Writing names on backpacks?

[mad madam mim78]

I'm pretty upset about this one. I have twin girls that started kindergarten this year. On the first day of school the teacher wrote their names in plain sight ON their backpacks with a Sharpie!!!

These are nice new LL Bean backpacks and she wrote on them with a Sharpie without asking me. Not only is the graffiti bothering me, but you are NOT suppose to write your kids names on anything where a stranger can see it and use it against the child.

"Hey (name), your mommy told me to pick you up today.) I'm just plain mad about this. Would anyone else be mad?

 

[mrsv98]

I'm pretty upset about this one. I have twin girls that started kindergarten this year. On the first day of school the teacher wrote their names in plain sight ON their backpacks with a Sharpie!!!

These are nice new LL Bean backpacks and she wrote on them with a Sharpie without asking me. Not only is the graffiti bothering me, but you are NOT suppose to write your kids names on anything where a stranger can see it and use it against the child.

"Hey (name), your mommy told me to pick you up today.) I'm just plain mad about this. Would anyone else be mad?

I try not to get upset about most things, but yes, this would tick me off. There was no reason the teacher couldn't have asked you to do something the first time you picked them up. And I totally agree about the names, DD"s backpack has her initials, not her name for just that reason.

I would have to speak to the teacher privately and express my displeasure. It is one thing to slap a sticker on there it is entirely different to permanently mark them up.

 

[emer95]

Wow! Yep, I'd be quite mad! Why not use masking tape? Or ask permission, or have the parents do it, or write it on the inside? That could have been handled so much better. I'm with you- I'd NEVER want my child's name on the outside of something for the very same reason you wrote.

Is she a very young, new teacher? I'm a teacher and that would be unheard of in my school.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Yeah, I would be very irate as well. Email or call the teacher or school and complain. If the teacher wants them labeled, you could add one to the opposite side (the one facing the child's back), like on a sticker or something.
Although I'd be more irritating by the writing in and of itself than the stranger danger thing.

Our marching band just did that with their hats yesterday.

 

[happygirl]

Maybe there are several kids in the class with the same backpack. Why didn't you put her name on it. Then there would have been no problem

 

[clm10308]

I understand why you are upset, but from the teacher's point of view, the names need to be on the outside where the teacher can easily see who the backpack belongs to. With 22 kindergarteners in the class, the teacher doesn't have the time to open 22 back packs to look for names. You might be surprised how many kids can't remember which pack is theirs.

Many years ago when I taught 1st grade, I had a student bring a Velcro wallet to school as that was a popular thing at that time. His wallet was plain blue with no identifying marks. I wrote the kids name on the inside of the wallet with a Sharpie so that when he lost it on the playground someone might be more likely to return it. Guess what happened? That afternoon, the parent called the principal to complain and I had to attend a meeting with the parent and the principal all because the parent didn't label the kids belongings as she was supposed to do, but whose's fault was it? Mine of course. In private the principal agreed that I didn't do anything wrong, but in front of the parent, it was all me.

That single incident really changed how I viewed teaching in public school.

 

[TDC Nala]

Kids should be instructed never to go with anyone who says "Mom sent me to pick you up," even if they address the kid by name, no matter what the person tells them has happened. But I get why they don't want names on backpacks or clothing, and I don't think the teacher should have written on the kids' backpacks, even if there was a requirement that the kids' belongings be labeled. Use a sticker, then tell the parent they need some sort of label.

 

[mombrontrent]

Yes I would be mad as well. Besides the obvious reasons already posted here what if you wanted to hand the backpack down to someone else after? My youngest DD has used a couple of my older DD backpacks. They were still in great condition but she either got a new one as a gift (summer birthday) or outgrew a character bag that younger DD loved (a tinkerbell one for kinderdarden). I have also given my nephew DS backpacks for the same reasons. It one thing to be fine with using a siblings old backpack but what kid would want another kids name on it.

 

[Hannathy]

The worry about names being on things is really nothing to get overly excited about. It is better to teach them to just not go with anyone, which I hope by kindergarten they do know. If someone wants to learn their name it is pretty easy since people say their name out loud constantly.

