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Original poster

What would appropriate punishment for deliberately breaking a paintbrush?

47 replies

Schoolpunishment · 07/06/2022 16:05

name changed as this many be outing
My DD (14) was at school yesterday and in art fell out with her friend who according to DD was being mean to her. As she walked off out of lesson there was a paint brush on the floor and DD stamped on it and broke it.

She is being punished by the school (quite rightly) for misuse of school equipment. She knows she has done wrong and felt guilty. In the 4 years she has been at school she has never been in trouble and not had one detention or points for bad behaviour. She had a bad moment and took her frustration out on the paintbrush.

I don’t want to be THAT parent who complains, as I believe she does deserve a consequence for her behaviour (and so does she) but I think her punishment was over the top. So before I say what it was, I would like peoples’ opinions.

We’ve spoken about how best to manage her anger in future. DD and her friend are of course best friends again. 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
Schoolpunishment · 07/06/2022 16:07

Punishments could be:-

15 min lunchtime detention
15 mins after school detention
30 mins after school detention
1 hour after school detention
1 day out of school in their exclusion unit with an hours after school detention

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 07/06/2022 16:08

1 hr after school detention is reasonable, I'd say.

SnowyPetals · 07/06/2022 16:11

On of the after school detentions would seem appropriate, but presumably they have gone for the exclusion normally associated with more serious vandalism of school property?

thing47 · 07/06/2022 16:28

If she's been excluded, I think that's a bit OTT. Any of the other punishments would be reasonable, I'd say.

Lesperance · 07/06/2022 16:51

An hour's detention I would say. Not an exclusion, because although there is a degree of violence, the violence was not against another pupil.

Ijustreallywantacat · 07/06/2022 16:54

After school detention

hassletassle · 07/06/2022 16:56

I would say any of these are appropriate :

15 min lunchtime detention
15 mins after school detention
30 mins after school detention

Chickenmicken · 07/06/2022 16:57

If she has been excluded I would question whether that was all that actually happened as that would be an over reaction on the school's part. Any of the others seem fine.

Catchingtrains · 07/06/2022 16:58

I think a day in the exclusion unit is reasonable, to be honest. I am not unsympathetic, but I’ve attached a photo. Cost £4. I lose just one every lesson to carelessness or temper - five a day, that’s £4 a fortnight.

What would appropriate punishment for deliberately breaking a paintbrush?
Billybagpuss · 07/06/2022 16:58

15 mins lunchtime and made to pay for brush

WimpoleHat · 07/06/2022 17:00

Yes, maybe a detention. Certainly a good talking to about appropriate behaviour and respect for school property. Fair enough for you to get an email letting you know that school was unimpressed and asking you to pay for it. But not more than that - no harm done to anyone else.

carefullycourageous · 07/06/2022 17:02

A short detention. Exclusion is ridiculous for a first offence like that IMO.

Original poster
Schoolpunishment · 07/06/2022 17:25

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, she got a day in the exclusion unit with an hours detention.

I got the email advising me and had to call the school because my daughter didn’t have a clue what it was for and they told me above.

She has just got back now. She was with other students. One was caught vaping, one had punched another student, another had told a teacher to F off and the last one has truanted for 3 lessons. She completed her work given in 90 mins and had to spent the rest of the time sitting in silence.

I looked at their behaviour policy and misuse of equipment was a 30 min after school detention. Think I’ll just email the head of year and ask for clarification as to why it was so harsh.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 07/06/2022 17:31

At my school we only have 40 or 60 minute detentions after school, followed by isolations then FTE.
Her behaviour would count as Vandalism of school property and would be a 40 minute detention.

Singleandproud · 07/06/2022 17:34

Are you sure she just stamped on a paint brush or could she have sworn during her outburst, argued with the teacher, pushed the student she's fallen out with? Any of those things as well as the paintbrush would be time in inclusion.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 07/06/2022 17:36

My school probably wouldn’t have punished that at all, as a first time offence as such

Johnnysgirl · 07/06/2022 17:36

Schoolpunishment · 07/06/2022 17:25

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, she got a day in the exclusion unit with an hours detention.

I got the email advising me and had to call the school because my daughter didn’t have a clue what it was for and they told me above.

She has just got back now. She was with other students. One was caught vaping, one had punched another student, another had told a teacher to F off and the last one has truanted for 3 lessons. She completed her work given in 90 mins and had to spent the rest of the time sitting in silence.

I looked at their behaviour policy and misuse of equipment was a 30 min after school detention. Think I’ll just email the head of year and ask for clarification as to why it was so harsh.

I imagine her crime wasn't just stamping on a paintbrush... Make sure you have the full story before complaining!

eatingapie · 07/06/2022 17:37

I’d do a lost break with helping tidy the art room (as punishment) and a conversation about what has happened (as restorative). Natural consequences are things like tidying up/ paying for a brush (although only really works if out of pocket money), I think they are much more effective than arbitrary time penalties. Day in the isolation room is hilariously over the top.

chunkymandarincoulis · 07/06/2022 17:39

I'd have said an hour's after-school detention - maybe in the art class cleaning all the paint brushes - would have been more than appropriate.

They seem to have used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Ijustreallywantacat · 07/06/2022 17:41

So she fell out with friend class? Possibility of a shouting match/ swearing etc mid lesson? I don’t think you’re being told the whole truth here x

Labpictures · 07/06/2022 17:42

Schoolpunishment · 07/06/2022 17:25

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, she got a day in the exclusion unit with an hours detention.

I got the email advising me and had to call the school because my daughter didn’t have a clue what it was for and they told me above.

She has just got back now. She was with other students. One was caught vaping, one had punched another student, another had told a teacher to F off and the last one has truanted for 3 lessons. She completed her work given in 90 mins and had to spent the rest of the time sitting in silence.

I looked at their behaviour policy and misuse of equipment was a 30 min after school detention. Think I’ll just email the head of year and ask for clarification as to why it was so harsh.

This is not misuse of equipment it was criminal damage of the schools property. Possible with threatening behaviour involved - what if they had been someone’s art exam work or coursework?

deliberate breakage is not misuse

ThreeonaHill · 07/06/2022 17:43

I think you probably don't have the full story. For a start the fact that she "didn't have a clue what it was for" is clearly a lie, so I'd guess there's more you're not being told.

Perfectly reasonable to want to find out exactly what happened, but make sure you know that before questioning the penalty .

AloyNoraWarrior · 07/06/2022 17:43

Personally, I think the most appropriate consequence is to replace the paintbrush and maybe have a chat about what made her snap in the first place. I don’t see how exclusion and detention is going to benefit anyone.

When I was at school, I was always known to be well behaved and sensible. Never had a single detention. One day I told my Tutor to
F off (can’t remember the catalyst), I didn’t get in trouble, my tutor sat with me and asked if I was ok. She knew it was out of character and I wasn’t ok. I think things would’ve turned out very differently if I’d been excluded.

Original poster
Schoolpunishment · 07/06/2022 17:44

Singleandproud · 07/06/2022 17:34

Are you sure she just stamped on a paint brush or could she have sworn during her outburst, argued with the teacher, pushed the student she's fallen out with? Any of those things as well as the paintbrush would be time in inclusion.

Yes, this was exactly what happened nothing else. DD was unaware so I had to call the school to told me.

OP posts:
Ijustreallywantacat · 07/06/2022 17:44

This is not misuse of equipment it was criminal damage of the schools property. Possible with threatening behaviour involved - what if they had been someone’s art exam work or coursework?

good point