Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

'School gate politics' myth or real?

23 replies

RomyMadison · 14/05/2012 05:44

I've seen quite a few posts on here about mothers getting bullied or just ignored by other mothers at school gates, surely this isn't what's happening? Share your experiences and see if i can wrap my head around this. Hmm

OP posts:
Labootin · 14/05/2012 05:52

If I were a proper school gate mother I would point out that there should be a please, share your experience sounds rather rude and abrupt

And wrapping your head around something is an awful phrase

You also sound like you are fishing for stories for an article.

But I don't do then school run anymore.
So I won't

turnigitonitshead · 14/05/2012 05:56

have no idea I ignore everyone at school gate. drop and dash and stay well out of play ground politics.

RomyMadison · 14/05/2012 05:57

Wow - someone clearly had issues with this subject, a little close to the bone?
''Please'' go look after your kids, love. Stop time wasting here.

OP posts:
Labootin · 14/05/2012 06:16

My children are at school.

Smile

You really need to learn the art of passive aggressive if you want to master the school gate.

LtEveDallas · 14/05/2012 06:17

Requests from the media should be paid for. I have reported your post.

DeWe · 14/05/2012 09:24

Never had a problem. There's some groups that get on better than others, but that's life, having a group of friends doesn't make you a clique. I'll talk to anyone who talks to me, and I've never gone up to someone and they haven't wanted to talk to me either.

PooshTun · 14/05/2012 10:54

There was this school gate mom that saw me as a sympathetic friend who would want to listen to her problems (I didn't). All I wanted to do was to drop off my kids and swap a few minutes of small talk. After a while I made a point of avoiding her. Some of the other moms avoided her for the same reason. If she was a MNetter I don't doubt she would be posting here about how she was being ignored by a bunch of snobby bitches.

As for Labootin, she sounds like a mom that I would stay well clear off. I mean, fancy telling a poster that their subject line wasn't polite enough :) Reminds me of the school mum that literally told me off in Year R because I didn't know the etiquette. Apparently if a collection is taken for your kid's birthday present you are supposed to send thank you cards that tell the parents what was bought with the money. Needless to say I spent the next 6 years avoiding her.

Anyway, the school gate moms who complain about being bullied or ignored usually have "issues" If a bunch of people in the office go off to the pub then are they duty bound to invite you simply because you work on the same floor? Of course not. Then why do some moms think that just because your DCs go to the same class or school then they are obliged to include you in their morning coffee seesions for example.

So, no I do not see any evidence of bullying etc at the school gate.

ragged · 16/05/2012 18:01

OP's profile looks legit, you lot are too quick to proclaim a journo rat.
You don't want to wrap your head around it, OP. Just keep your own nose clean.

YourFanjoIsNotAHandbag · 16/05/2012 18:03

I am ignored because I am the terrible mother who uses the after school club.
And my ds1 picks ds2 up from said after school club
So no one likes me.

Do I care....?
That would be a no.

Belleflowers · 16/05/2012 18:09

so share your own experiences OP? THEN we can decide whether to share with you...

exoticfruits · 16/05/2012 18:09

A myth. They are just women like you. Some want to be chatty and some don't. Some you will like and some you won't. Smile, be pleasant to all- only go further if you want to

TheCrackFox · 16/05/2012 18:28

Same experience as any large group of people thrown together by circumstance (work, neighbours, university) - there will be some you get on more with than others.

Mosman · 16/05/2012 19:54

Well ...... I know one woman who basically was your friend unless you did anything "wrong" and then she would cause you know end of trouble.
Some people could have affairs and be forgiven, other peoples husbands would have affairs and not be forgiven as they weren't a proper family.
This cow could cause all sorts of trouble for your DC too, was a dinner lady and wouldn't feed your child if she thought they were "naughty".
Brace yourself OP, it can be heaven or hell.

noUggscuse · 16/05/2012 21:46

Very real at our school. But hey, variety is the spice of life! Like anywhere in life, you'll find people you find lovely and others that will do your head in.

Kittenofkaos · 06/08/2012 13:45

Was quite surprised at the suspicious nature of some of the responses. Always thought this was a very open and supportive forum. I think I've been going around with my head in the clouds/in a bag as I never seem to notice all this horribleness in the playground, though I did hear about a fight once!

mam29 · 06/08/2012 15:46

Cliques exists in the playground.
everyone has their own freinds.infant mums especially reception seem frendlier. But if they have older kids they stick with the junior mums and ignore new people.

every playground has its characters.

the one that moans and causes trouble-everyone tries to avoid.

The one whos indecently dressed most days causing the dads to stare and the mums to get stroppy and jealous.

I do try just talk to to the few i now get on with.
but if someone new talks to me im freindly.
never seen bullying in playground.
j
have seen rudeness , gossip and people being overcompetative and nosy.

The 3scry times to be in playground is

teacher collections-forced you must give money to collection
ofsted-yes that was bundle of laughs last term the school was downgraded and some parents now blaming the head.
school reports time-what did your child get. brag ahboyt how good johny is and how hes gifted and talented.

I veiw the plaground with caution.

bit like being drunk at works party-i dont say or do anything I regret generally stay under the radar unless my younger toddlers throwing worst tantrum and thrown herself on school path in protest I then get the piuty looks or the frown please control your child.

RaisinDEritrea · 06/08/2012 16:04

ZOMBIE THREAD

Lucyellensmum99 · 06/08/2012 16:09

Wow - someone clearly had issues with this subject, a little close to the bone?
''Please'' go look after your kids, love. Stop time wasting here. Biscuit wanker

Lucyellensmum99 · 06/08/2012 16:09

arse - my zombie plan is flawed

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 06/08/2012 21:13

TBF - you do sound like you are researching an article.

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 06/08/2012 21:14

Belle - exactly

CouthyMow · 07/08/2012 09:36

Very real at my school, and even worse, encouraged by the HT's blatant favouritism of certain DC's with a certain 'type' of parent.

AngelEyes46 · 09/08/2012 18:01

OP only asked a question - I can't see how it could be interesting for the media!

Agree with a lot of the 'sensible' answers, in that there are always people that you get on better with than others. My dc's went to a small 1 form entry which created more cliques and my dd's year was better than my dss in that it wasn't so political but I found that problems mainly occurred when the parents got involved in their dcs arguing. Things blow over very quickly with children but parents (especially mums) seem to carry things on.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread