Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to just march into the classroom and take my kids ?

398 replies

princessparty · 02/02/2010 17:07

I am SO fed up of them being late out of school when we have to rush off to afterschool clubs.They are supposed to come out at 3.30 and we can just make the 4-6 yo gymnastics session if we leave at 3.30 on the dot.
So today i just walked into each of their classrooms and said 'excuse me Mr X I need to take Y now.' in a pleasant way.I think I'm going to do it every week now
I mean we get them to school on time,they should get them ou on time.

OP posts:
pagwatch · 04/02/2010 08:51

at Riven
Ah I had remembered correctly...

The thing is OP that when I book classes for DD I only book them if I know she can make it allowing for the usual delays and hold up - if she has had a bad day, if the traffic is bad, if I need to speak to the teacher,if I struggle to park, if I am running late....

The notion that you are right is faulty.
You have booked a class which you can only get to if there are no delays and that is not the reality of living in the modern world or dealing with a small child.
I would rather do a different class or leave it another year than put everyone else under pressure ( including your DD and the teacher) because you want the world to fit around your schedule.
It is called Being Reasonable. It is also called being a Grown Up

Sadly you are now forever in my head as ProncessTippyToes.

But I am still laughing at the irony of your disturbing the class and not giving a toss about anyone else

psychomum5 · 04/02/2010 09:41

I think we should all be rude now maureen....no excuse, she needs to learn.

she reckons the teacher needs to learn, hows about we also do some teaching

jenroy29 · 04/02/2010 09:58

I agree with you, partyprincess, I am fed up of waiting in the rain (usually) for my two to be let out of school especially when most of the kids come out before them. An end time is an end time and because schools don't offer enough p.e. time, after school clubs are important. It might be rude to storm in and demand your children but it is more rude to keep someone waiting!

getOVERyourself · 04/02/2010 10:16

jenroy - no, it isn't more rude to keep you waiting than for someone to barge into the classroom.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 04/02/2010 10:17

I blame Thatcher.

5inthebed · 04/02/2010 10:24

DS1's class is usually the last class out. Me and the other parents usually moan about it, mostly we joke about it. We wouldn't think of going into the classroom and dragging them out.

Do you really think the teacher will let your DD out because her watch has gone off? I suggest you go speak to the school and ask them if they can meet you at reception on a Tuesday. Or would they not be able to do that with no secretary being there?

BlackJackScroggins · 04/02/2010 10:24

The teacher is NOT keeeping anyone waiting. She is doing her JOB. Which is TEACHING. She stops doing that at 3.30pm. THEN children get collected.

2shoes · 04/02/2010 10:28

surely if you are arranging anything after school, you allow an extra say 15 mins for getting them out.
ds is a college now, but if I have to pick him up for any reason, I still wouldn't expect him out dead on time.
as for teachers being rude keeping people waiting that is just tosh.

Ivykaty44 · 04/02/2010 10:58

i booked swimming lessons for dd - they were the irst class as she was a beginer and it was a tight time frame to get her there. I didn't have a choice of times and really wanted her to learn to swim.

So it isn't allways as easy as - book it at a suitable time.

pagwatch · 04/02/2010 11:17

I know it isn't easy. I wanted DD to learn to swim and my time frame includes getting her from school, getting DS2 off his special transport, persuading him to co operate with getting into a car, and then trying to get through busy traffic to a lesson - and doing that without ever making him feel rushed. Really stressful.

But I searched until I found one.

So not easy, no. But worth trying first before stomping into classroom or setting watch alarms - and then your position has the virtue of being explainable IYSWIM. I suspect teachers will be more responsive to 'I have searched high and low for an alternative class but this really is the only one so can you help me until she can go up to a bigger/later slot - all being well it will only be a term or so'

Ivykaty44 · 04/02/2010 11:25

I think an understanding on both sides would be really good.

Most teachers reaslise that mum or dad has to get aways for one reason or another, it may be working shifts etc or it maybe outside activities.

most parents realsie that teachers are enthusiastic and wanting to get the most out of the day.

it is just a few on each side that have no idea. those parents or teachers spoil it for the others.

