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Original poster

Daughters water contaminated at school

179 replies

ZebraD · 18/04/2024 12:02

Just that - daughter went out to play at school break time. Came back in and thankfully noticed her bottle had bubbles in it so didn’t actually drink it. However it turns out that someone has put hand sanitizer in the water. (She opened the bottle and could smell it I think)
school didn’t ring me until an hour after school ends (it happened morning break). Daughter was at her dad’s last night so I knew nothing of it until they rang.
they don’t know who did it. The only thing the teacher explained at is that it is dangerous to do things like that - he said they spent 20 minutes talking about the dangers and then carried on with lessons.
how would you feel?

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CaptainMyCaptain · 18/04/2024 18:33

OneBadKitty · 18/04/2024 18:24

Don't be stupid- the child didn't have their drink spiked. Spiking drinks is something much more sinister and done by fully grown adults with malicious intent. Here we are taking about a silly 10 year old who probably had no idea about the consequences of their actions who thought it would be funny to make a fellow 10 year olds drink taste a bit peculiar for a laugh.

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Agreed. And it didn't even have the desired effect because her daughter smelled it and didn't drink any. If she'd taken a sip she would have spat it out. The OP didn't need to come and replace the drink, I'm sure someone rinsed out the bottle and refilled it with fresh water.

10 year olds do stupid things. If it happens again then it gets more serious but I'm sure the culprits will have thought better of it. If the teacher does suspect who did it then some investigation will be going in which the OP won't know about. If any of the other children know who it was they might well tell a member of staff.

As for cctv I don't know a single Primary school that has it. It would be controversial and some parents would be stunned to see how their children behave which might not be a bad thing.

HcbSS · 18/04/2024 18:34

Comedycook · 18/04/2024 18:25

I do think the police or a pcso should speak to the class.. I think whoever did this, as they won't be getting directly punished, needs a short sharp shock and to be aware that this is extremely serious.

Have to agree. The kid who did it is probably not a malicious evil individual, rather a prankster who thought it was funny. But a prank can turn sour very quickly.

Comedycook · 18/04/2024 18:34

LakeSnake · 18/04/2024 18:30

Really?
You think that a 10yo has no idea that drinking a chemical substance can be dangerous?

So you wouldn’t leave them around washing up liquid either in case they drink it. Or many of the cleaning products, paint etc… we all have in a house.

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I think a nt child would know not to start drinking or eating cleaning products or other non food products. But I wouldn't necessarily think they'd know that hand sanitizer is not as toxic as bleach for example. I imagine they know it shouldn't be ingested but I doubt they understand which products are most dangerous.

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Comedycook · 18/04/2024 18:35

LakeSnake · 18/04/2024 18:30

Really?
You think that a 10yo has no idea that drinking a chemical substance can be dangerous?

So you wouldn’t leave them around washing up liquid either in case they drink it. Or many of the cleaning products, paint etc… we all have in a house.

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But I think you got my point the wrong way round. I'm saying they may well have thought it was dangerous...but they should not be treated more leniently even if it is a relatively non toxic substance... because that's just by luck rather than design if you see what I mean.

RawBloomers · 18/04/2024 18:39

I would be a bit shocked at 10 year olds doing that, OP.

I would have expected the school to at least try and find out who did it by asking the class and giving time for kids to come forward who either witnessed, or heard rumours, or had an admission. There might not be enough to take action against an individual child but it’s a serious act (even if child wasn’t aware of the potential consequences) and similar acts, whether malicious or just mischievous with similar poor judgement, might not be as lucky re: the lack of negative outcomes. So I would expect an attempt to narrow down who might be responsible. I would also expect a degree of vigilance for a few weeks when there might opportunities for the act to be repeated.

I would also expect some sort of apology to my DC that they didn’t keep her safe and reassurance that they would be looking out more.

However, if they can’t find out who the likely culprit is, a talk with the class is probably the most they can really do and I wouldn’t find that unreasonable or be upset about it. But it sounds like you feel this is all they were prepared to do and if that were the case I would be pretty upset that they weren’t taking it more seriously.

Axx · 18/04/2024 18:40

Shocking that they weren't all fingerprinted and put in the sticks until one confessed.

