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Original poster

Removing reward badges on first pay back as punishment for behaviour in two zoom classes?

312 replies

ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 22:36

Basically, DS who is normally very well behaved has been playing the class jokester on one or two zoom calls. He has been warned previously for this. Nothing too serious in my opinion. Now teacher has told him to expect to hand over all the badges and special jumper he's earned for various things and that he will no longer be on the school council etc. as soon as he arrives back during morning registration. Am I the only one thinking this is really unreasonable punishment given the situation and the fact he's known as 'the badge kid'?

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Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 22:56

@notdaddycool

Ideally don't take things from him but reward those who were sensible. Easier said than done though.
I tend to agree. Or a strong word.
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HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 07/03/2021 22:57

You've clearly got half a story here OP. Speak to the teacher tomorrow. I doubt you'll get to her before he gets to school but find out what actually happened. Then get outraged if you need to. (I don't think you will).

Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 22:58

@SoupDragon

So, he was warned previously but carried on and encouraged others to do the same?

one or two zoom calls. It must be more than one if he's been warned previously.

I don't really agree with taking away things that have been earned but maybe she intends to hang onto them until he shows he can behave.

I'm going to have to have another conversation in the morning with all parities the teach said "a number of" DS said one or two... it's not like him to lie... I just have the impression maybe I'm not getting the full idea.
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VVKills27 · 07/03/2021 22:59

It’s OTT of the teacher. I appreciate they have to keep order and, ok, it would be rather annoying but for heavens sake, Zooming your classmates during a pandemic is quite a strange thing to be doing. He’s a kid & he saw an opportunity to look funny among his friends during a bit of a bleak time. He shouldn’t lose his rewards. Kids make mistakes and get carried away. Just a talking to about how his behaviour affected the class and disappointed his teacher should be sufficient.

noworklifebalance · 07/03/2021 22:59

Cross posted with your updates. I hope it gets sorted and your son is ok - it’s been a tough year for everyone and understandably some children may just be over excited, rather than badly behaved, when they see their friends online having had no real-life interaction with them for nearly 3 months.

Bythemillpond · 07/03/2021 23:00

The problem with removing everything means he hasn’t got anything else to lose.
So where else can the teacher go with punishments and to keep him in line
I know at school something similar happened to me and I went from really trying hard to not bothering. It was pointless putting in all the effort only for everything getting removed for one days misdemeanour

Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 23:00

@noworklifebalance

Sounds very harsh. Our schools are all trying to focus on the mental health of the children, easing them back in, positive messages etc and this seems the total opposite. However, was he persistently misbehaving and disruptive? It may be that he had multiple warnings and was aware of the consequences (loss of privileges, badges etc). Not sure of the relevance of being known as the badge kid.
As in he's literally identified as the "kid with all the badges" if anyone doesn't know who he is.
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HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 07/03/2021 23:00

The teacher has told you it was numerous times. This isn't him acting up once and getting a punishment!

APurpleSquirrel · 07/03/2021 23:01

Have you actually spoken to his teacher? Or is this just what you're DS has told has happened & what his teacher has said?

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 07/03/2021 23:02

Are you sure she said she was taking his jumper and badges? Or did she say something like "if you carry on, I'll take your badges and your jumper if I need to". Your ds may have mininterpreted.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 07/03/2021 23:02

Speak to the teacher first of all. Even if you don't get to do it before the morning and the consequences still happen ,it can still be addressed and fixed.

Find out what he did,when,how many times. What exactly was the warning and the consequence given.

If he knew all this would happen if he did it again and he still did it... well he didn't care that much did he? And the teacher had to follow through (always a bad decision to use a very heavy handed threat as then you have to go through with it).

Once you get the full story you can make a better,well informed decision as to what to do next.

There's no need to be fuming yet.

Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 23:03

@sadpapercourtesan

Some children have massively struggled with home learning, the blurring of boundaries between home and school, the strangeness of zoom calls and the general stress of having their routines and lives upended. Any teacher worth her salt is aware of this and would cut the children a bit of slack. A little boy (and he is a little boy) playing up and being silly? If she goes through with this, she's using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. She risks causing a generally engaged and responsible child (he earned those badges, in normal times!) to become disengaged.
I agree with you I'm 'hoping' it's just a threat to make him think but it's still out of order. Hoping he just gets a strong private talking to.
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SnarkyBag · 07/03/2021 23:03

Definitely get the full picture before getting upset with the teacher. It sounds like a harsh punishment on the surface but I suspect he’s been up to more mischief than you realise.

