Primary school punishment for doodling

[Doodlemania]

Our primary school is becoming increasingly draconian. It’s true they have some challenging behaviour to deal with of late (not generally characteristic of the school in previous years). Their solution is a red and yellow card warning system in addition to their existing shame-based behaviour system.

My child has a diagnosis of ASD and traditionally reacts negatively to shame based systems so naturally I asked at the outset what allowances would be made for neurodivergent children. I was assured not to worry as he doesn’t have behaviour issues anyway so would he unlikely to get any cards and the head said they would brief the teaching staff accordingly.

The system has been in a week and he has had three warning cards, from three separate teachers. One for doodling in the margin (defacing school property), one for writing his name on his new exercise book whilst the teacher was speaking, and another (deservedly) for chatting. I raised the doodling with the teacher and was given short shrift even though I restarted my child’s SEN diagnosis and the recognised benefits of doodling.

AIBU to think that such a behaviour system is inappropriate in 2024 and especially inappropriate when used to punish children for doodling?

I am worried that my motivated and engaged child will just start hating school altogether.

Judging by the attitude of the teachers this would also be sanctionable. They really should be grateful that he moved past his singing phase!

Won't someone save up from 'helpful' suggestions from people who know nothing about it? Please.

I have a full wall's worth of origami stars made using 20% of my brain during meetings to allow the other 80% to concentrate.

I was a terrible doodler at school but just used to start from the back of my books. Maths (which I find very easy so found concentrating very hard) used to be about 1/3 doodles to 2/3 work. I'm very lucky that the teachers just accepted it.

It’s not clear was he doodling in the schools book or his own?

Yes. Absolutely. Ideally they would adopt a more inclusive approach that would negate the need for special adjustment. Ideally all desks would have doodle paper available and kids would not be forced to all stare eyes forward and focus. And they would move away from shame based systems entirely. Different people have different learning styles and support needs.

YANBU OP. The school does sound really draconian though and like it might not be a good fit. Are there any other good alternatives near you?

(Not that you should have to move him. But I have experience of schools where the culture is like this and unfortunately it usually comes from the top down.)

This is an interesting point that I can’t work out myself. It’s his exercise book, issued to him by the school. I’m not entirely sure whose property I consider it to be.

So the sanction was because, in her opinion, she had asked him to stop? Not because of the doodle itself?

Valid question - but as he’s in year 5 with good friendships I’m not inclined to.

My DD has suspected ADHD/Autism and her new teacher has

Bought her a book to doodle in during lessons
Bought her playdough to play with during lessons
Bought her fidget toys
Given her access to a calming area

How awful their not supporting your child like they should

That does seem to be the teacher’s stance and I do get it - but when I raised it with child he denied that this happened. He’s also pretty incapable of lying so I wonder if the teacher is arse covering.

But some people cannot doodle and listen at once. Adults know which category they are in. Children often don't.

Things do sometimes need to be targeted.

What is the sanction he's getting?

I do think he needs to have a doodle book and not doodle in his school book. Rightly or wrongly, schools are expected to have beautifully presented books.

That's lovely. DD's old teacher used to randomly notice everyone was starting to lose their cool and make the whole class run/walk/roll around the school. It really worked. Noticeably for DD with ADHD, but also a lot of the kids with attention or energy issues.

The school will have a high expectation of presentation and so I can understand why no doodling in his book. Doodling I don't mind and as long as kids are listening (and you can tell those who are just messing and those doodling to concentrate). Fine to doodle on scrap paper or whiteboard but not in their book.

As in the exercise book you do your work in?

They’re being ridiculous, but I don’t know what the solution is because how realistic is it for each teacher to have different disciplinary rules for each SEND student in a class.

it might be worth all the parents banding together on the rules rather than going in individually

I'm not sure why doodling is discouraged, it helps some people concentrate, and doesnt disturb anyone.
DD doodled her way through primary and secondary school (mostly on her hand, or on her planner) and is now an art student!

Yes. The one he does his work in.

I'd be curious if the school owns copies of the Tom Gates books - which is a hugely popular series about a Year 5 boy who doodles (but if mostly perfectly behaved and does his work).
Be a tad ironic if they have copies.

Of course they have copies 🤣 the cognitive dissonance is strong

He really is a good kid at school. He masks like an absolute trooper. Does all of his work, listens and participates enthusiastically and is really polite. They’re just ruining it with this BS.

he’s been more sanguine about the cards than I expected. He went on ‘stop and think’ before Christmas for something silly and then howled for 2.5 hours that night.

I’m pretty sure doodling can be seen as stimming. They can’t ban stimming. I think you need to go back

They can ban it from his school book though. That's what he was in trouble for.

@Doodlemania

"running out of patience".

My patience is run already.
I can tell you!

It's pitiful out there however, as s mum of sen child and as someone with experience in education I can tell you... The only way to effect change is to complain.

And complain to the right people.

If you get nowhere with class teacher or head, do the token complaints form sure but.. Get email to governers, council, local mp quoting equality act and so on.

It's a fucking shit show out there for sen dc and unfortunately, the entire system relies on proactive parents who say :enough and stick up for their child.

@Doodlemania send him dressed as Tom Gates for World Book Day 😂
Poor kid....I hope the school changes this daft nonsense.
Nothing wrong with doodling - as long as his work is being done 🙁