Teachers taking things from students?

[TheRatPack]

Okay, I know that children shouldn't take toys or other non related school items to class. But if they do and the teacher takes it up and puts it in her desk....do you think they should get it back?

And what if one of the other students steals all of her stash out of her desk....do you think that the 'oh well, shouldn't have brought it in the first place' still fits? Or should someone be held liable for those lost items?

 

[ElizK]

Yes, the teacher should give it back, but to the parents, not the child.

As far as items being stolen from the stash... that's a bit tougher. I kind of lean toward the "shouldn't have been brought to school in the first place" line of thinking. Just my opinion.

 

[kilee]

In our school, if a "contraband" item is brought in- it's held until the end of the year. It just makes it all that much more important to know what your kids are taking or sneaking into school. When ds was a little younger, I'd actually search his backpack and such.

As for the stolen item- that is a hard one--but there is a policy in place I'm sure. The item shouldn't of been brought, so I guess I'd have to side w/ now it's a loss.

 

[Nancy]

What I think is that the teacher should send a note home to every parent in the class and have it state:

oes your son or daughter have the following items in his/her possesion? If so they were stolen from the class room and need to be returned. Please check your kids backpack, room, drawers, etc. If you did not purchase these things and they were not a gift...they are not his/hers.


Someone should be liable for the lost items.

My daughter had her glasses stolen during gym class. She thinks she knows who took them but isn't 100% sure so the school will do nothing. So not only were we out an almost brand new pair of glasses, but insurance only will pay for the new ones once a year...we were way under the year time frame so it was out of pocket. I can't figure out how a parent can see something in their kids possesion and not know they stole it from someone. Did she think someone gave her DD a pair of glasses???

 

[kilee]

Why would anyone even want to steal someone's glasses. That is just awful. I'm assuming we're talking about items like gameboys, trading cars, toys, that sort of stuff.

 

[TheRatPack]

Well, that is what I told my oldest one last night. It wasn't much, he'd taken in his new mini finger board and was showing it off to his friends during study time. I've only dealt with this once before (a fake cell phone when he was in kindergarten, LOL). I did used to search his pockets and backpack before, but really thought he had grown out of it. Not sure if he meant to take it or had it in his jacket pocket and just forgot and then took the opportunity to show it.

Regardless it got taken but got stolen before the end of the day.....figured it was just a loss. But then I started thinking.....what if it had been a cell phone or a gameboy? I really think that the teachers should have a safer more secure place of putting all this stuff if it is getting stolen from her desk. If it had been a more expensive item I just don't think I would have been so easy to say "oh well, shouldn't have taken it out in class and had it in school in the first place".

 

[tkd lisa]

Having glasses stolen is much different from confiscated items being stolen. Someone stealing glasses could only have done it to be mean. That really stinks, and I'm sorry it happened. Since my glasses HAVE to stay on my face, I can't imagine them being stolen!

But back to the original question. In my kids schools, anything taken is either 1) provided to the office with a note/call home to tell the parent to come in to get it (This usually happens with cell phones/IPODs/other high $ items) or 2) the teacher holds it for a time determined when they take it. My DD had her drawing book taken by her history teacher because she was drawing instead of working. He told her he'd hold it for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, he returned it.

If something that wasn't allowed (like a toy/trading cards, etc.) was held by a teacher and disappeared, I'd probably let it go. The kids shouldn't have had it at school to begin with. Like it said, anything high dollar gets turned into the office.

 

[TheRatPack]

Did she think someone gave her DD a pair of glasses???

Yea, but I'm guessing that the parents of these children that steal these things probably either #1 don't know about it and never check backpacks....etc or #2 the child either states that it was given to them or they toss unusable items in the garbage before getting home and just stole it for the thrill.

I know my son will come home and say that someone found a ring, toy....etc and that so and so bought it for 5.00 from them. I said "it wasn't his to sell.....why didn't he or she turn it in?". Kids just don't comprehend a lot of the same 'wrong' that you grow to understand as adults.

I'm sure whomever stole your dds glasses had no comprehension of how much they cost or anything about prescription/out of pocket expense....etc. It's sad though that someone would take something that they have no use for.

 

[Nancy]

Why would anyone even want to steal someone's glasses. That is just awful. I'm assuming we're talking about items like gameboys, trading cars, toys, that sort of stuff.

No clue why she needed her glasses.

If she had taken her gameboy or CD player to school and that got stole from her locker I would have been "oh well, that will teach you" but glasses???

In the OP, something taken from the teachers drawer is a bit worse than from a students desk or locker....that is why I think the teacher should send a note home, especially if there was more than 1 item taken.

 

[Nite0wl71]

In my Dd's school when the teacher takes it away it gets locked in her desk drawer until the end of the day. Then it goes to the office and a parent has to come and get it. If it is not the first time, they will hold it until the end of the year.

I can't see how a student can steal it, the teachers not only lock their drawer but the classroom is locked whenever the class is empty.

Our park district after school program is like this also.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes they should get it back.

If the Teacher took it they are responsible for keeping it safe and should have to replace it. I bet their stuff is somewhere it isn't getting stolen.

