of discipline and start making a plan with ds about how he can actually follow the rules so that you don't get inconvenienced.

Well...I guess he can, inconvenient though it may be.

They used to confiscate phones at my sons school but have now changed to using Yondr pouches. All students have to place their phone in a pouch which then locks magnetically in morning reg. They keep the pouch throughout the day but are unable to access the phone until they leave at the end of the school day, they have to tap the pouch on an opening station. It has stopped phones being used in class, recording of bullying and uploading images/videos to social media.

I would leave the phone at school, it's his 3rd time using his phone when he shouldn't maybe this time he will learn.

No, I'd be making a massive complaint. It's so dangerous taking away their only form of communication for help/contacting parents

( My children are primary aged atm ) I have agoraphobia, dont drive and live in a rough area. My child would have to travel to school by bus.

When I was at school after school was prime time for kids bullying / fighting. I'd go absolutely mad if somthing happened to my child on the way home and they had no way of calling anyone for help.

If the timetable is only available on an app, why is not every child in the school constantly needing to check their phone?
And, if there is another good reason to use the phone, why not ask a member of staff before doing it?

The point is to inconvenience you. He was caught for a third time. How else would you like them to sanction him?
I’m sure it’s a right pain to have to go and pick it up at such a hectic time of year but perhaps your son might realise that he can’t just choose which rules to follow and that actions have consequences that go beyond just affecting him.

I’ve been teaching for 35 years and I’ve never heard a teacher ‘scream’ at a pupil. Raise their voice sometimes, yes (not necessarily ideal but in some circumstances it’s the only way, and I’ve done it myself). I’ve had loads of teenagers claiming I’ve ‘shouted’ or ‘yelled’ when I’ve actually just voiced a criticism in a calm, normal volume voice. I could equally suggest your daughter has indeed been rude and disrespectful, eg ‘You can’t do that’ in an aggressive tone instead of a calm ‘I have permission to use my phone for health monitoring’ but I won’t speculate because I haven’t been present. Maybe you should apply the same to whether teachers ‘scream’ at your DD or not.

@Ohnonoohoh maybe you will need to impress on your DC when they reach secondary age your concerns so that they understand the consequences of not having the phone before it reaches that stage then?

I don’t agree with this policy