My Kids Kindergarten teacher did things like that also, if something didn't have their name on it, she would write it on. And she had been teaching approximately 20 yrs when they had her.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Wow! Yep, I'd be quite mad! Why not use masking tape? Or ask permission, or have the parents do it, or write it on the inside? That could have been handled so much better. I'm with you- I'd NEVER want my child's name on the outside of something for the very same reason you wrote.

Is she a very young, new teacher? I'm a teacher and that would be unheard of in my school.

She's young but she's not wet behind the ears. I'd say she was in her 30's.

 

[happygirl]

She's young but she's not wet behind the ears. I'd say she was in her 30's.

Why would age have anything to do with it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think the "danger" of kids having their names on things is highly, highly overstated, so I would not be worried at all about that.

However, it is a common fear parents have that any teacher should be aware of.

The using a sharpie and writing on a child's item is just plain wrong. I honestly think I would email the teacher and ask for the backpacks to be replaced.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I had my child's name embroidered right on his backpack!!!
(Guess I am a BAD mommie...)

I can understand the teacher sending home a request with all the beginning of the year information to at least have the initials or last name on the child's belongings. Or, like somebody said, place a sticker or label card in/on the backpack. Most have a little spot for these. Or, how about the idea of an attachable like luggage tag.

IMHO, there is no question that the teacher has no reason, no responsibility and no right to take a sharpie to anyone else's belongings/property.

Is this a huge hill to die on..... probably not.
But, to me this is a clear example of a teacher who just does not respect boundaries.
I am sitting here wondering what else the OP will experience from this teacher over this school year.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Yes I would be mad as well. Besides the obvious reasons already posted here what if you wanted to hand the backpack down to someone else after? My youngest DD has used a couple of my older DD backpacks. They were still in great condition but she either got a new one as a gift (summer birthday) or outgrew a character bag that younger DD loved (a tinkerbell one for kinderdarden). I have also given my nephew DS backpacks for the same reasons. It one thing to be fine with using a siblings old backpack but what kid would want another kids name on it.

Exactly!! What if I wanted to sell them on ebay or something? When my son was in kindergarten the teacher used a piece of masking tape. I probably wouldn't of been as mad if she used a washable marker, but a Sharpie??!! I'm blown away.

We love the LL Bean backpacks. My son is in 4th grade and still uses his from kindergarten. It's still in perfect shape. Now my girls get to sport these backpacks with their names written on them (poorly I might add).

 

[mad madam mim78]

Why would age have anything to do with it.

I was answering her question.

 

[happygirl]

You can get sharpie off of things try fingerrnail polish remover or hairspray

 

[NHdisneylover]

Exactly!! What if I wanted to sell them on ebay or something? When my son was in kindergarten the teacher used a piece of masking tape. I probably wouldn't of been as mad if she used a washable marker, but a Sharpie??!! I'm blown away.

We love the LL Bean backpacks. My son is in 4th grade and still uses his from kindergarten. It's still in perfect shape. Now my girls get to sport these backpacks with their names written on them (poorly I might add).

My son carried his from kindergarten through 6th grade and it still looks great! We got him a bigger once last year, but the original is still his daytrip or travel pack and still looks perfect.

No older kid is going to want their name in sharpie on their pack, and spending what LLBean costs, I want my kids to use them for years--which is why i would ask to have them replaced by the teacher.

 

[laughinplace199]

I don't think the teacher should have written on the backpack with a Sharpie, but I also wouldn't have sent my kids to school with unlabeled backpacks. Our school always tells us to label everything before coming to school.

Unless the straps are a very dark color, I usually label the backpacks on the straps so that the name is on the outside, but not messing up the look of the bag.

I wouldn't worry too much about the stranger danger thing. A stranger could hang around the playground or parking lot and hear someone call your DD's name just as easily as getting close enough to read it on her backpack.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

No, I would not be mad. My kids' Lands End backpacks have their names on them. It makes it so much easier at the end of the day if things are labeled. Lunch boxes are the same. I can't tell you how many lunch boxes I have opened or turned all around looking for names.

The first thing I taught my kids when they started school was about strangers using their names from labels on shirts or lunches or back packs.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Now my girls get to sport these backpacks with their names written on them (poorly I might add).

Yep, exactly.... these have been 'defaced'.
No question about it...

And, one backpack... easier to write it off...
But, I imagine that you paid a small fortune for TWO of these that now you will have to buy again.

While I don't think there is anything you can expect from the teacher or the school... I do see how you would feel