To be furious to see one of dd's teachers smoking outside the school gates in full view of school-children arriving

[pcworld]

I appreciate that it is a free country and people have the right to smoke. The teacher in question is not smoking within the school grounds. However ... surely there must be somewhere else for school staff to smoke that is out of view of the children? I am very upset about this! What do others think? I'm unsure how to handle it. I would like to say something to the head - along the lines of suggesting that an appropriate place is provided for staff to smoke in. And at the same time praising the teachers, who we have been really pleased with. Any comments?

"Teachers are seen as role models to the children and are not supposed to smoke anywhere where they can be seen by children."

Where does it say teachers are not supposed to smoke where they can be seen?

YABU. one of our teachers used to smoke in the hedge with us I was 15 at the time.

Another one use to smoke cannibas least thats what we all thought.

We also had a teacher that use to search for students smoking on the way into school and make us put it out even if we were far from the school.

Its a bit off, but not an issue to go to the Head over I don't think.

Thanks for all the speedy responses, much appreciated! Yes, I agree it is a free country and of course dd will see people smoking, drinking and all sorts as she grows up. I think it was just the fact that it was a teacher smoking - and smoking right outside the school - that upset me as I just don't think this provides a good role model. But maybe I'll just leave it. On this occasion

Sure kids see it and worse in the street, but it is every school's policy that teachers do not smoke in sight of children. It just sets a bad example and they kinda see the school institution as there to repel the bad influences of society and uphold the good ones.

hiya, skeletor cliff richard .

Yabu

Children are going to see adults smoking. Are you going to ban every person that your DC likes in case they are influenced to start smoking.

I adored my Dad, was a real daddy's girl but did not start smoking because I had seen him smoking. I looked up to my cousin's wife, a smoker but did not start smoking.

Children are not that easily influenced

skeletor???? Who're you calling skeletor?

Horrid smoker person!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

It's not in my school's policy documents...

The teacher was legally entitled to smoke but was placing his/her need for nicotine fix above the impression being set to young children. My 6 yr old idealises her teacher. I don't think he smokes, but I know the head teacher at my dc's school wouldn't allow any teacher to stroll around the school grounds smoking in full sight of the pupils. He just wouldn't allow it. The teachers obey the head too

well she should have gone out of the children's sight imo

I agree withMme, children are not that easily influenced, my DH grew up with both of his parents smoking and most of his extended family and he does not smoke.

As parents we also are able to help influence our DC by explaining things like this to them and telling them why smoking is bad for a persons health.

Where, given that most schools are smoke-free zones (inside and out), should the staff go to smoke?

Yabu imo, although I think the teacher was a tad thoughtless.

(waves frantically) Hello

he does rather look like skeletor, though.

bet he smokes, too .

in a bush

Oh Cliffy! He looks like he smokes 50 a day. Let's hope he gets a load more at Christmas, then with any luck he might not be here to sing his shitty song next year!

lol SEA - at our school the bushes are literally right outside the school, so the same place.

There wouldn't be anywhere for a teacher to hide their smoking at the primary school DS3 attends. (I don't think any of them do smoke actually, but you get the gist.)

There are statistics that show that the childen of families where one parent smoke are more likely to smoke themselves as adults. It would be parents from smoking families who would be less likely to object to teacher smoking. Because it makes no real difference. Their children already see one parent, a major role model, smoking.

But I would have to feel irritated seeing a teacher smoke in front of pupils. They are normalising smoking and making it respectable. My dc is 6 and she thinks her teacher is a cross between God and superGeniusMan. If he smoked she'd think 'it can't be that bad so'.

I would approach the teacher, and say, Oh, my dc idealises you, so would you mind just strolling 50 mtres further down the road before you spark up?" I'd ask so nicely.

"the head teacher at my dc's school wouldn't allow any teacher to stroll around the school grounds smoking in full sight of the pupils"

but this teacher was smoking outside the grounds so there's nothing the head can do or say about it.

When i was doing work experiance, not all that long ago, the school i was at had a policy that meant no teachers or any staff or volenteers at the school could smoke within seeing distance from the school. Nowhere near the school. Which i felt was alright, considering i was a smoker. Although i do remember when i was at first school, now that was a while ago, the teachers used to smoke in th staff room, and when you had cut yourself or something you went in, and you were just surrounded by puffs of smoke.
Oh btw.. I was shocked when i saw Santa smoking..!! I swear i was horrified.

YABU

as long as not in the school or in school hours the teacher can do what they like

YABU - my students often saw me buying alcohol and chocolate in Tesco after school. Should that have been reported as well?

YANBU! Awful!