Punishment in school

[KatusM]

My child is attending year 2 in England. Yesterday he lost his break because we have not signed his reading record 5 times. He was not able to go out to the garden and was told if he did not tell me to sign his book he would lose his break again.

He is in a required curriculum level so this was not a boost club. This was a punishment because we did not sign his book. He read almost every day. He has no issue with reading. He completed his year 2 spelling target tests. So I believe he is on the right path.

I sent a very upset email to the school, of course they ignored me. I assume they will try to catch me in the school pick up and tell me a story why this is important.

Today morning my child had a breakdown about this and cried because if I did not sign his book he would lose his break again.

I am really considering taking this further because they do the same with numbots. If a child does not manage to complete 5 mins a week they lose their break.

Who shall I go to? Apparently other parents already put concern into the school but they ignore it.

Am I the one who overthinks this?

All I've done is point out that this isn't the school or the teacher's fault and for some reason you can't handle that at all, to my mind that comes from a place of irresponsibility and deflection which is present among so many parents and children now sadly.

Except it absolutely IS the schools/teacher's fault for implementing policies that are both discriminatory and bad educational practice. Such policies must be challenged.

Well, Well,Well,

So now I should stop because you asked nicely? I told you in my previous comment to you I stop being nice with you.

You tell me I do not know anything about you and should not insult you, but previously even though I was nice you called me hysterical, nuclear and so on. Keep telling me I let my child down. And I feel guilty. I asked you more than one time nicely to stop. Because I am sure you are in a dark place and all this hate coming towards me is not intended for me. But what did you do? My keyboard hero friend moved on and started your insult again and told me to not tell you what to do.

You don`t know me. You are the one who cannot accept most of the people who do not agree with you.

MY FAULT is forgetting to sign his book. As said previously admitted several times.
THE SCHOOL FAULT is to punish a 7 years old who has no control over what mum did.

You my keyboard hero friend being nasty and I hit a nail. My psychology is working just fine.

So this is the final time I will ask you to stop. Leave this thread because it is not really going your way, now I take off my gloves and I will bite back. Move on. You said to me. So I say to you the same. Just move on.

@KatusM To maintain your sanity, might I politely suggest you don’t reply to very argumentative posts plus the idiots who just say “sign the book”.

To give you more constructive help: I’m no longer a school governor but you need to understand the school governor isn’t really supposed to advocate for parents. So be careful about expecting much. However they can ask for an agenda item in a committee or full GB meeting. They are presumably valued for their expertise so they could be instrumental in changing ethos.

Regarding policies: look at your school web site. There are rules about publishing policies. Some must be published. Therefore behaviour policy and sanctions must be published. I think also homework policy. Some schools have a parent/child/school “contract” but this is not legally enforceable.

You must also fully understand the complaints policy. Another legal one. It’s usually going to say the school wishes to resolve issues via class teacher and then head. I would suggest that you clearly tell the school you are starting the complaints procedure. It therefore should be documented and you and others should note outcomes of discussions. The number of parents who are disgruntled is not of any consequence unless ALL follow the procedures. If the situation is not resolved by the head, every parent making an individual complaint can appeal to a panel of governors. This will be at a meeting and notes of the outcome must be made. It is also info Ofsted would consider. At the meeting (usually 3 governors) parents can bring a supporting adult with them.

If you go down this line, get your ducks in a row. Be clear about policies, the poor outcomes following punishment and the school’s relationship with parents. Your strong argument is the fact the behaviour policy will be silent on punishment for a parent forgetting to do something. They cannot legally punish a child for a voluntary school/parent agreement or “contract”.
One last thing - there’s no evidence that a parent signing a reading record does anything to enhance reading! Where schools aren’t sure if a dc has progressed, they are responsible for assessment. Not the parent! Hope that helps.

Just sign it a term in advance, that's all I used to do. Bit of time the first day it comes home then it goes in the bag and can be forgotten.

Now we home Ed and not only do we have to read the same book on repeat all week, but I have less pointless tasks too

Today the 19 of us who emailed the school sit down and had a conversation and we agreed if this was a one and only occasion we will let it go. If it will repeat we will take it further.

Thank you so much for the lots of information I shared with the group. Hopefully next time they will inform us instead of punish the kids.

Is it worth all this drama? I guess they are trying to get your child to do his homework and your role is to confirm he has done it I don't especially agree with homework for younger primary age kids but you signed up for this school so it's on you really.

How would informing you have changed things?
Is it informing you of the potential punishment so you sign the book?
Is it informing you of the punishment so you have the chance to make a fuss before they come to school?

@cansu the "homework" is to read. A signature doesn't prove that any reading has taken place.
Some parents will sign whether their child has read or not.
It's all a bit pointless.

I agree it is pointless as many parents don't want to sign or hear their kids read. However the OP knew the school system when she signed up to this school.

I’m usually with the school but in this case it seems massively unfair on your child. If you got an ear bashing that would have been fair enough but it’s not his fault if you don’t sign the book.

@cansu she forgot ONCE !
The fact the school year is almost over she's obviously been very efficient for the previous 10 months.

I would sign the book in every slot in advance and write a very strong worded letter

@cansu. Parents know about uniform, homework, parents evenings, safe internet use, and even reading school mailing but is their child to be punished if they don’t do it? Obviously not. I don’t think you understand behaviour policies or what a school can enforce. Plus the op didn’t sign the book - once!!

I would be upset too. Children need their break and exercise in the same way they need lunch and water. It's not right to deprive them of something needed for their wellbeing and it's especially worse because the children have no control over it.

So basically you are all trying to gang up on school? Do you do this for other things too? How do you know all 19 parents contacted school?

The school evidently can keep children in at break if they wish to as they have done so. The school make decisions about what happens during the school day. Whilst you may not agree with this decision it does not make it illegal. I do understand behaviour policies thanks.

@cansu I doubt it if you think the actions of a parent can result in punishment to a child. Behaviour policies are largely about fostering and encouraging good behaviour in school. Punishing a child for a petty rule not strictly adhered to by a child is not what a policy is about. Most schools would not dream of this. Why not just ask the child if reading had been done? Schools make work for themselves and composing about over-work. This is a good example.

Obviously a school has power over a 7 year old. Doesn’t make it fair or right. What happens if all schools disregard policies? Just go rogue and do what they want? Should parents put up and shut up? Hopefully not. Children deserve better

This drove me mad when mine were at primary. The school would punish my child to control MY behaviour. At the time I had 3 part time jobs and 3 children at 3 different schools and the mere idea that they wanted to tell me what to do in the precious bit of breathing space between tea, after school activities and bed was infuriating!

To add insult to injury my children were all readers and we were a book filled household. What they read at bedtime was far more advanced than their crappy reading scheme. It was an extra chore just to have to go the motions! And then exhausted, spent and done in I was expected to remember my ‘homework’. Fuck that.

Yes it’s ’just sign the book’ but it’s the principle.
The parents who went straight from the school and took their kid to the pub until closing time never got the same. They were a lost cause seemingly, so pick on the easy parents.

I’m with you op. It is heavy handed, bullying and upsets children. Which goes against everything that ‘reading for pleasure’ should be about.

My 5 year old child is refusing to do the teacher's work since end of last term. At home, there's been no change in her behaviour. Today at pick up time, when her teacher dismissed my little one, she came around in the school premises, while walking away, she called me and began the conversation as in she mentioned it to my husband and asking if I was made aware that she is refusing to do her work. I replied I was made aware but she mentioned she has not been doing her work since end of last term. I was confused because I wish I knew about that. I then said we had a chat with her on Sunday. Then she said that my child smirked and doesn't obey her or the TA and that if she continues, not only would she keeps missing breaktime, she would be called in HT's office and do work there. A senior came in to observe and did confirm this. I turned around to my child and said to her it's not okay to do this and that I thought she would listen. My child had a not so bad year during reception with many mornings, not wanting to go to school. This is continuing this year; she counts the days until weekend or half term. She said she does not like school and find it boring. I am not happy about punishing her by getting her to miss break time. How does this help? I just think it's unfair as to her missing break time because she's refusing to do work. Surely for a 5 year old, there must be some other displicinary code....also she said she had to stand in the corner. I did not ask how long...I just find this unfair for a 5 year old. What's your thoughts? The senior rang me after school to say that she'll be having a chat with her as she was her T last year and that I should be harder on her as they need her to do the work.

This is a very old thread @Tiara2 . You need to make an OP to start your own thread to get answers to your issue

Honestly op. They're are hills to die on and they're are hills not to. School is full of rules I personally don't agree with it but if I go to war over every little thing than I will just damage the relationship with the school for the really important stuff. Your son missing a days breaking is not the end of the world and I think if you had handled it with a bright breezy ," sorry pet, my fault and I won't forget again and it a bit of a silly rule really" I think your son wouldn't be as upset over this.