I'm not answering your passive aggressive dm

[calamityjam]

Short story, year 8 kids pissing about and girl throws blazer on floor. Boy picks up blazer and walks off. Ds says; why are you carrying her blazer around school and throws it back on floor. Subsequently phone is now smashed. Girls mother is messaging me demanding I buy her a new phone. Haven't replied yet. Very reluctant as my ds had no way of knowing phone was in blazer or it could have broken when girl initially chucked blazer. Advice please

I think half is fair given it could have broken when the girl threw it on the floor. I suspect she didn't tell her parents that bit.

Think it also depend on what 'kids pissing about means'. Was she being bullied by the boys? It's completely right that she may not have told her parents about her throwing the blazer but it could be the case the OP's son isn't telling the whole truth as well.

Was she being bullied by the boys?

She threw juice over him.

@SoupDragon

Was she being bullied by the boys?

She threw juice over him.

Fair enough. There is still a chance that the the OP doesn't have the full story from her son.

Why did he feel it any of his business to tell the other boy what to do, take the blazer from him and throw on the ground? Sounds fishy. You need to get the full story from you ds and if it doesn't add up ask the girl for the full story.

If it was broken then, he must have thrown, not just drop it on the floor, with some force to smash it. If he broke it, doesn't matter if he didn't know it was in her blazer, she could have had other things in the blazer too such as glasses.

I would pay for the screen to be repaired if it can be repaired, if not you are paying for new phone (assuming they don't have insurance) and telling your ds to keep his hands off other peoples property.

I'd offer to pay half. If both children threw the blazer then the phone may have broken either time.
The whole story doesn't make much sense thought, she threw a drink at him and then threw her blazer? Why?

I agree with bunnybigears on offering to pay half. There were two boys involved in throwing the girl’s property in the floor, whether they knew what was in it or not x

@Rosebud2005

I agree with bunnybigears on offering to pay half. There were two boys involved in throwing the girl’s property in the floor, whether they knew what was in it or not x

No, there was a girl who threw her own blazer on the floor, and either before after or at a similar time threw juice at ops child. Following this ops child also threw her blazer on the floor. I wouldn’t pay if he was only doing what she had already done (of course they could all be lying) but I’d have some consequences for my child for engaging in this .

Bear in mind OP that there is also the chance her phone was broken even before the incident. Loads of kids that age have cracked screens etc. I wouldn't be paying for a phone when there is a large and reasonable doubt over whether your DS broke it.

I think it unlikely that the girl threw her blazer to the floor with any force but I do think it likely that the boy did, especially if pissed off having had juice thrown over him. I would probably offer to pay half as it looks to me like a fight where both parties behaved badly.

This is why children should not be given fragile electronics. Ignore.

This is why phones should be kept in a locker or schoolbag not in a blazer pocket during the day.
I would reply to the parent who sent you the text, that you will not pay for the full cost of a new phone (or if you do make sure it is a very basic model and not expensive) as neither parent can be sure when the phone handset got broken as the blazer was thrown to the ground twice and it could have happened at either time.
You might be willing to consider paying half the cost because of the above reason and your son was involved. But nothing more.
Actually make the first suggestion and have the suggestion about paying half ready to go if they come back dissatisfied with your first offer.

Half the cost of a screen replacement at best

I think you need to get to the truth first before you even consider paying for anything.

It's my guess the girl is afraid of her parents because the 'phone got smashed and has exaggerated somewhat.

Teenagers are awful aren't they :)

@timeisnotaline Well no that’s true, if she started it then it should start with her. However I would let it know of it were my child involved that of the others are willing to accept responsibility then so do we

Personally I wouldn’t be happy my child had taken someone else’s blazer and then thrown it on the floor.
I don’t think OP has the whole story. Maybe the kids will be more honest if it’s dealt with by school.

I'm guessing the girl's version of the story doesn't involve her throwing her own blazer on the floor with the phone in the pocket. You could reply and mention that bit or ignore it, which won't put your son's side across and will probably result in them contacting the school. Hopefully the school can get to the bottom of it, though I don't envy them having to work out who's telling the truth.

What did you decide to do @calamityjam?

Offer half

I'd just ignore the message tbh.

Who knows what happened, I doubt you've got anywhere near the truth Op.