Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

Original poster

DS2 smashed classroom window with football

19 replies

Goldfish · 12/01/2006 19:25

Ds 2 age 10 was playing football at school the other day with a group of friends. It wasn't his ball but he joined in. Unfortunately, the ball left his foot and went straight through the classroom window. He owned up straightaway, but today I got a letter saying I had to contribute towards the cost, (they don't know what that is yet) as ds was playing football in an undesignated area.
I wonder how much they expect? Now the kettle has blown up and its not Friday the 13th until tomorrow!!

OP posts:

starlover · 12/01/2006 19:29

oops!

Janh · 12/01/2006 19:32

Are the parents of the other boys also contributing? Who kicked it doesn't matter, surely.

Original poster

Goldfish · 12/01/2006 19:38

He was playing with one other boy and a girl whose ball it was. JanH I did think this as well, but apparently nothing has been said to the others. When ds2 owned up he said he wasn't asked who he was playing with. I must admit I was a bit fed up about this letter. Fair enough he was in the wrong place but anyone could have kicked it. At least he owned up and I'm proud he did that. He doesn't want to go to school now tomorrow though.

OP posts:

gigglinggoblin · 12/01/2006 19:58

where were the teachers who were supposed to be watching him at the time? are they blind to not notice a group of kids playing football or was your son unsupervised? not much help about who should cover the cost but i wouldnt be very pleased no one was around to see what he was up to.

Original poster

Goldfish · 12/01/2006 20:06

Well on the letter it says before school. The bell goes at 8.40 and he got there at about 8.30
(which is late compared to many of the children).
So they will probably say that even though the gates are open, there is no supervision before start of school.
I see many children walking past my house on the way to school at just after 8 and it takes 5 mins from our house. I know some of dss friends get their early as their mums leave for work at 8 and the child has to leave as well. Poor things.

OP posts:

Lonelymum · 12/01/2006 20:17

Sorry to say this, but I think you have to take responsibility for the fact that your son broke the window and I can see why the school asked you to contribute towards the cost of replacement and not the other children playing football (which indeed, I think you are doing, so don't get me wrong!). If you went down the route of asking the parents of all children playing with that particular football to contribute, the school might find it very hard to establish who was actually playing and who wasn't. It is good that your son owned up straightaway (what an honest boy he is - be pleased about that at least).

As for how much they expect you to contribute, I am more on your side than the school's. They cannot expect you to pay more than you can reasonably afford (they must have insurance cover anyway) and you should not allow them to bamboozle you into paying more than you can afford.

Janh · 12/01/2006 20:52

Do you know, as soon as I posted that I thought "I bet it wasn't just boys"!!! Sexist, moi? I still think they should have asked who else was playing though.

The timing is a significant issue. My kids' primary school always stressed that the playground was unsupervised before 8.45 - as you have said, loads of kids were there before that and I used to have to tussle with DS2 every day to get him to wait as long as poss.

If they ask you for a silly amount - like £100 or something - then I think the other parents should be roped in (I'm sure the kids would fess up with thumbscrews etc). If £20-30 then OK I guess (though I would still be miffed if it was me).

Blandmum · 12/01/2006 20:55

Gigglinggoblin, I don't think that it is unreasonavble that the teachers were not supervising the children before school started, do you?

I expect they were getting stuff ready for the start of school and the first lesson.

Janh · 12/01/2006 20:58

mb, gg didn't know it was before school when she posted that.

Tortington · 12/01/2006 21:01

my son broke a wondow and owned up and then was taken to police station, put in a cell, searched, shoe laces, school tie removed, pockets emptied cell door locked. fingerprinted, statemented and solicitor called, interviewed by two policemen in interview room then cautioned.

my advice - next time run faster and dont be honest.

Blu · 12/01/2006 21:11

I have to agree that Custy's outrageous experience would lead you to think that honesty is the worst policy, but apart from that, I fully sympathise with the financial pressure that this will put you under, Goldfish, but otherwise tend to think that the school are acting reasonably.

RE the various ruses by all you fully grown adults to evade responsibility where Goldfishes son was brave enough to accept it, do you think, then, that school rules really have no currecny, and unless a member of staff is omnipresent to ensure that everyone keeps them?

Goldfish, I do hope the 'contribution' isn't too swingeing.
Poor DS, bless him.

Tortington · 12/01/2006 21:14

i should think the schoolhas an insurance policy no?

dont know how that works.

my son coughed up - out of his wages ( he works during school hols) he gave the man 2 lots of £40 and then £20. i should hope school will come to an arrangement. i think you should say i am willing to pay £xx per week. they wont take you to court.

codnotamod · 12/01/2006 21:15

mine has broken two ( new school huigely shattery windows) and we haev yet to pay altho i offerd obv

next time hes a goner

Original poster

Goldfish · 12/01/2006 21:16

Blimey Custardo how old was he?
I do have to keep on at ds for not going to school earlier, He has friends ringing the doorbell at 8 and I tell them to go away, evil mother, but otherwise he would be at school at just after 8 which is ridiculous.
£20 or £30 would not be too bad, but I would still be miffed as you put it JanH. DH doesn't know about is yet as he is away working, but he can be quite obnoxious if he doesn't agree with something. I am waiting for the school to get a quote. DH will probably tell them to get another one if he doesn't agree!

OP posts:

Tortington · 12/01/2006 21:19

Gillian76 · 12/01/2006 21:23

Is it a LEA school? Don't your taxes contribute to the repair?

Original poster

Goldfish · 12/01/2006 21:24

Poor thing, he must have been terrified! I would have been. It would take my ds forever if I made him pay, he only gets a bit of pocket money at 10.
They must be insured, perhaps they want me to pay the excess. I will have to wait until I get a letter. The head didn't have the guts to ring me and discuss it. He is a bit like that, and you can never get to see him unless you really push it. Perhaps he doesn't exist

OP posts:

Janh · 12/01/2006 21:27

They will be insured but it may not cover unsupervised play

Gillian76 · 12/01/2006 21:28

I broke a window at primary school by sticking my hand through it in a game of chase.

That was an accident too. No-one ever asked us to pay a penny.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread