School Taken Nieces phone off her

[jackie j]

Wow I go away for five mins ( well longer ) and look what happens. lol
My niece is a right chatter box in class and deserves her phone being taken away, I havent spoken to my sister who is her gaurdian to see what she thinks. I just, as a parent would be happy for the school to take a phone off a child if caught using it in lesson time, and would prefer to have a letter sent home explaining what happened and could I make sure she doesnt have it whils in school or at least understand that she shouldnt have it switched on in the first place. My 13yr old and all her friends have phones and have them in school on silent and I am not sure what the policy is about having it taken away and not returned at the end of day. Must find out. I dont agree that they should have them on in class, they do give a small sense of security to the parent and to the child, I agree with Di though that they will not stop a child being attacked. I had to go somewhere yesterday and wouldnt be home when my daughter got in which for us is unusual as I am always here at the end of school, I was able to send her a text after school to let her know.

[jackie j]

(kids are expected to keep them switched off in their lockers).

Lockers !!!!!!!!! what are they lol they only have a few and not enough for 1500 kids lol they wont get any more.

[RedThorn]

My honest opinion is that phones should be switched off during school. What is the school supposed to do? I think to the end of the week is fair (through the crimbo holidays would have been excessive). Jackie you might have kept the phone on you and not given it back until the end of the week, but would all the parents? Unfortunately (not all granted) most parents now expect the schools to install the diciple which used to come from the parents. If it had been me who had done that, I'd more than likely have not been able to sit for a week, never mind getting my phone back this side of August! My parents are old school.

[jackie j]

She would have lost more than her phone for a week believe me. I am very strict with my lot had to be when I was on my own with four lads lol. The boys laugh at it now but at least they have never been in trouble with the police or such, doent mean they were goody two shoes lol.

[Bigmallly]

Sounds like you did a grand job Jackie.

[jackie j]

Sounds like you did a grand job Jackie.

Why thank you, I like to think I did especially as the boys are now all well over 6ft tall, I have to stand on the second stair to reach lol daughter just about to overtake me lol.
I was brought up by my mum after loosing dad when I was six, she was strict but very loving and I cant ever remember her smacking me probably cos I was a goody two shoes lol

[RedThorn]

Nice Jackie. Like I said, you did not absolve yourself of your responsiblities, but unfortunately now days a lot of parents do. I think it a shame really. make them kneel!

[Two_Sheds]

I think all kids should carry attack alarms.

They do: their voices.
If you're in trouble, you scream as loud as you can, then you run for it.

I did judo as a kid, and my 9 yo niece does karate. You're still told to run, not fight.


What good would another alarm do? We all hear car alarms, house alarms, but what do we do? Tut and complain, that's what.

[Hilary B]

A phone IS a different item. Kids may need the thing during their free time after school (e.g. to ask for a lift home from judo/tennis or whatever).
If, when my kids were at school, they had owned mobile phone and it had been confiscated for a prolonged period, I would make a fuss. The parent should be told, and invited to collect the phone, preferrably the same DAY (although that option may not be available in every case).
WHEN parent turns up to collect it warning given that if it is found to be switched on in class again it WILL be confiscated for a whole term (including the holidays if appropriate).
First time, return to parent ASAP with warning; second time, same as any other item.

[Two_Sheds]

The parent should be told, and invited to collect the phone, preferrably the same DAY

The parent isn't at school, the kids are. The students are old enough to understand rules & responsibilities, and they are able, if not willing, to explain to parents why something has been confiscated (although you likely won't get the whole truth).

Teachers don't have the time to try and contact all parents about all misdemeanors, but if a parent genuinely thinks that human rights have been breached, they can speak to the teacher after school

[Two_Sheds]

I should add: even the teachers aren't allowed phones on in class

[FionaH]

Teachers don't have the time to try and contact all parents about all misdemeanors, but if a parent genuinely thinks that human rights have been breached, they can speak to the teacher after school

Quite agree, why should teachers waste time trying to contact parents, arrange a time to meet etc?
Teenage kids know the rules and still break them so tough luck if they lose the phone IMO

My youngest got his confiscated for a week for messing about in class, that was his fault, end of story really.

[Hilary B]

I said 'parents TOLD'. Once upon a time that was done by sending a letter home....... A standard letter something like
"Unfortunately your child x had a mobile phone switched on in class, disrupting the lesson. On this occasion you can collect it from the school office the next time you are here. If you choose not to do so, or if this is repeated, the phone will be kept until the last day of the term."
Quite sufficient to cover all the options.
BTW if my school had ever thrown my property in the bin, (with the possible, and ONLY possible, exception of an item specifically forbidden to BE in school), there would have been a big row. A child's property belongs to them, and NO-ONE has the right to remove it permanently (even parents are a 'grey area' in that respect).

[janeyo]

I should add: even the teachers aren't allowed phones on in class

How true!
I remember an incident where a phone kept beeping. I was getting cross and nobody could work out whose it was.... Yup, you guessed it it was mine!
I was mortified but the pupils thought it was hilarious!

[Flummery]

Ah but we weren't overrun by terrorists in your day!

In my day! Cheeky young punk!