Teachers...is this normal or am I over reacting?

[yohoohoo]

Can I have some advice on this situation which happened today...

DD 12 stayed behind at school tonight to help set up for an exhibitionon for tomorrow night. During this time she went with a teacher in her car to a local shop to buy some some snacks and materials. Teacher couldnt park so gave DD bank card and pin number for her to go in a buy the stuff.

Im shocked 😕 because:

I thought DD was at school
Is it the norm for pupils to go out in the teachers car just the 2 of them
Was there insurance
My child was out of the teachers sight in the shop
My child was asked to use the teachers card and had pin number

Im just shocked or is this quite the norm???

[pieceofpurplesky]

I am a teacher. Only specific teachers will have insurance to transport pupils.
I have only ever taken pupils home after events where parents have not arrived to collect their children (usually in the pub). I always ensure I have another adult in the car too.
The teacher sounds very immature

[EvilTwins]

Is your child male or female and is the teacher male or female? You have three threads going now and the details are inconsistent.

[mummytime]

I have worked in schools (as a teacher) and no this is not normal. No teacher I know would put themselves in such a vulnerable position.
But giving a bank card with the pin to someone else, show they are an idiot.
I would report to the school, and would expect to the school to "have a word" and "keep an eye".

[sunshinemeg]

I am a teacher, it's most likely been done in a rush without thought. They will be under huge stress getting ready for the concert so you would be cruel to raise concerns before the event. I would wait until tomorrow then contact the school to ask but not make a complaint as the teacher just needs a quiet word rather than anything formal

[ScarlettDarling]

Very odd, esp the bit about the bank card and PIN number. I'm a primary teacher so obviously it's different but I can imagine giving a child a lift in an emergency, with parental permission. Can't ever imagine taking them to the shops and giving them my bank card.

[verytiredmummy1]

I'm a teacher. I've had to take children home on occasion but only with another teacher in the car and only in a car with special insurance for this. Parents are also always informed. Personally I think the teacher was silly to not protect herself in this situation but is probably just an error of judgement on her part and nothing else!

[readthethread]

it's a bit overly trusting of the teacher, but really i can't see how there was any danger/issue here.
it wasn't in school hours
i am not sure why you're so worked up about it tbh.

[Rosieposy4]

I often take kids in my car, and without another teacher. Normally the parents would have been asked for permission in advance, though i have also taken occasionally students home after residentials where no parent has turned up to collect them and they are not answering their phone. Usually the parents are boozing and didn't want to disturb their evening 😳
We also have a blanket policy of local trips off site are fine unless parent has specifically declined permission for them.

[ChampagneTastes]

I have more than a decade of teaching experience. She should have asked permission to take your child out of school (although as part of the afterschool activity that wouldn't be my major concern - I could probably let that bit go). She should have business insurance on her car in order to transport children. There is no way on earth that it is acceptable to give the child a bank card and PIN.

I would make a senior member of staff aware; she urgently needs training.

[stoopido]

When I was at Primary school in the 90s, I had an accident in the playground and needed stitches. I don't think the school could get hold of my parents so my teacher took me to hospital in her car and held my hand while I had the stitches. On the way home she stopped at a shop and bought me some sweets for being brave then drove me back to school! I have to say I idolised this teacher as did all the children, so I was really pleased I got to go to the hospital with her! It does sound like your child's teacher did it with the best intentions so I personally wouldn't mention it.

[ChampagneTastes]

Stoopido that's a slightly different situation though, one where it would be understandable to bend the rules slightly. This sounds like someone is completely unaware of rules which exist to protect her as much as the students. She needs to be made aware of them and quickly. And she needs to understand how utterly stupid it is to give out her bank card and PIN.

[YellowPrimula]

I work in a school in administration, if I found out a member of staff had done this I would be livid

• have they got business insurance on car , what would have happened if they had been involved in an accident , accidents happen on short trips not just long ones
  
• putting themselves in a very vulnerable position re safeguarding
  
• you should report , what if the teacher claims more money was taken out of their account , the bank will be unimpressed and your child could be accused of theft
  
• it doesn't matter that it happened outside school hours , the teacher is Ina position of responsibility and influence and therefore responsible .
  

The list goes on .I am amazed at people saying not to mention it , the teacher might be upset , the whole incident shows a complete lack of judgement and given the amount of training in these issues that teachers get makes you wonder seriously about competence and whether they are suited to teaching .

[wtffgs]

Teacher here.

She's either extremely foolish and rather thick or (less likely) has some ignoble intent.

Tell your DD not to get into teachers' car full stop

[stoopido]

ChampagneTastes - reading your comments I totally agree.

[questioncurious]

I'm a secondary school teacher. I wouldn't expect a 12 year old always to be in sight of a teacher or parent. I have business use insurance on my car in case of situations like this but I find the giving of the card and PIN a bit odd. I don't even do that with my kids.

[SittingInBluebellWood]

A bit unwise, but I think you are in danger of overthinking this

[EvilTwins]

Of course the other way for the OP (who has now disappeared it would seem ) to deal with this is to tell her child (DS/DD - not sure - depends on which version of the thread you read) not to get into a car with a teacher unless it has been OKd in advance. Especially if said DC is yr 7.

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

Are you the teacher op?

[Trifleorbust]

The actions of the teacher were extremely naive. But given you aren't worried about any inappropriate behaviour towards your child, I am more concerned that the teacher is going to make herself vulnerable than that your child was at risk in any way.

[nicp123]

No way the school's staff conduct policy will allow something like that! Is the adult really a teacher or a volunteer?

[RaspberryIce]

I've got a 12 year old dd too and this wouldn't bother me unless she was shopping on her own quite late/when it was getting dark. Whether it would be wise of a teacher to do this is another matter, but i wouldn't feel that dd was at any risk from it.

[RaspberryIce]

Actually the getting money out on her own might worry me a little if it wasn't inside a shop that she'd be mugged. The rest I'd be ok with

[corythatwas]

Giving out her Pin number is incredibly stupid. Taking child in her car without planning/permission/insurance also not great.

But as for letting the child out of her sight- are you really saying your 12yo is never allowed out of your sight, not even in a shop? Because that hardly seems normal.

[woodhill]

Surprised about the car tbh because of the insurance and safeguarding. Always told never to allow students in your car.