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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

What do you think about personal items being confiscated at school

22 replies

crazedupmom · 22/04/2008 21:03

Hi
My ds took some football cards to school today.
They are the ones that they can exchange with their mates if they get duplicates.

I had noticed that a few of his mates regularly bring them to school, so even though I am not usually that keen on him bringing stuff into school I didn,t say anything.

He has come back from school today really upset,he says the teacher has took them off him and said he cannot have them back until may.
What do you think about teachers confiscating these sort of things at school would you ask for them back and give assurance that they will not be brought in again.
What is your dc,s school like with this sort of thing.
My ds has been upset all day about it.

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WigWamBam · 22/04/2008 21:06

Did he tell you why the teacher took them off him? If they don't mind them taking things into school, I wonder whether he was playing with them when he should have been working and that's why she took them away.

Ask her. You will only find out what's going on if you get both sides of the story. You will also find out what the school's policy is on taking toys and games in, and know what to tell him next time he asks.

madamez · 22/04/2008 21:09

Have a word with the teacher. It may be that your DS had them taken away for messing about with them in lessontime rather than just for having them with him. Also, if you don't already know, ask for clarification about what DC are allowed to take to school with them (these football cards sound fairly harmless to me so I don't see why there should be a school ban on them.)

Original poster

crazedupmom · 22/04/2008 21:11

I have questioned him but all I get is I don,t know, can,t remember.

I shall ask his teacher tomorrow about it.

OP posts:

christywhisty · 22/04/2008 21:19

Cards are usually banned at DC's primary school because they cause so much trouble.
Children do swaps then change their mind adn get upset, they get stolen and it's very difficult to prove ownership. My DS had over a 100 yu gioh cards stolen. The teacher told them all to put them in the cupboard and they all went missing
There was many warnings about if they bought them in they would be confiscated for a day, week etc

FluffyMummy123 · 22/04/2008 21:20

Message withdrawn

NaughtyNigel · 22/04/2008 21:24

yup banned from our school too. although they did do a warning system. first time you're caught - cards confiscated till the end of the day. Second time confiscated till the end of term. And they did tell us in the termly newsletter.
It's because the little sods children get all silly over them and fight anbout who is swapping for who and then they get torn or knicked. and just not worth the hasstle.
invite his mates over at the weekend for a swap party.

twinsetandpearls · 22/04/2008 21:29

I confiscated two mobile phones today because they had them out in lessons. The kids all know that if i see them out in lessons without permission they will get taken. I would also confiscate cards or anything else but not until may! Is that when they are on half term?

Original poster

crazedupmom · 22/04/2008 21:32

My ds says she said the 1st of may.

OP posts:

cece · 22/04/2008 21:33

May is only next week though isn't it?

unknownrebelbang · 22/04/2008 21:38

Our primary school sometimes bans certain things, usually after the children have been a pita with them.

I discourage mine from taking stuff in, but they sometimes sneak stuff through. If they get confiscated, it's their own fault.

May is only next week.

Califrau · 22/04/2008 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

twinsetandpearls · 22/04/2008 21:42

Forgot it was only a week away. I have confiscated things for a week or until a parent can come in to collect it. The children are always warned though.

perpetualworrier · 22/04/2008 22:12

I'm sorry, but I really can't see why anyone would encourage these cards!

What a waste of money and nothing but trouble by the sounds of it.

What would 100 yu gioh cards have cost christy? There must be something better you could have done with the cash. Sorry, but what about teaching kids the value of money? Good luck to any school that bans/confiscates them imo. (but I know I'm odd )

christywhisty · 22/04/2008 23:41

Actually, when pokemon cards first came out I said their is no way he is having them. I think he was 4 or 5 at the time. We collected cigarette cards (DH had inherited some) and realised that this was no different really.

It actually turned out really helpful because he is dyslexic, I use to spend a lot of time playing games like name a Pokemon beginning with A etc. I used to know all the pokemon never quite got into Yugioh the same way.
He would actually play the proper game with them as well which was way beyond me. Even DD would play the game for ages with him.

I found a website where you could get packs of cards cheaply. He saved his pocket money for them and he has carried on collecting and still has his complete collections in a folder in his bedroom. He is 12 now and has only really stopped collecting them since he left primary, although he still likes thumbing through the books at collectors fairs.
They kept his interest for 7 years, other than lego or knex I can't think of any other toy that will last that long. He is a very bright boy not the footballing type, but it gave him something to talk about in the playground with the "in crowd".
He knew the value of the cards, how much the rare ones were worth etc so in many ways they did teach him the value of money.

avenanap · 22/04/2008 23:43

my ds once tried to argue that this was a violation of his human rights under the right to personal possessions article. Poor thing. So much trouble for a piece of confiscated lego.

cory · 23/04/2008 14:33

PSML avenap, I love it!

As for the OP, I would expect the school to have clear rules about what you may not bring in (e.g. mobile phones not allowed in dc's school).

But on top of that, I would expect the school to confiscate a permitted item if the child was messing around with it in class. There is a logic to this that the child should be able to understand.

And I would on the whole uphold the teacher's decision, unless it was totally off or went against stated school policy (e.g. if school allows cards at breaktime, but one individual teacher decides on the spur of the moment that they are the work of the devil).

Blandmum · 23/04/2008 14:37

If I saw a child playing with something in a lesson I would confiscate it.

I also take in items that are banned in school, mobile phones, IPods etc

Those trading cars are banned at ds's primary as they have been at the root of so many arguments and falling out of friends

LIZS · 23/04/2008 14:52

At ours they are asked not to bring such things in as they are a source of conflict and upset.

Twiglett · 23/04/2008 14:55

May is next thursday so that's a week's confiscation

I'll bet he was being a PITA

speak to the teacher about it .. but do it supportively

Blandmum · 23/04/2008 14:57

If my kids had something in school that they shouldn't I'd let the confiscation stand.

Yes, you have rights, but along with them comes responsibility.

So you may well have the right to own the cards, but you have the responsibility to learn when you can play with them, and when you shouldn't (and possibly should be working).

edam · 23/04/2008 15:08

I'd object to something being confiscated for a week. Too long IMO. These are your son's possessions. I'd support confiscation to the end of the school day and a stern warning not to bring them in again.

marina · 23/04/2008 15:15

I think schools need to remember that parents of first children may not be fully aware just what a nightmare trading cards are - and explain why in a letter at the start of the school year
I expect the school has such a policy. Check with the teacher crazedupmom, but I think it's pretty reasonable to confiscate for at least a day on first offence, making sure the child understands why too - and that they will get them back.

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