How to word a letter about mobile phones being used in the classroom ?

[mamatomany]

Apparently my 6 year olds year 2 teacher asks them to hang on a minute whilst she responds to a text
There was something on the radio about the case in Plymouth and I just casually said none of your teachers have mobiles do they ? Turns out all three have witnessed teachers using their phones whilst the children work during the lessons.
I feel this is extremely unprofessional and in light of events should have been stopped months ago.
I want to approach the head WWDY ?

As far as I'm aware, those phones were used to film/photo abuse taking place, not children changing their t shirts?

Have you thought about writing to the following:

Scouts/guides etc.
Swimming pools
Any sports clubs
Drama, dance etc. clubs
The Daily Mail
?

Can we save this thread for next time we have one of those Elf and Safety Gorn Mad threads?
Then when teachers are chastised for not hugging, touching, allowing anything that could be misread, playing it so safe parents are screaming, we could refer them to mamatomany and she could explain the reasons why.

mamatomany
I think that you have been badly let down by a child care provider in the past and that it is totally understandable that you are wary and cautious now. But you are overreacting to a perceived danger that is just not there.

Honestly.

Please. For the sake of you and your children, talk to someone about this.

Maybe go and speak to your head mistress and ask if they could arrange a parents evening with a child protection officer. I found it very reassuring to know where the dangers really lay.

Not sure if UK schools do things like this, or you could ask in your local police station if they do any kind of workshops.

Well I am sorry you feel the need to take the piss rather than reassure that it simply couldn't happen in your school because of the systems you have in place. That's brilliant.

I think Mme Lindt has posted very sensible advice OP.

Of course it could happen. It could happen with a mobile in school, a normal camera in school, CCTV in school, another child's mobile, secret webcams, a stranger could hide under the windows, a stranger could hide in your bathroom, in your wardrobe etc. etc. but it is very unlikely, and banning phones (or cameras) simply won't help.

We do have excellent systems in place, constantly updated.
Sometimes because of real, sensible improvements, sometimes government diktats and sometimes because of hysterical witch-hunting parents who need to get a grip, can't be told that IRL and so need to be shown and reassured and humoured.

mamatomany
It doesn't matter what measures are put into place to protect the children. Well, it does to a certain extent but really, at the end of the day we can lock down schools but the children are not at school all day.

They go to after school clubs, to Cubs and Brownies, to gymnastics, even to visit uncles and grandfathers.

There is no way of protecting our children from harm.

It is a part of life that there will be times that we are not there to stop them falling out of the tree or warn them to look when they cross the road.

Worrying about our DC is part of motherhood and it is a bugger.

This is utterly bizarre. Yes, of course, teachers shouldn't be socialising on their phones during lessons, but your all-comsuming fear that your children are at risk from anyone can only have a detrimental effect on them. YOU are likely to do more damage by undermining their faith in humanity if you continue to assume that anyone with a phone is going to film them and put them on the internet.

I don't think anyone is saying that it couldn't happen because of course it could.

I'm saying that its just plain daft to have as your starting point that everyone is a risk to your child.

No one that I've seen has made any reference to systems in schools - not sure I understand you on that.

People aren't taking the piss, they want you to explain why you feel the risk is so great I think.

No, I am taking the piss. Mostly.

Well, partly anyway.

So why are the nurseries going to the trouble of banning all phones then ? Are they being hysterical too ?

clemetteattlee - I expressed my surprise. I have not asked them to tell mummy everytime they see a camera pointing at them or to scream and run away.

I think she was referring to my two adults, one child smelling of wee policy.
We have lots and lots of others, including a whole new swathe protecting children from other parents at sporting events, and transporting same to such.

They are probably banning phones because they don't want to be seen not to be reacting to a very unusual case. Better safe than sorry and all that, I don't suppose for a moment that they think thier staff are a risk to the children.

Classic over-reaction

Nurseries are different from schools.

Babies and toddlers get naked.
Babies and toddlers don't know and can't verbalise when there's a problem.
Teachers have better training than nursery staff.
Nurseries are usually quite contained environments, with phones nearby if needed.
Parents of babies and toddlers are usually more hysterical than those of older children.

Our nursery hasn't "banned" phones for this reason. Nursery nurses just don't have any personal possessions on them during the day for practical not panic reasons.

What does make me laugh is that they post on facebook at lunchtime and I know how their days are going...

Well, nurseries are not always run by the intelligent. A knee jerk reaction is standard for those who do not truly understand. Much better to say that the use of mobiles during the professional working day is discouraged.

Parents pay for many nurseries and can withdraw their custom.
How are they on Facebook at lunchtimes then?
Do they unlock their mobiles from the safe and are they then escorted off the premises?

I think they have ... (hushed whisper)... access to the internet during their lunch breaks. I know, shocking isn't it?

We have the internet, but a ferocious LEA filter denies me access to mumsnet, facebook and a huge range of other sites.
You get rude messages accusing you of being tasteless and a member of a cult.

You get rude messages accusing you of being tasteless and a member of a cult.

It's not all bad then.

But MN is a cult isn't it?

Can't use the Urban Dictionary either, so I have no idea what some of the little darlings are saying.