Was my sons detection unfair?

[SassyBear2]

My DS has just started sixth form. They were asked by their form tutor to do a short presentation about themselves to introduce to the class.

DS decided to start his presentation with an animated picture of a sperm cell and said, “That was me nearly 17 years ago.” It got some laughs from the class, but the teacher didn’t see the funny side and gave him a detention.

I honestly think this is a bit much. He’s 16, not a little kid, and in sixth form they should be encouraging independence and a bit of personality. It wasn’t offensive or disruptive, just cheeky humour. A telling off I’d understand, but a detention feels harsh.

AIBU to think the school is overreacting? If so can i repeal the detention or do something?

Surely 6th forms don't have detentions. I'm actually very surprised this is even a thing. What happens when the sixth former has actually reached age 18? Do they still try and treat them like a little child?

I'm not sure what the best way forward would be. I think if it was my child I'd be questioning whether they should have moved to college instead to be treated age appropriately.

It's such a shame when power hungry teachers want to crush any individuality and creativity out of a student. At 16 though it seems too old to be stamped down on.

Your son's opening on his presentation was witty and attention grabbing. Probably a skill that particular teacher lacks.

I am a sixth form tutor and I would have laughed and probably clapped too!

we can and do set detentions for lateness and homework infringements in sixth form (I don’t personally but it is very much part of the policy) but this is ridiculous. Ask him to speak to the head of sixth form.

Oh shush - he's 16 not 6!!! Unless he showed semen being ejaculated out of a cock it's a completely harmless and age appropriate joke.

Out of interest what do you think did actually happen??

That's hilarious, they need to buy a personality.

I would ask to see the head. It's unfair and totally ridiculous.

Agreed. Wouldn’t have bothered with me at all if a student did this. It’s not offensive. It’s a biological reality and adds a bit of humour! It wouldn’t have had anyone in the room batting an eyelid.

That’s actually a really good start to a presentation.

Honest but also shows a great wit.

what was the detention for exactly?

There would be a lot of scaled biology teachers up and the down the country then.

And form tutors.

It’s literally their job to teach sperm and egg cells.

Detention at 6th Form? Bonkers

Hmm. While not detention worthy, feels very immature and a bad first impression (I know your son is young.)

I would personally just let your son do the detention and move on. It’s far from the worst thing a pupil has ever done but it is a bit stupid

That's exactly how to start a presentation! Grabs attention, everyone laughs and warm to you! Ridiculous from the school

Or in other words, he grows up knowing that his lazy ass parent can’t be arsed to speak up for him whilst all the other kids have decent parents who care about their children’s wellbeing?

I know which sort of parent I’d prefer to be. 🤔

I’ve never heard of a sixth form handing out detentions. I assume it’s a new college he’s at as they were supposed to introduce themselves to each other. Have you actually seen the presentation? I mean, initially it sounds quite funny, but actually everyone already knew how your Ds began his life, so he was just after a quick laugh. Maybe he got the tone wrong.

Ugh… it’s parents like you who are responsible for most the problems in society today. So your poor little (almost adult) son got treated unfairly at school and you feel the need to wade in and fight a battle on his before so your darling spoilt brat can carry on with his pampered life.

He should wear the detention like a badge of honour and you should keep your nose out.

@GiveDogBone It’s a MN discussion! It’s people like you who want a military dictatorship not an education that are the problem in schools.

When my DDs were at a girls’ school (boarding) each year pupils did an ents evening which included a series of sketches about staff. They wrote it, directed it and acted in it with teachers present. So accents, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of staff were lampooned. It’s amazing to me that everywhere is such a bore fest now with no humour or inventiveness allowed. We are all poorer for it.

The teachers did an ents evening for the girls which involved not taking yourself seriously.

@TadpolesInPool I do not agree with the put up and shut up mentality. It’s not what society should be. Luckily the uk didn’t think that in ww2. My DD and many young people I know don’t subscribe to blatant unfairness. They don’t like it and I don’t blame them. It’s why DD became a barrister. People need representing by those better at it then they are.

And I suspect the Op would learn what actually went down during the class and resulted in detention.

And they wonder why kids are not ready to go out into the world. If it were up to me I'd get rid of school sixth forms as they are not a good bridge between school and university or work or anything. Everyone should go to college where they are treated in a more grown up way.

Look at results

sixth forms absolutely decimate colleges in terms of results

Alternatively, they grow up with zero resilience and expect to be given preferential treatment all the time, because if not? They whine that it’s not fair and think Mum and Dad will sort it. I have literally lost count of the number of mothers who have called me about their “children” that I employ. These “children” are early 20s and I’ve received calls complaining that they are expected to make tea (we all do that) aren’t allowed constant access to their phone ( spent all day very obviously not working, and on Tik Tok) or didn’t have a long enough lunch break (had actually spent 2 hrs that day outside the office making “emergency” calls because her BFF had split up with her boyfriend).
I do think the teacher in this case was a bit OTT, but he is 16 not 6 and if he wants to take it further, he can.

HAHAHAHA.

Look at their selection policy.

I hope she's not the Biology teacher.

At the end of year 11 I contributed to the final assembly with some sketches about the staff. I played the deputy head and I looked at her after I finished - if looks could kill I'd be dead for sure! Zero sense of humour (and it wasn't a bad or rude sketch at all). Still, was allowed to do it.

OP YANBU, well done to your son for opening his presentation in a good, attention-grabbing way - that's the right way to do it. He should fight his own battles though as this age, and perhaps politely ask the teacher what exactly did he do that was bad enough to warrant a detention, for clarification as to what level of fun is acceptable in 6th form (when I was in 6th form it was a high level)

Your ds was given a platform to talk to his piers, immediately he brought in a sexual context. With so much misogyny in young men I can see why the teacher wasn't comfortable with that.

Its a shame the meeting with the head was cancelled he could have heard a different view to yours and his and understood you have to be careful around sensitive subjects.

A conversation would have been much more useful than a detention.