School staff member took my child’s toy (for his own child) after confiscating items for sale

[Busyybee]

My DC has recently been selling squishy toys at school, he’s an entrepreneur in the making. However we told him it wasn’t a good idea and he carried on.

On Friday he got caught and his teacher gave me his school bag which contained ‘his stock’. They asked me to not allow him to bring them in as it’s not allowed. I told them I’m glad they’ve said it to him & he won’t be bringing them again. As the teacher handed me the bag, another staff member who works at the school asked to see what he was selling and went on to take 1 squishy & said ‘this will be nice for my daughter’. My DC asked him for the money & the staff member said ‘No, your lucky I didn’t take the lot’

My DC asked the staff member for the money or squishy back & he said ‘Na na your not getting it back, your lucky it wasn’t (deputy head) as she would of taken the lot’

This doesn’t sit right with me, value is only £1 but it’s the principle. What is this teaching the children?

What do I do about this?

Have you contacted the school now OP?

I wouldn’t be taking it as far as the police, however I do feel the HT needs to be informed of the staff members actions!

What makes it worse is that the issue was resolved by my child’s teacher handing me the bag & giving my child the talk about not bringing them in etc.
The other staff member then asked what happened after the teacher walked off and went through the squishes and took one! It was done & dusted, why the hell is he taking things into his hands! He’s a nobody - Mentor my arse!

He’s only 11, so yes I’m sure he hasn’t quite got the entrepreneurial knack down pat yet.

He really shouldn’t have done that the CF.

I’ve written an email but haven’t heard back:

Dear Headteacher,

I am writing regarding an incident that occurred at school involving my child on Friday.

While I understand and accept that my child should not have been bringing items into school to sell, I was concerned by the conduct of a member of staff during the situation.

In my presence, the staff member took one of the toys and stated that they would be keeping it for their own child without payment. This was not presented as a confiscation for school policy, but as a personal decision.

I would appreciate clarification on this, and I would like the item returned.

I trust this matter will be addressed appropriately.

Kind regards,

When I was in secondary I used to sell chocolate bars and cans of red bull (which were banned 😎). Once a teacher (who looking back was hungover) told me to hand one over or he would take my stock and report me. Not the best teaching ethics but at the end of the day I was breaking the rules.

Personally I probably wouldn’t escalate because when you deal in contraband it’s a dangerous game. Lesson learned. The school could have confiscated the lot anyway, and when I got busted for my chocolate gig I’m pretty sure the staff ate it all.

They’ll be too busy rolling their eyes investigating to answer yet!

Items are all purchased from a wholesaler WITHIN the UK & all items are marked with CE! I don’t purchase of TEMU as I know it’s cheap junk! I’m an online seller and only sell items that are safe to the public & have passed the UK standards! So don’t question about it being unsafe!

So you’ve facilitated all of this…..

Good email @Busyybee - hope you get a positive response.

Quite.

I love the word 'contraband'. 😀

You are the parent, put your foot down and say no, schools are for education not making money. Set up a selling page on socials and manage on behalf of your son for selling. Take him to craft fairs and hire a stall. Lots of ways to sell without taking to school

I'm not sure a good school will be rolling their eyes. If a teacher confidently behaves illegally (and teachers are well aware this is illegal) infront of parents I would be concerned about what other laws/rules they are breaking away from eyes and ears. Your email seems fine to me OP.

OP says the school isn’t good, she’s a number of complaints, not least that certain lessons aren’t worth teaching and her son is using his time more wisely. Little treasure that he is!

You are massively over invested in this
All entrepreneurs have losses every now and again. Even the best ones.
Some aren’t fair.
Most are learning experiences.

I did read it. Weak parenting leading to child making poor life choice. Teachers are there to teach, not police a black market. The Headteacher will not care about it as it’s a non-issue. The real issue is your child selling goods on school property. Parent your child.

All the more reason for this to be addressed and escalated if necessary then. Clearly there is an issue with the school culture.

So basically, this was an extension your business and a handy way to avoid paying tax on the profits and take advantage of school children, using your son as the mule. Stellar parenting!

The best!

And the parent encouraging the child to sell
and profit, through her business.

Pot kettle black!

Sorry so to clarify you feel that if children at a school misbehave then it is fine for teachers to behave poorly and break the law? You think law breaking teachers will rectify the issue in school?

I haven't actually mentioned the behaviour at all as that is not what OP is asking about. OP has acknowledged the behaviour was wrong.

while the OP acknowledged that the child’s behaviour was wrong, she certainly didn’t stop him from taking the toys into school to sell. I don’t think the teacher’s behaviour was right, but under the circumstances, I think the child was lucky that his entire stock wasn’t confiscated. I think it’s ridiculous to be making a formal complaint about this.

Therefore you think it is acceptable to turn a blind eye to teachers breaking the law, I do not. The thread is asking about the teachers behaviour, which was unlawful as the teacher will be well aware.

Excellent email, OP. I presume the email to the Head includes the name of the teacher.