Wish kids would stop coming in so early!

[blueirishues]

Registration is at 8:45.

I have children skulking around every morning from 8 onwards.

They have a warm canteen with toast and drinks, they have a warm library with huge cuddly chairs, computers and books, they have their OWN HOMES they could stay in. But no. Every day they stand in a cold, soulless corridor like abandoned pets.

Why? WHY?

[blueirishues]

I have shown concern on the thread, Rainbow but quite honestly, as potentially serious as it was, it wasn't, if you see what I mean. And please note I personally did not do it.

I presume you are going to find all the threads you don't like, and follow their posts across the boards?

MsAwesome they can't be unsupervised in classrooms.

[roseshippy]

just to be clear, you committed an offence by permitting the door to be opened into traffic. So yes, you did do it.

[MakeItStopNeville]

Schools really have changed. Back in the 90s, the kids had the form room to hang out in and the teachers would rock up after the bell had gone to take the register. Ahhhhhh, the good ol' days.

[DoctorDoctor]

Stand firm and don't let them in. It is bizarre that young people will hang around in the corridor instead of nicer places. Happens in my university where I frequently walk past gaggles of students standing outside a lecture hall at half past, when lectures start on the hour. They have canteens, library (complete with comfy seats, social areas and drinks machines) and the student union they could kill half an hour in, but they seem to prefer to spend it standing around in a corridor. I don't understand it.

Have you asked them why they don't go to the canteen? Can they still go in without buying anything? Is the library too insistent on quiet so off-putting?

[PovertyPain]

Why are some posters so obsessed OP's other thread and dragging that thread into this discussion? This a different topic, for crying out loud. Stop stalking the OP.

OP, I must be getting old, because when I was at school a few decades years ago, you did assembly then waited outside the door until teacher opened it and let you in. You could chat but no shooting or messing around.

[PovertyPain]

Why are some posters so obsessed OP's other thread and dragging that thread into this discussion? This a different topic, for crying out loud. Stop stalking the OP.

OP, I must be getting old, because when I was at school a few decades years ago, you did assembly then waited outside the door until teacher opened it and let you in. You could chat but no shooting or messing around.

[PovertyPain]

Oops. 😳

[blueirishues]

Thanks poverty, and I've no idea!

Doctor it is strange - those students will be my kids soon!

[mummytime]

At my Kids schools there was always a "Breakfast club" where kids in early had to go, or the Library in seniors.
Maybe you need to talk to heads/heads of year.
(As I taught in Science - I would have never allowed students to just hang around in my classroom.)

[DesolateWaist]

You seem like you're dismissive about the cyclist you fucked up.

A child, not the op's child, opened a door without checking. Yes the cyclist was hurt, yet the op may well be in the wrong, but she didn't know that this child would open the door without checking.

Does this make her post invalid? Are you only allowed to post about certain things at the same time?

[DesolateWaist]

Posted too soon.

You seem like you're dismissive about the cyclist you fucked up.

She didn't fuck anyone up. That makes it sound like she deliberately ran them off the road.

[blueirishues]

That's the thing.

I wasn't being dismissive with my 'vigil' comment - it was meant to show I can't sit around feeling bad about it. That's no use to anybody and plus, the key thing here is that there wasn't any permanent damage. I fully recognise that there could have been but there was not.

I decided to hide the original thread because it was getting into daft territory with 'please clarify OP!' when I HAD, so decided it was best left. I did feel dreadful about it, apologised profusely, but there's little else I can do except be more aware next time.

In the interim I would appreciate it if posters could not turn up everywhere I do on mumsnet to insist I mention I am a criminal and have no right to make a joke about anything!

[blueirishues]

I just asked one of the girls I shoo'd away. 'Why DO you come up here Marie? You have the canteen and the library.'

'Library's borin. Canteen smells like bacon.'
'Why don't you set off a bit later then?'
'Dunno.'

There ya go!

[AnnettePrice]

OP, Do what they do in some places to get rid of teenagers hanging around.

Play classical music



Ok I realise there is potential for some to stay but maybe they will also be calmer and it would drown out their language so you wouldn't feel like you had to police that.

