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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you think that schools are okay?

429 replies

applejane11 · 08/08/2026 20:36

When I was in school, I remember absolutely hating school. I like learning. What I hated was the constant feeling of being in a prison, having no freedom. Having to sit for 7 hours a day and not speak. Having no say at all in most things. Constantly being controlled. I remember every morning, feeling dread when I woke up to go in.

I now actually work in a school in an admin position. Ive worked in lots of different companies. Now im in a school. I hear the teenagers say the same things all the time. They hate it, they feel like they are in prison, that it is awful, that they feel depressed every day, that all their young life is wasted. I also have to say, I definitely see school teachers abuse their power over the students. Not in a way that you could say is definitely abuse, but just in a way where you can see that they are really loving having power and control over the teenagers.

Do you think that schools are okay the way that they are? Teenagers don't have a lot of say in things or a lot of human rights, so it's adults that need to have the conversation about it.

OP posts:
applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:11

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:09

Think Northerners say this?

They probably do? It's not specific to one region. I'm not Northern.

OP posts:
applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:12

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:08

That’s not quite true. You did say somewhere along the way, that teenagers are not children.

Go back and read your posts, as you’ve suggested others should do before joining the ‘pointless’ discussion.

I never wrote that anyone under 18 in not legally a child. I wrote that the students in my school (all teenagers ) are never referred to as children.

Here is a snip from online.

Legal vs. Developmental Terms
While everyone under 18 is legally a child, society uses different words based on age and context: 1, 2, 3]

  • Infants and Toddlers: Young children from birth up to age 3.
  • Children: Broadly anyone under 18, but often used specifically for ages 3 to 12.

A Child's Legal Rights

https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/professionals/guidance/childrens-rights/

OP posts:
ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:13

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:11

They probably do? It's not specific to one region. I'm not Northern.

It is very region specific

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:13

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:13

It is very region specific

If it's region specific, then how did she guess my region wrong.

OP posts:
boblady · 09/08/2026 01:14

bridgetreilly · 09/08/2026 01:11

No. Fundamentally, they are not okay. They are underfunded, overly bureaucratic, massively bad for mental health, too focussed on exams and not enough on actual education for its own sake. They are too big, too complex, too impersonal. Most kids survive, a few really thrive, and a handful don’t make it at all. But they aren’t okay.

Don’t worry, Miss Admin’s to the rescue!

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:15

Because you are being disingenuous. Pet is very region specific, same as stottie

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:16

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:14

Don’t worry, Miss Admin’s to the rescue!

Hi Miss condescendingblobbylady.

That's 'miss Admin who sits on a safeguarding meeting every week' to you, thanks.

I help to improve student issues every week in my job. What do you do?

OP posts:
applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:18

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:15

Because you are being disingenuous. Pet is very region specific, same as stottie

I'm being disingenuous about where I live now? Haha you make me laugh.

I don't live in the North pet. I'm far away from the North. I live in the South. Where in the North do you think uses pet, out of interest. There are many cities in the North

OP posts:
boblady · 09/08/2026 01:19

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:12

I never wrote that anyone under 18 in not legally a child. I wrote that the students in my school (all teenagers ) are never referred to as children.

Here is a snip from online.

Legal vs. Developmental Terms
While everyone under 18 is legally a child, society uses different words based on age and context: 1, 2, 3]

  • Infants and Toddlers: Young children from birth up to age 3.
  • Children: Broadly anyone under 18, but often used specifically for ages 3 to 12.

See your posts from 22:05 and 22:09. You categorically argued that teenagers were adolescents not children.

Get a grip OP.

InOverMyHead84 · 09/08/2026 01:20

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:10

suddenly?

You've a short memory. I've been defending myself from your insults since the start.

Exactly.

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:21

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:18

I'm being disingenuous about where I live now? Haha you make me laugh.

I don't live in the North pet. I'm far away from the North. I live in the South. Where in the North do you think uses pet, out of interest. There are many cities in the North

Edited

Tbf you’ve used pet as a form of sarcasm throughout, where the Northerners use it in a friendly manner.

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:23

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:19

See your posts from 22:05 and 22:09. You categorically argued that teenagers were adolescents not children.

Get a grip OP.

I looked back 22.05 and 22.09 say exactly what I said they did.

OP posts:
ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:23

You dont have to live in the north to use northern phrases, but 'pet' is from the tyne/ne area. I have lived all over england and never heard it used by anyone that did not originate from there...usually comes out in people who originated from there but now live in the south after a drink or two.

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:25

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:23

You dont have to live in the north to use northern phrases, but 'pet' is from the tyne/ne area. I have lived all over england and never heard it used by anyone that did not originate from there...usually comes out in people who originated from there but now live in the south after a drink or two.

Well you don't know much then.

I've ever even visited Tyne/NE. None of my family are from that region either.

I don't drink either

OP posts:
applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:25

Where I do live - south - it's finally starting to feel a bit cooler. It was so hot here.

OP posts:
ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:25

Or maybe you watched a lot of byker grove...i know...waaaay before your time

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:27

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:25

Or maybe you watched a lot of byker grove...i know...waaaay before your time

Never watched it.

I don't think things are region specific anyway. If I go into my local shop in Southern England, the woman alway says 'here you are pet, here you are love'. She doesn't have a Newcastle accent

OP posts:
ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:28

Well that would probably be more identifying about you then anythong else you have said on this thread.
A true southerner using 'pet'. Even if you google it it with tell you is etymology is north eastern

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:31

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:25

Or maybe you watched a lot of byker grove...i know...waaaay before your time

I grew up watching Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The 3 Geordies were always saying ‘pet’. Maybe OP watched this too.

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:32

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:28

Well that would probably be more identifying about you then anythong else you have said on this thread.
A true southerner using 'pet'. Even if you google it it with tell you is etymology is north eastern

yes but obviously people and phrases move around and it gets passed around.

You can hardly keep a phrase to a certain area forever.

OP posts:
ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:32

She ia too young, gen z at best

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:33

Im making too many typos...need sleep

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:33

boblady · 09/08/2026 01:31

I grew up watching Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The 3 Geordies were always saying ‘pet’. Maybe OP watched this too.

I saw a few episodes of Auf Wiedershen. I haven't seen the 3 Geordies

OP posts:
InOverMyHead84 · 09/08/2026 01:33

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:33

I saw a few episodes of Auf Wiedershen. I haven't seen the 3 Geordies

Edited

Oh dear.

applejane11 · 09/08/2026 01:33

ZeroMotivationWithTeens · 09/08/2026 01:32

She ia too young, gen z at best

I'm not young. Again, an assumption without asking.

OP posts:
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