Online learning is tough all round, I’ve had to sit through it all to support my child and believe me it is so hard to get anything out of a lesson it if a couple of kids decide to disrupt things. If I was seeing this in a regular basis I would probably complain to school as a parent as it’s not fair on my child to have their already disrupted education disrupted further.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 07/03/2021 23:04

I'm going to have to have another conversation in the morning with all parities the teach said "a number of" DS said one or two... it's not like him to lie...

I bet as far as you know it's not like him to mess around, ignore warnings and even worse egg others one to mess about too.

Clymene · 07/03/2021 23:05

If he's known as 'the kid with all the badges' and was warned previously about being an arse and carried on and encouraged other kids to join in, I'm really not surprised they're coming down on him like a ton of bricks.

Otherwise what message are they giving all the other kids? He's been told to stop time and again but he's carried on and escalated his crap behaviour. It sounds like he feels he's invincible. It's probably a very good lesson for him to learn that he's not.

Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 23:05

@Bythemillpond

The problem with removing everything means he hasn’t got anything else to lose. So where else can the teacher go with punishments and to keep him in line I know at school something similar happened to me and I went from really trying hard to not bothering. It was pointless putting in all the effort only for everything getting removed for one days misdemeanour
What was your situation and how did your parents resolve it?
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Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 23:06

@AccidentallyOnPurpose

I'm going to have to have another conversation in the morning with all parities the teach said "a number of" DS said one or two... it's not like him to lie...

I bet as far as you know it's not like him to mess around, ignore warnings and even worse egg others one to mess about too.

True.
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Doveyouknow · 07/03/2021 23:07

Did he have badges because he was a prefect or similar and he has lost his position for being naughty? Or are the just stickers for being good that he has kept? Either way It seems a harsh punishment for a few funny faces in a zoom call - are you sure that's all there was to it?

Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 23:08

@Clymene

If he's known as 'the kid with all the badges' and was warned previously about being an arse and carried on and encouraged other kids to join in, I'm really not surprised they're coming down on him like a ton of bricks.

Otherwise what message are they giving all the other kids? He's been told to stop time and again but he's carried on and escalated his crap behaviour. It sounds like he feels he's invincible. It's probably a very good lesson for him to learn that he's not.

Yes, and given that nickname he's previously been a very outstanding pupil if I may say so myself and does have more badges etc. that other kids in his class I'm to understand. But is it really fair to do it on the first day back in front of everyone? I mean she couldn't take him aside and have a word?
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HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 07/03/2021 23:09

Find out the full details first.

This thread is infuriating.

You've admitted you don't really know what's going on. Wait until you speak to an adult and not your (clearly unreliable) child.

Original poster
ConcernedAboutRules · 07/03/2021 23:10

@Doveyouknow

Did he have badges because he was a prefect or similar and he has lost his position for being naughty? Or are the just stickers for being good that he has kept? Either way It seems a harsh punishment for a few funny faces in a zoom call - are you sure that's all there was to it?
Both actually, not sure he was really supposed to be wearing the stickers anyway after the day or week they are handed out. DS is sleeping right now but I am going to get to the bottom of this. School Council, class monitor, merit awards for attendance etc. etc. and as posted before the school council also are entitled to a differently coloured sweatshirt.
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AccidentallyOnPurpose · 07/03/2021 23:16

Even good kids fuck up sometimes. Especially after being out of routine, playing up to their mates and a feeling of "she can't touch me/do anything to me" as no real time consequences were available to teachers.

If he was warned this would happen and he did it again(at least once), whilst heavy handed it's not unfair.

ikeepseeingit · 07/03/2021 23:17

It seems like a lot based on what you have been told. Is she suggesting he earns it back by being good later on? Or just getting rid of them forever?

Heyha · 07/03/2021 23:17

Well the attendance rewards shouldn't be removed as they were clearly earned but I wouldn't be surprised if he lost his class monitor position for a period of time for not setting a good example. It could be the short sharp shock that he needs but all remains to be seen when you've spoken to the teacher tomorrow, hopefully a good sensible outcome for all concerned!

FeckinCat · 07/03/2021 23:18

He's been warned about his behaviour and has still carried on. Even worse, he's been trying to get other children to follow his example.

Presumably he also knew that having badges removed was one of the school's methods of discipline too.

Personally I don't agree with removing something that a child has earned (and our school policy states that this shouldn't be done) but he clearly hasn't paid any attention to the warnings he's been given.

That kind of behaviour is so disruptive. There will have been children in his class who were genuinely trying to learn, but weren't able to do so because of your son's actions.