I am sure most teachers are not keeping the dc in class to piss off the parents

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 04/02/2010 11:35

I would love to see jenroy and princessparty teach a full class of infants for a day, and then get them all out on time without cutting short any of their teaching time. I bet it is not as easy as they think it is!!

pagwatch · 04/02/2010 11:44

so true Ivy

I had a term when my DS2s transport was really fucked up challenging and messing really badly with DDs drop off.
I went in and spoke to the school about it, explaining where the problem was arising and asking for an oppertunity to try and find a way to minimise the disruption and stress.
We found a brillinat compromise and the school could not have been more helpful. It was complicated and still not without stress but by respecting each others situation we worked it out.

Ivykaty44 · 04/02/2010 11:44

I would really like to see you do my job - cos I bet you couldn't do it and it is not as easy as you think, if you would like a try though let me know.

who said any one else job was easy

jenroy29 · 04/02/2010 11:47

I have worked in schools and I have a lot of respect for the teachers they do a great job, apart of which is called planning, something that teachers have an afternoon out of the classroom to do every week. I can see into my kids classrooms and when I know that they are sitting on the carpet being read a story when they should be putting their coats on and leaving school I am insensed!

Wispabarsareback · 04/02/2010 12:08

Can't believe I've just sat here and read through the entire thread! But actually I think the OP has a point - it's not unreasonable to expect kids to be ready to come out of school at the set finishing time, or very soon after. My DD1's class (year 2) is invariably the last class out - they come out 5-10 mins later than every other class, nearly every day. That seems like disorganisation on the part of the teacher. I broadly agree with the point that most parents make the effort to get kids to school on time and arrive to pick them up on time - they should be ready to leave when the bell goes.

But I wouldn't think of tackling the problem in quite the way that OP did! It's parents' evening next week and I've been planning to mention it to the teacher when I see her. I expect she'll think I'm a PITA.

sarah293 · 04/02/2010 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TheFirstLady · 04/02/2010 12:29

Jeez, Jenroy, I'd far rather my children got to finish hearing a story they were enjoying than that we got home two minutes earlier. Actually, reading that someone is actually incensed by seeing her child being read to makes me feel really sad.

thenewbornnanny · 04/02/2010 12:34

School = essential

After school clubs = optional

Simples.

missmapp · 04/02/2010 12:39

But jenroy, reading the class a story they are enthralled by is an essential part of the school day, it is teaching the joy of reading. How lovely to have children not wanting to leave at the end of the day because they want one more page, lets get our priorities right

Ivykaty44 · 04/02/2010 12:48

its not about priorities though, it is about everyone rubbing along together - teachers, parents and children.

If you deliberatly over run on a story it will piss of the dc's parents.

Cliff hangers are a great inducments to come back to the story the next day

tulip27 · 04/02/2010 13:02

'swimming lessons were all at 4 pm, If I didn't get there how would my child learn to swim'
ummmmm teach them yourselves

Yes I use afterschool clubs but because I want to encourage a healthy attitude towards health and exercise. Not because I want them to become the next world champion.

I think the most important job of being a parent is too teach your children to be kind,considerate and respectful. To equip them with knowledge and the life tools to live a long and happy life.

Has the op lost the point to what its really all about?

Sassybeast · 04/02/2010 13:13

Jenroy 29 - have you put a complaint in writing to Ofstead ? I'm sure they take reports of children being READ to in schools very seriously. Next thing, they'll be teaching them to write and stuff. Shocking.

clemette · 04/02/2010 13:13

My DD's school is having a disco for the reception/infants tonight. It starts at 5. In order for her to go one of us has to finish work early. Did I waste time moaning about how awful this is for me as a parent? Hell, no, I celebrated the fact that the school realises that any later would be too late for a four year old.
Some parents have issues with schools and teachers in general, largely due to their own experiences or sense of inadequacy. These parents will be the ones I see when their children are 15 bemoaning the fact that they have no respect for anyone or anything and wondering where it comes from.

gorionine · 04/02/2010 14:06

I have found the perfect solution! My Dcs go to:

Tennis, cookery club, multy skills club, football, craft club (BTW not all Dcs do all clubs IYSWIM but I have several Dcs)

All of them run by the school (most of them by teachers volunteering except tennis) so on site, no delai whatsoever and definitely no stress!

LOL @ Saasybeast