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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to resent the unnecessary additional tasks schools drop on us?

110 replies

elliott · 30/09/2008 21:57

Ds2 has just started in reception. Today I got a note in his bag saying 'Please bring in a 'word tin' for ds2 - a pencil tin is ideal'.

Now, WHY do they need a pencil tin ffs? Do they think we have these things just hanging round the house? Or do they not think twice about expecting that we find time for a special trip to the shops to source one of these things (I have no idea where I might buy said 'pencil tin')? Do they think we have nothing better to do?

Honestly, wouldn't an envelope do?

OP posts:
Feenie · 30/09/2008 21:59

W H Smiths

Instore

Wilkos

Poundstretcher

Or just don't f*cking bother then.

YABU.

lilolilmanchester · 30/09/2008 22:01

wait til you need to turn him into a tellytubby for the school play at a few days notice ... For the most part at our school we have had teachers who either haven't ever had children/got pre-school children or their children are grown up they've forgotten what it's like. We did have a big to-do at our school about this (before your time GDG if you're reading this) and it has got better. I agree, they do need to think things through or make it easier "tin if you've got one, if not enevelope would be fine".

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:02

Yes, but I don't WANT to spend my leisure time shopping for unnecessary items at someone else's behest. I want to spend it with my children. Its a real hassle organising time to go shopping in town, and I'd really rather not do it for somethign so unnecessary. ds1 managed to learn to read without a blooming word tin. Utterly unnecessary.
I am inclined to send in an envelope.

OP posts:
FrockHorror · 30/09/2008 22:03

Then he is likely to be the odd one out.

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:04

Your suggestions are helpful feenie, but all of them would require a special trip for me.

OP posts:
lilolilmanchester · 30/09/2008 22:04

... and just read the threads on here about people trying to feed a family on next to nothing every week. Fortunately, I'm not one of them but am very conscious that "only £1 at instore/wilkos etc" can be a big deal for some families, especially as this sort of thing isn't a one off and they might have more than one child making similar demands.

3littlefrogs · 30/09/2008 22:04

It is nice if the children have all the appropriate things, however, there is an assumption within primary schools that parents are all SAHM with no other responsibilities of any kind.

Just wait till you have to start making endless cakes and costumes.

I once spent the whole of my first day off work in a fortnight trailing round the county looking for a particular type of hat for an assembly the next day. Parents weren't invited so i didn't even get to see it in action.

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:05

That's exactly why teachers should think before they demand these things.

OP posts:
ravenAK · 30/09/2008 22:05

I'd probably reply to note saying 'OK, will get one next time I'm in town'. Definitely no special trip.

(Also I'd then forget, tbh ) - & I am a teacher, so I do at least try to comply with this sort of thing...)

For the last fortnight I've been promising dd2's CM a batch of family photos she can turn into some sort of picture book - something they do at 'Babies Into Books' apparently. Have I managed to actually buy the photo paper for the printer? Have I feck...

Romy7 · 30/09/2008 22:06

lol. in glasgae they all had tobaccy tins for their word tins.
supplied by the school.

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:07

btw I have had a child in school for the last 3 yrs, I am not a school virgin. This is a new school - the previous one was much more inclusive and did not demand costumes (or even word tins) at the drop of a hat.

OP posts:
Feenie · 30/09/2008 22:09

I bet a small tupperware box would do. Don't tell me you haven't got one of those! What do you think the teacher's intention would be? Probably to keep the words safe so they don't get lost and to keep them flat so they don't get bent (they are probably laminated), therefore that another child can use them without her having to make new sets of words all the time (instead of actually teaching.)

Give her a break.

TheCrackFox · 30/09/2008 22:09

yes, I had a tobacco tin too. I would send in an envelope.

Feenie · 30/09/2008 22:11

And I missed the bit where the note said you had to drop everything and make a special trip asap?

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:12

yeah, feenie, but surely an envelope would do the job?

OP posts:
Feenie · 30/09/2008 22:14

Unless you actually stick down the flap, little word cards would slide out and get lost. If you stick the flap, you can't reuse the envelope.

[Thinking things through emoticon]!

ellingwoman · 30/09/2008 22:14

Being in a tin or plastic box protects them from leaky drink bottles.

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:14

Well, if we waited until I happened to be passing any of those shops, he would be waiting a long time...

OP posts:
Feenie · 30/09/2008 22:15

A margarine tub?

ravenAK · 30/09/2008 22:15

A tin or a small 'Really Useful Box' would definitely be better - gives the whole thing a bit more status in the eyes of dc, whereas envelope rapidly will get tatty & dog eared.

But I certainly wouldn't rush to get one - envelope to be going on with, tin next time you get a chance to pick one up.

Feenie · 30/09/2008 22:16

Like I said, don't bother, I am sure she won't mind making a new set of words each time just for your child

hana · 30/09/2008 22:16

just get the poor kid a plastic container with a lid - small size, everyone has some lurking in the house.

envelope will get skanky after a while

Romy7 · 30/09/2008 22:19

oh noooo. you need a tin. how are you gonna riffle in an envelope to play 'pick a word', or lay them all faced down on the table and play 'see how fast you can read and get them back in the ... er.... envelope.' nah. you need a tin. order one online. get atesco shop and don't forget the tobacco (i have no idea if you can even order tobacco online lol)

Romy7 · 30/09/2008 22:20

if it's anything like here, the dc cuts the sheets of words up to put in their own tin. new words for each child. otherwise 'come' or 'she' will always get lost under the dining room table, and by 2010 ther will only be 16 reception year words left.

Romy7 · 30/09/2008 22:21

and ds will always spell 'ther' wrong.
you see how serious this is.

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