Am I being unreasonable to complain about dd primary school new lining up policy.

[rosysslave]

My dd's primary school have introduced a new policy of making the children line up 10 mins early after lunch and 5 mins early after morning break (this is a punishment/new regime because they can't line up quietly). They then have to sit there, in a line, completely silent, for 10 minutes, being screamed at by the hitlerish lunchtime staff if they make any noise, till the teachers come and get them. This is applied to all ages from 6 up. I think this is totally ridiculous, children that age (primary age) cant be totally silent, en masse, for any length of time and, in my opinion, shouldn't be made to stand in a line for any longer than necessary, specially not at playtime. It feels like, to me, just inadequate people being able to bully small children for no good reason, I hate listening to the children being screamed at and feel I should say something but.....perhaps I am wrong and it is not unreasonable to expect them to line up silently. What do people think?

It's the term "disciplined" I really dislike. To me it has connotations of corporal punishment, and the idea that the only way to run things is by the rule of authoritarian law (which is why the Hitlerish line is acceptable to me as a descriptor). Children need to be nurtured and taught, they need to know where the firm line is. They do not need to be lined up and screamed at. That borders on abusive, and has no place in a primary school. I would look for another school if this is anything other than a temporary measure (and by temporary I mean for a week or less). What an utter waste of 10 mins. Line up until you are silent maybe, but line up in silence for an arbitrary amount of time as a punishment is surely only right if the previous behaviour has been incredibly bad (ie riot type activity, not just noise). I chose against a school specifically on the basis of it being too quiet and orderly. There seemed no space for the natural creativity and fun that childhood should allow for.

And I enjoy the pointless posts as much as anything else, a little pointlessness is very important!

LOL at the phrase carpet time.

It always sounds slightly obscene to me. And conjures up visions of that dreadful carry on film where Amanda Barry is playing Cleopatra and gets rolled out in front of hideous Sid James.

Sorry, I'll get my coat.

lOL at carpet time.

You do need to get kids to be quiet though.

I get royally fed up with the kids in secondary who cannot shut up of the 3-5 minutes that it takes to explain what they are going to do in a practical.

you can bet your boots they are the ones who always moan about not doing practicals, and then will not bother to listen to instructions. Cue frustrated teacher when 30 seconds after the briefing they say 'I don't 'get' what I'm supposed to do'

Oh totally MB. But I do think there is a difference between enforcing 10 mins sit on the floor and do nothing time and needing 5 mins be quiet and listen time. The former is a punishment, and the latter necessary. These are six years olds!

Don't know what other people have suggested but surely be better to take away their golden time if they don't stand nicely and give the ones that do line up stickers????

If your child goes home for lunch then she surely shouldn't be back in school until the end of lunch time and therefore wouldn't be lining up for the 10 minutes if its during play-time!

Our Primay age school children have 1 whistle to stand still and are then instructed to walk to their lines then a second whistle which means they should be in their lines and quiet ready to start the next session. It works well, occassionally a class may need a reminded but definately no need for 10 minutes of lining up.

We do however practice lining up with our new children but it is more than likely to be a minute or 2 not 10.

I would ask what the thinking is behind the new regime and if it had improved the childrens behaviour at all.