HcbSS · 18/04/2024 18:42

Axx · 18/04/2024 18:40

Shocking that they weren't all fingerprinted and put in the sticks until one confessed.

You could call their bluff and do it (even knowing that you wouldn’t get the evidence from it with the resources a school have). What’s the betting one would crack and fess up.

kaben · 18/04/2024 18:55

A 4yo knows this is wrong. I’d be worried about a 10yo who did this.

Devonshiregal · 18/04/2024 19:13

NigelHarmansNewWife · 18/04/2024 18:01

  1. Always had plenty to drink at home and during break times when I were a lass.
  2. Yeah course I would because that's a totally rational comparable situation.

Ridiculous whataboutery.

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How isn’t it comparable? The kid (a person just like you) left her drink unattended and came back to it poisoned with hand gel. How is that any different? You’re more…important? Why is it no big deal if she gets her drink spiked but if you do it’s a problem?

I assume you were the school bully eh?

StMarieforme · 18/04/2024 19:15

10 is the age of criminal responsibility. Tell the school if they will not investigate and punish them you will tell the police. It's attempted ABH.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/04/2024 19:17

I would have expected the school to at least try and find out who did it by asking the class and giving time for kids to come forward who either witnessed, or heard rumours, or had an admission. That could well still be happening.

RawBloomers · 18/04/2024 19:18

Devonshiregal · 18/04/2024 19:13

How isn’t it comparable? The kid (a person just like you) left her drink unattended and came back to it poisoned with hand gel. How is that any different? You’re more…important? Why is it no big deal if she gets her drink spiked but if you do it’s a problem?

I assume you were the school bully eh?

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Generally when drink spiking is talked about it’s in the context of men trying to incapacitate (normally) women so they can rape them.

this is more likely a child contaminating a drink so they can laugh at the idea of one of their peers drinking something that tastes nasty.

The criminal intent is very different, albeit still behaviour that needs taking seriously.

BiggerBoat1 · 18/04/2024 19:24

StMarieforme · 18/04/2024 19:15

10 is the age of criminal responsibility. Tell the school if they will not investigate and punish them you will tell the police. It's attempted ABH.

Yes do that! Give the police a giggle

kaben · 18/04/2024 19:29

BiggerBoat1 · 18/04/2024 19:24

Yes do that! Give the police a giggle

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the police won't be giggling when they deal with this little shit a few years down the line, when his/her crimes have escalated due to not being dealt with now

and a talk from someone in a police uniform might be just the fright the little shit needs to stop thinking poisoning is a good idea

Comedycook · 18/04/2024 19:29

BiggerBoat1 · 18/04/2024 19:24

Yes do that! Give the police a giggle

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Yes. Drink spiking is oh so funny when it's done to small children

OneBadKitty · 18/04/2024 19:30

LakeSnake · 18/04/2024 18:28

@OneBadKitty

1- How do you know that the child didn't have malicious intend? And is it the only criteria to evaluate if someone’s actions are wrong?
2- spiking isn’t done only by adults. And even if it was, children still need to be taught you don’t play with other people drinks (and food). Just like you teach them that stealing, killing etc… is wrong. That’s part of education.

Yes, they do need to be taught- and that's what the teacher did!

We don't know if the child had malicious intent- but it's highly likely that they didn't intend to render the girl unconscious, rape her, kill her or rob her which is usually the intent when 'spiking' a drink.

And in my world it isn't generally children spiking drinks in night clubs and bars- it's men. Can't say I've ever heard of children spiking a drink in the way it is insinuated on here.

Devonshiregal · 18/04/2024 19:42

RawBloomers · 18/04/2024 19:18

Generally when drink spiking is talked about it’s in the context of men trying to incapacitate (normally) women so they can rape them.

this is more likely a child contaminating a drink so they can laugh at the idea of one of their peers drinking something that tastes nasty.

The criminal intent is very different, albeit still behaviour that needs taking seriously.