 

[laura001]

I feel that taking the item away until the end of the day is a good idea and perhaps sending a note home to the parent about what had happened, BUT it should be put in a safe place (perhaps locked up?). I am not sure that the teacher should be solely responsible for the item but the manner in which it is stored should be changed so they are not stolen.

As for taking away something until the end of the school year as another poster mentioned...I feel that is very extreme.

I have heard of a high school in our area that will keep cell phones and ipods or mp3 players for two weeks when they are found. The student's are not allowed to even BRING them to school, whether they are used or not. I find that completely unacceptable. My DD does not attend that school, but she calls me after school if she misses the bus or anything else is going on, without her cell that would be impossible. So...not having one with her or having it taken away may put her safety in jeopardy.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I do not even know if DS school has a policy on this situation. But, I do think that every school should have a policy in place!

Just because a child's personal item finds its way to school does NOT immediately make this the teachers discretionary item. If it is not returned to the parent, then that is THEFT.

You are saying that the item was stolen from the teachers desk. Was the teacher lame enough to just leave the item sitting there and not put it away? That was my first thought... She confiscated the item, and then just left it laying instead of taking the time to put it away?????

 

[Disney Doll]

Now my mother would have said "If you brought something to school that you shouldn't have and the teacher took it and then it got stolen, it's your fault for bringing a forbidden item to school in the first place, so too bad for you."

See, my parents were very big into actions and their consequences, and personal responsibility, which no longer seems to be a parenting rule these days. These days it seems to be "it's not your fault sweetie" for everything.

 

[JulyGirl]

The teacher is in no way responsible for lost or stolen items that should not have been in school in the first place. Kids know what is not allowed. If you bring it to school, you risk losing it forever. I think the teacher should hold it until a parent picks it up, but is not responsible for a possible theft.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Okay, I know that children shouldn't take toys or other non related school items to class. But if they do and the teacher takes it up and puts it in her desk....do you think they should get it back?

I would say the 1st time it is given back to the kid at the end of the day, the second time to the parent and the third time it is kept (at the owners own risk) until the end of the school year. On the last day the kids have to got to the teacher and ask for it back.

And what if one of the other students steals all of her stash out of her desk....do you think that the 'oh well, shouldn't have brought it in the first place' still fits? Or should someone be held liable for those lost items?

The teacher should put it into a locked cabinet, but she is not responsible for the item. Now the one who steals should get in trouble.

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

In our house, if you take something you aren't supposed to have and get caught, then too bad if it is taken away. And I'm not going up to the school to get it either. And you aren't getting another one. Both of the kids have lost a few things this way. Live and learn. And if the teacher took it and it got stolen, well, it shouldn't have been there in the first place, now should it have?

 

[CathrynRose]

Im still angry that in 5th grade I got those whacking balls - on the stick, those 2 hard plastic balls - whack - whack - whack... know what Im talking about? Im still mad those got taken from me in 5th grade and I never got them back. Im 32.... never forgot.

 

[TheRatPack]

Well, the taking the item away doesn't make me mad...he shouldn't have had it there. But I do think that if you're going to have a rule in place to take things that they should be kept safe for either parents to pick up or to be given to charity/the office....whatever. Simply saying that the item was stolen by another student isn't going over so well with me, because I see the whole 'what if' factor.

What if it had been their inhaler that they were playing with, and it got taken up till the end of class or a test...etc and it got stolen? What if it had been their house keys that got taken because the child was jingling them in class and they were stolen? Those are all still good reasons to take things up, but if stolen I just don't see that it should still be a 'well, that'll teach you' scenario.

My son went to bed last night with my last words on the subject being 'well, you shouldn't have had it in school....and you're not getting another one'. And he knows that as the truth....I do not soften on my word.

But, still if a rule is in place I think there should be a better way of securing the items. Sort of like when you go in to a store and they say you have to leave your other shopping bags up front, what if someone stole your stuff while you were shopping? Does the store, who just layed your bag on top of the register be held liable for not securing their own rule?

Just thoughts and ramblings of a mother LOL

 

[soccerchick]

Well, that is what I told my oldest one last night. It wasn't much, he'd taken in his new mini finger board and was showing it off to his friends during study time. I've only dealt with this once before (a fake cell phone when he was in kindergarten, LOL). I did used to search his pockets and backpack before, but really thought he had grown out of it. Not sure if he meant to take it or had it in his jacket pocket and just forgot and then took the opportunity to show it.

Regardless it got taken but got stolen before the end of the day.....figured it was just a loss. But then I started thinking.....what if it had been a cell phone or a gameboy? I really think that the teachers should have a safer more secure place of putting all this stuff if it is getting stolen from her desk. If it had been a more expensive item I just don't think I would have been so easy to say "oh well, shouldn't have taken it out in class and had it in school in the first place".

At our high school cell phones and ipods are taken from students and put in the safe in the bookkeeper's office. Parents must come retrieve the items. At the bookkeeper's convenience! Confiscated items will not be given back to the students. I can't imagine a student having an inhaler taken away. If a student's asthma is that bad that he/she is allowed to have it on his/her person, there's no way that would be taken by a teacher. If the inhaler is the problem, I'd expect the kid to be sent to the office to figure out how to follow the rules...JMHO...