[Badbadbunny]

It is bizarre that young people will hang around in the corridor instead of nicer places

It may seem "nicer" to the teacher, but the kids will have their reasons. The bullies may hang out in the canteen and your corridor may be a safer haven for them. Are there enough "comfy seats" for everyone who's currently standing in the corridor? Are the kids moved on if they hand around the canteen without buying anything? Are they expected to remain quiet/silent if they go in the library? Do they want to get first into your form room to sit where they want to sit rather than coming in later to find that they have to sit on the "wrong" desks, or with the "wrong" people? Have you actually sat down with them and asked why they want to come in so early and would rather stand in a corridor? You may be surprised at their reasons if you can get them to open up.

My son constantly tells me that he has nowhere to go at lunchtime. They're not allowed in the canteen if they're not buying their lunch and they're forced to rush and leave due to the queue of people wanting seats (canteen not grown to cope with additional intakes). The packed lunch room is apparently a no go area as it's inhabited by cliques of bullies. Form room is a lab so always locked. Library is usually full (few seats anyway). They end up just wandering the corridors watching the time tick by!

[mumsneedwine]

Mackerel for breakfast, left open in class to waft the smell ? With Classical music. And a note on the door saying anyone entering before 8.30 will be on litter duty at break. I'm science too so you enter my firm room early and it's an automatic exclusion - labs are no go areas without permission. Or at least that's what I tell them (they still hang around the corridor though !). Weird really since they moan about being in school - but get there extra early.

[Badbadbunny]

Weird really since they moan about being in school - but get there extra early.

Not really, you don't know why they're there early. It may not be their choice.

My son arrives at school at just after 8am with a group of around 15-20 who use that bus. If he got the later bus, there'd be a real risk of him being late due to regular traffic hold ups, bus not turning up, and the later bus is a hell-hole with bullying from another school. He did start using the later bus which should have got him there just after 8.30 but was late far too many times ending up with unfair detentions!

Some kids will be getting lifts from parents who are on their way to work either in the next town, or who start earlier at 8 or 8.30.

Kids have their reasons!

[blueirishues]

Bunny, did you see the conversation I had with "marie"? :)

Yes, in some cases a child might be avoiding a bully or coming in extra early for some other reason but likely as not it's just because the form room is convenient. Well great, but it's not for me!

[MsAwesomeDragon]

I think in that case I'd still try to work elsewhere and leave the door locked until I was ready to supervise, probably a couple of minutes before the bell. Is there anywhere else you can go, even if it's just for a couple of weeks so they get the message?

Or if they're happy in the corridor, leave them there. Lock yourself in till you're ready to deal with them. Maybe put headphones in ( you don't even need to play any music, just have the headphones in so they think you can't hear them).

[mumsneedwine]

We can't lock the doors - elf and safety (kids could then potentially lock themselves in). I sat in my office today to try and mark and I managed 5 minutes out of 60 as had constant visits from students with enquiries ranging from, when I can resit my CAU (that I pratted around in so got a D) to my favourite, Miss when will you finish marking the tests. Ummmm next Xmas if you don't leave me alone !!!
Parents, please understand this is all v tongue in cheek. Imagine those days where you had a toddler clinging to you and how it felt to get 5 minutes peace on the loo. Well we have hundreds of kids demanding our time and every now and then it's necessary to just go Aagggvgghhhhghhhhhhh.
Off to mark some more lovely papers (clonical flask has had me giggling for some reason). Only 223 to go - whoop !

[blueirishues]

You've got it, mum

Ever tried ignoring a toddler even with headphones in? Teenagers are NO different!

[mumsneedwine]

Miss can I go to the toilet ?
No, it's break in 10 minutes
But Miss, Miss can I go to the toilet ?
No
But but Miss I need the toilet can I go ?
No
But are you sure Miss ? Can I go to the toilet ?
OK. Leave your phone with me and you can go to the toilet ?
Oh, I don't want to go to the toilet without my phone
Then no
Oh but Miss I need the toilet.
Aggghhhhhghggghgghghv. Toddlers are easier.

[seven201]

I hope your wish comes true. It's so bloody disruptive! I'm lucky as where I teach the kids aren't allowed inside the building, except the canteen, until 10 mins before registration.

[SleightOfMind]

I've only got one teen to deal with and this rings horribly true.
You poor, poor bastards! Parents evening coming up soon and I'm going to be extra grateful.