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Yeah maybe, but the response still matters to the victim. I believe strongly that encouraging or showing a 10 year old girl that they should brush off a spiked drink will negatively impact their response to things in the future. Plus remember that their victim is also 10. So it’s easy to shrug “oh the perpetrator was 10 so it doesn’t really carry that much weight” but the victim is also 10 - so it DOES carry weight for them.

for example, an 18 year old spikes an 18 year old’s drink with hand sanitiser = the 18 year old victim taking it very seriously.

a 10 year old spikes an 18 year old’s drink with hand sanitiser = the 18 year old victim not taking it very seriously

a 10 year old spikes a 10 year old’s drink with hand sanitiser = the 10 year old victim taking it very seriously

it isn’t necessarily based on the perpetrator’s situation, but the victim’s.

Also, 10 year olds can be evil little shits. And dismissing it as child’s play doesn’t help anyone when it can be a lot worse. Yes, sometimes it’s just stupidity and children don’t realise the consequences. Other times they’re little bastards. And other times they’re even worse.

ageratum1 · 18/04/2024 19:59

I am far from convinced anything was added to the water bottles.

RawBloomers · 18/04/2024 20:03

Devonshiregal · 18/04/2024 19:42

Yeah maybe, but the response still matters to the victim. I believe strongly that encouraging or showing a 10 year old girl that they should brush off a spiked drink will negatively impact their response to things in the future. Plus remember that their victim is also 10. So it’s easy to shrug “oh the perpetrator was 10 so it doesn’t really carry that much weight” but the victim is also 10 - so it DOES carry weight for them.

for example, an 18 year old spikes an 18 year old’s drink with hand sanitiser = the 18 year old victim taking it very seriously.

a 10 year old spikes an 18 year old’s drink with hand sanitiser = the 18 year old victim not taking it very seriously

a 10 year old spikes a 10 year old’s drink with hand sanitiser = the 10 year old victim taking it very seriously

it isn’t necessarily based on the perpetrator’s situation, but the victim’s.

Also, 10 year olds can be evil little shits. And dismissing it as child’s play doesn’t help anyone when it can be a lot worse. Yes, sometimes it’s just stupidity and children don’t realise the consequences. Other times they’re little bastards. And other times they’re even worse.

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I agree and said that it should be taken seriously. I disagree with equating this to drink spiking in the sense that that phrase is normally used.

Devonshiregal · 18/04/2024 20:07

RawBloomers · 18/04/2024 20:03

I agree and said that it should be taken seriously. I disagree with equating this to drink spiking in the sense that that phrase is normally used.

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Ah I see. Sorry. Yes I know what you mean - for me I don’t really too much difference because the result to the victim (because their ages and life experiences are different) is very similar. But I can see why you feel that way.

kaben · 18/04/2024 20:19

Deal with it at 10, or risk this at 16:

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's.

I mean he has hammer attacked and maimed students and attacked a teacher, but says it was just sleepwalking and his hammer was for self defence.

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's | Daily Mail Online

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's

Boy, 17, 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students

The boy, now 17, launched a violent assault at £41,000-a-year Blundell's School in Tiverton, Devon, with the intent to kill, the trial heard.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13323447/Boy-17-smashed-skulls-two-boarding-school-students-slept-dorms-trying-kill-teacher-41-000-year-private-school-Blundells.html

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/04/2024 20:51

kaben · 18/04/2024 20:19

Deal with it at 10, or risk this at 16:

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's.

I mean he has hammer attacked and maimed students and attacked a teacher, but says it was just sleepwalking and his hammer was for self defence.

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's | Daily Mail Online

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's

Lock them all up then on the off chance.

BiggerBoat1 · 18/04/2024 20:55

kaben · 18/04/2024 20:19

Deal with it at 10, or risk this at 16:

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's.

I mean he has hammer attacked and maimed students and attacked a teacher, but says it was just sleepwalking and his hammer was for self defence.

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's | Daily Mail Online

Boy, 17, claimed he was sleepwalking when he 'smashed the skulls' of two boarding school students as they slept in their dorms before trying to kill a teacher at £41,000-a-year private school Blundell's

Well that escalated from talking about a bit of sanitiser in a water bottle. This thread is batshit

kaben · 18/04/2024 20:59

That's the whole point isn't it - behaviour escalates so it needs dealing with when the kid is still small.

Comedycook · 18/04/2024 20:59

kaben · 18/04/2024 20:59

That's the whole point isn't it - behaviour escalates so it needs dealing with when the kid is still small.

Yes. It's like kids who start hurting animals.