Responsible for child’s damage

[Bbi]

Hi all,

I'm new here. In the event that I make a mistake, please, pardon me.

Do schools have the authority to request that a parent replace an item (book) that has been damaged by a child?

They can ask - parents can refuse. But that would be a pretty shitty thing for the parent to do.

The polite thing to do would be to replace the book.
Why should they have to pay for your child's actions? Unless significant SEN.

Replace it!

You should replace it, take it out the child’s pocket money.

Yes I think a parent should

unless significant SEN . School age children should know not to destroy property. As a parent I would be offering to pay and be very embarrassed that my child had caused damage

It's not a black and white situation. Obviously schools are on very tight budgets and can't afford to replace damaged resources. Families may also be struggling so if paying for replacing the book would mean people missing meals then the school may be better able to take the hit. It also depends who was supposed to be in charge of the child at the time of the damage and whether they should have anticipated that there was about to be a destructive event. E.g. if a child with SEN is supposed to have 1:1 support but isn't receiving that support because the school is using the TA to support the whole class, and the child gets disregulated and starts lashing out, then it's more the school's fault than the parent's.

However if the school's staff didn't contribute to creating the situation and the parent can afford to pay out then that would be the ethical choice.

Would you like to explain why you think something that was broken by a child, shouldn't be replaced by a parent?

Were they in school when the book was damaged? If so, I would say not because the school were in loco parentis at the time - it happened on their watch.

Accident, maybe not.

Due to messing around or on purpose, then probably yes. Unless v expensive when insurance would cover and then a token payment?

I don’t know why you wouldn’t replace it…

If your child damaged something at a friend’s house, the friend might not have the authority to “make” you pay for it but I hope you would offer.

Why wouldn’t you?

Yes, our school bills parents for damage. Just as they should. If it’s a library book for example, the child isn’t allowed to borrow another until the book has been paid for or replaced. Teach your child to respect things that don’t belong to them.

Of course you should pay

I’d buy a new one and send it in before they even had to ask. Are there people who don’t do this?

I'm a TA and send reading books home for my phonics group every week. Children (reception) can also take a new book from the reading corner home every day if they swap it with yesterday's book. If a phonics book gets lost we might give them another chance depending on the family circumstances, but if they lose / significantly damage multiple books either the parent pays for a new one or we stop sending them home (child still reads the book in phonics lessons at school) - those books are surprisingly expensive. If the child doesn't bring their reading corner book back, they can't take another one home but we probably wouldn't charge the parent. Why should the school have to pay for a new book because the child or their parent can't respect school property (pretty easy - take the book out of child's bag, read it, put it back in the bag)? Or, the other children have less choice in the book corner cos again, lack of respect?

Those thin little reading books the children bring home cost nearly £5 each, can you imagine the cost if schools had to replace all the damaged books? These days , most schemes involve children reading the book at school in a group or class and then taking it home to “ practice” If books aren’t returned, not every child in the group or class will have access to the book and the school has to buy replacements.

Yes you should pay. Take it from child’s pocket money or make them do jobs to repay you. Why should the school and the taxpayer pick up the bill

If it was a broken beaker in science, we wouldn't bother. But if a student snapped a £10 tape measure by stupidity whilst out on the school field, I would (and have).

Why would a parent NOT replace something their child has damaged?

I don’t think you can have one rule for those with SEN and one for everyone else. If parents find out they’ll quite possibly claim their child has an undiagnosed condition or anxiety to avoid paying. This is the sort of thing that is encouraging more people to push for diagnoses where it’s not necessary or appropriate because they feel that it’s advantageous to have one.

I thought all schools charged for damaged or lost items

I think I agree with the majority that the parent should. However, it's all situational...