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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it is completely out of order for parents to smoke at the school gates?

53 replies

MarkStretch · 05/10/2009 10:40

It's driving me mad!

Happens morning and afternoon. Parents standing at the school gate smoking.

I've spoken to the head about it and she sent out a letter asking people not to do it but they continue.

I am tempted to tell them myself.

Why can't they wait until they are down the road?

OP posts:
BLEEPyouYOUbleepingBLEEP · 05/10/2009 10:43

What has it got to do with you what people are doing outside the school gate? If you don't like it don't look and don't go near them. I hope you don't drive to school polluting my air with your fumes.

twirlymum · 05/10/2009 10:43

Hate it, hate it, hate it!

you · 05/10/2009 10:43

YANBU

StrawberriesandCherries · 05/10/2009 10:44

The head needs to come out and patrol then for a few mins beginning and end of the day. That will have an affect. Our head even though tremendous busy lets herself be seen for a few days if there are problems like this. Maybe you can ask her to?

twirlymum · 05/10/2009 10:44

Because Bleep, the children have to walk right through a cloud of toxic fumes when they come out of school.

overmydeadbody · 05/10/2009 10:45

YANBU

There is nothing you can do though, they are not likely to stop because you or anyone else tells them to.

It is really annoying though isn't it? Hardly hard to wait a bit is it?

starwhores · 05/10/2009 10:45

Bleep do you smoke at school gates?

Well I agree and in parks it's yucky and the zoo.....

YANBU

Original poster
MarkStretch · 05/10/2009 10:45

It's right at the school entrance where I take my DD into school. I am helping her through the door and their cigarette smoke is wafting in the building.

OP posts:
rosieposey · 05/10/2009 10:45

MarkStretch YANBU there are other places to do it!

kidcreoleandthecoconuts · 05/10/2009 10:46

I agree it's disgusting but apart from maybe talking to the head about it again there''s not much you can do. I wouldn't advise telling them yourself.....a receipe for disaster IMO.
As an ex-smoker I can see both sides and agree that they should wait and have one afterwards. Smoke wafting around me makes me physically ill now....I literally retch and can't believe I actually smoked for 12 years.

overmydeadbody · 05/10/2009 10:46

BLEEP it has a lot to do with her. For a start children have to walk past it, and also it sets a bad example, I wouldn't want my DS seeing parents smoking every day as he goes to school and gets picked up from school.

rosieposey · 05/10/2009 10:48

Starwhores in childrens parks i agree there should be no smoking or designated childrens areas but i dont see the harm in large parkland type spaces as its unlikely to affect anyone in bigger areas.

BLEEPyouYOUbleepingBLEEP · 05/10/2009 10:49

Straberries - the Head come out and patrol for them?? what? are they from the security service/police/STASI??

Twirly - so do you drive at all?

I'm not someone who smokes outside the school gates, but I think people getting things out of perspective with the whole criminalisation of different groups somehow misses parents who are seriously abusing their children.

Next you'll be wanting someone arrested because someones having a Greggs sausage roll in front of your DC next

Original poster
MarkStretch · 05/10/2009 10:51

Not at all bleep.

I have no problem with them smoking, it's just where they choose to do it.

Just wait 5 bloody minutes and have one down the road.

OP posts:
claw3 · 05/10/2009 10:52

I can see your point if the smoke is blowing into the kids faces etc, but as for children seeing people smoking, you cant wrap them in cotton wool

twirlymum · 05/10/2009 10:54

I do drive, but I don't unless I have to. We always walk to school. I hate exhaust fumes too.
lol @ Greggs sausage roll!

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 05/10/2009 10:54

Errrr, you can't passively eat a sausage roll, bleep

StrawberriesandCherries · 05/10/2009 10:55

Oh dear - did i use a wrong word Bleep ?I am not saying patrol with a rifle Bleep, but if they are smoking on school grounds and she has already sent a letter asking them to stop and they have ignored it then walk around/speak to them at beginning and end of the day/ let herself be seen, may have a better affect.

Is that better Bleep?

BLEEPyouYOUbleepingBLEEP · 05/10/2009 10:55

And as for all the toxic fumes that are swirling about the school gate...they're not coming from the parents smoking...it's from all the cars who's exhaust fumes are just at pushchair level (I can say that cos I don't drive )

sweetkitty · 05/10/2009 10:57

Agree it's disgusting and just plain selfish to smoke where there are loads of children passing close by.

But there's not a lot you can do about it really I'm afraid, same as at hospitals there are signs up everywhere saying "no smoking anywhere in the grounds" yet right outside the door there are people in their dressing gowns and drips puffing away.

DD1 who is 5 actually embarrasses me as she will shout "Mummy don't go that way that man is smoking, yuck it smells disgusting" and does a hand wafting in front of her nose gesture

Tidey · 05/10/2009 10:57

YANBU, and I am an occasional smoker. Never around any children, regardless of being indoors or outdoors. I don't even like seeing parents smoking on the walk to school.

Original poster
MarkStretch · 05/10/2009 10:58

It's not only the fumes, it's the fact that as a school they try and educate the children about healthy living and this does not help!

I agree that you cannot hide smoking from your children and that's not what I'm suggesting, it's just the fact that it's right on the doorstep.

OP posts:
BLEEPyouYOUbleepingBLEEP · 05/10/2009 10:59

Not sure Strawbs, it just sounds like your not content with the school telling children what to do, but want to impose your ideas of how to behave on other adults.

MoreCrack - what do you mean you can't passively eat a sausage roll? Once you see a Greggs sausage roll, how can you not go and buy one eh?? Got you there

SlartyBartFast · 05/10/2009 11:00

i can't stand the smell of taylor made cigarettes, .. i don't like it, why are they standing smokign outside school anyway? thye shoudl be getting on with their lives!
but i dont think you have grounds for stopping them smoking in the open air.

alana39 · 05/10/2009 11:01

Not nice if they are so close to the building that smoke is wafting in - but you can't stop them smoking on the street. Maybe the head could suggest just moving up a bit if it really is that close?

Of course kids will notice it, you could use it as an opportunity to point out that it's an unpleasant habit which is why those parents are stuck outside - that horrified my kids because they think school is the best place in the world and not being allowed through the gates is some kind of punishment .

I get more worked up when I hear parents swearing in the playground