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Parenting

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Original poster

enraged by attitudes i am getting about my dd wearing suncream

66 replies

cremolafoam · 12/05/2006 15:23

dd is very diligent about wearing a high factor suncream and as the sun has come out this week and it has been hot hot hot these last few days , i have of course made sure that she is covered in high factor cream for school. just got a note home today say that teachers can't be responsible for children in the sun etc etc as there are too many kids and not enough time.
dd was made to feel crap for trying to put on her cream and a hat before games( it is 26 degrees today) and has come home with a big red face (sun exposure)after 2 hours on the hockey pitch.Aparently her ( male ) teacher told her not to be so vain.
I am beyond livid. this is doubly unspeakable as her father died from skin cancer.

OP posts:

LeahE · 12/05/2006 16:39

imo it's not about "circumstances" -- to use the word "vain" about sunscreen, even half-jokingly, is inappropriate in a school environment. I wouldn't go in "all guns blazing", and I wouldn't go out for the blood of the individual teacher but I do think it needs to be tackled at a higher level than the individual teacher because there ought to be a strong cultural steer from the top on this kind of issue and it sounds as though that's lacking.

Blandmum · 12/05/2006 16:44

It helps to check if thigs happened exactly as told.

I have been on the other end of this sort of thing.

I kept a child in for 10 minutes at break time for persistant, very disruptive behaviour.

He went home and told mum that I had kept him in all break and all lunch time, which is why is packed lunch haddn't been eaten (child is 12 btw)

Mother went in , 'All guns blazing' to the deputy head, who asked me for my version of events. Mother ends up in tears of embarasment.

There was also another MNetter whos child reported that a teacher had bullied her and a friend. MN screamed for the teacher to be sacked etc etc. Ended up that the child had not being telling the truth and had done so to cover for a friend.

It may very well be that CF's dd is telling the truth, but children do sometimes lie and it is as well to check it all out before going in 'all guns blazing'

Blandmum · 12/05/2006 16:48

fwiw, whatever the reasons behind all of this, it is a good opertunity to promote a healthy school initiative on sunscreen use, hats etc

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Original poster

cremolafoam · 12/05/2006 16:51

first things first: if dd had been allowed to put on her cream she would not be burnt.
ironically the school says it ahs a sunsafe policy-a letter and leaflet came home after a talk given by the cancer reasearch people in asssmebly( 2004)
Now a letter comes home today saying that teachers cannot be responsible for putting cream on kids due to time factors. ok I can accept this, but surely they must encourage them to put it on themselves. is this not the basis of a sunsafe policy. ?
my dd is 10 and can do it herself- of course she can- if given time
Surely the teachers should be the ones to encourage it and show a good example. Even teachers need a bit of suncream from time to time.
Dd has a prescribed suncream( by a dermatologist)It only lasts for 2 hours and thus HAS to be reapplied regularly.She is allergic to most other suncreams including the waterproof ones this is registered with the school nurse. I have been to the school to discuss it with her and dd own year teacher at the beginning of term.I was assured that because they had a sunsafe policy i needn't worry.
They seem to have forgotten all about this.
There seems to have been alot of 'being seen to be done'and not much else.
Of course the aforementioned PE teacher could just be a dickhead. i don't know , but I intend to find out.
i STILL DESPAIR

OP posts:

Blandmum · 12/05/2006 16:57

Totaly agree that she should have been allowed to put on the SS.

kate100 · 12/05/2006 16:58

I still think there is an issue here that needs to be brought to the schools attention, Cremolafoams daughter was sunburned, even though the schools are aware of her allergies etc, I don't think that 'vain' is a word a 10 year old would associate with suncream, I don't know for sure but I would imagine that it was repeated to cremolafoam as that's what was said to her dd. If she'd burned her hand during cookery as her teacher considered using oven gloves to 'vain' would that be acceptable too? Should schools not be giving children a chance to protect themselves?

spidermama · 12/05/2006 16:59

I understand why you're upset but ...

My dd lied to me, bare-facedly, because she was scared I'd have a go at her for cutting her hair. That's how this happened.

Your dd presumably knows you'd be upset if she forgot to put on suncream?

It's always right, under any circumstances, to get other peoples version of events before you make accusations.

If it turns out to be even half true, you may hit the roof.

Original poster

cremolafoam · 12/05/2006 17:05

I am absolutely sure that dd was telling the truth. 'vain' is not a word i have ever heard her use before. She even asked me exactly what it meant and sqirmed with embaressment when i explained it.

OP posts:

shellybelly · 12/05/2006 17:37

why not show this to the school, got it of GMTV website \link{http://www.safe-campaign.org\this}

bet my link doesn't work!

glassofwine · 12/05/2006 19:29

Cremolafoam, You are obviously a great mum, I too have red hair and fair skin and was burnt many times over many summers as a child. Now I'm a parent I cannot believe my mum let this happen even though we didn't have the information we have now about skin cancer you'd have thought she have prevented me burning. So I just wanted to say that you deserve a big hug for careing so much.

peaches27 · 12/05/2006 20:26

As an ex teacher I agree that your daughter should be allowed to wear suncream and its unfortunate that some male teachers sometimes tend towards the sarcastic when dealing with children. However as a teacher the issue for me wasnt applying 30 lots of sunscreen, but in this day and age we have to be careful about touching children. Innocent things like rubbing in cream can be misinterpreted and from a teachers viewpoint we were advised by our union not to touch children at all, because of possible legal action. This was hard for me because I taught early years and little ones would climb on my knee and hug me! I never had a problem with children applying their own cream though, or some dedicated mums turning up at lunchtime to do it! I know this isnt the case with your daughter as she is clearly older and it wasnt about a teacher applying it, but I thought I would mention it as someone else mentioned problems supervising 30 lots of suncream.

peaches27 · 12/05/2006 20:28

PS there is a Boots Soltan for babies factor 50 which gives 8 hour protection. This can be put on before school in a morning. I have bought some for our kids as it is 2 for 1 at the moment.

LeahE · 12/05/2006 20:34

peaches27 cremolafoam has said that her dd has severe allergies so can only use a particular type of sunscreen that is prescribed for her by her dermatologist, so the Boots Soltan isn't an option for her (although a good tip for the rest of us thanks!)

ComeOVeneer · 12/05/2006 20:45

I know your dd has allergies but if it wouldn't affect her the pampers impregnated sunnies wipes may be a good way for her to apply suncream more easily by herself.

Jzee · 12/05/2006 21:14

Flippin ridiculous! I am exactly the same and when the sun comes out so does our sunscreen etc etc. These days even the Ozzies cover their kids up from sun exposure and we love the sun! Tell that teacher to take a look at skin cancer statistics!

joanna4 · 12/05/2006 23:00

Peaches27 this is the conversation we have had today regarding touching children etc when applying sun screen although we have agreed in our class we will do it but only in full view classroom situation.Although in some cases i cannot help apply as i am allergic to coconut and it seems to be in lots of sun products.Some of ours bring sun wipes in lots easier to apply.

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