Writing names on backpacks?

[dzorn]

Yep, and if it stays on all year it will leave a messy residue on the backpack.

There isn't an easy, one size fits all answer to this for the teacher or the parent. That's why, normally, the teacher or school will request "label all items with child's name"; it puts it back on the parent.


The teacher could have come up with a dozen alternatives to what she did. I still wouldn't have a hissy over it.

There are ways to remove Sharpie. Just get it off and re-label the backpack in a more acceptable manner. Having to label everything would be why some parents don't go for the expensive, "it will last for years" stuff until the kids are a bit older.

If someone else's child had mistakenly (or purposely) taken the OP's child's back pack there would be a whole different discussion going on here. While in school, kid's stuff needs to be labled. Kids take things that aren't theirs, they forget what IS their's, they get things mixed up; its just better for everyone if its labeled.

Sharpie does not come off everything. Certain fibers it will soak in and not be removed, possibly lightened and very well could also take off the color of the backpack.

I would be asking the teacher to correct her mistake damaging the backpack. Either replace it or she can try and remove it then replace it when it does not work. I do hand backpacks down.

Denise in MI

 

[luvmy3]

Yep, and if it stays on all year it will leave a messy residue on the backpack.

There isn't an easy, one size fits all answer to this for the teacher or the parent. That's why, normally, the teacher or school will request "label all items with child's name"; it puts it back on the parent.

Yes there is a easy one size fits all answer, the teacher should let the parent decide how they want to label their child's backpack on the outside. Send home a note on the first day asking parents to make sure their backpacks are labled on the outside. You really can't get easier than that.
And FTR, our lists also ask to have all items labeled, however not once have I ever labeled my child's backpack on the front. Somehow through 3 kids and years of school there was never an issue.

And a child mistakingly taking home a backpack and most likely returning with it the next day is so not the same as a teacher permanently marking the child's property, unless of course the teacher was going to replace the backpack the next day.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

The level of appropriate anger will differ based on the person. For example, I don't think it's appropriate to be "pretty angry", "furious", or even "highly annoyed".

To me, I would be "disappointed" or "upset", and don't think it's appropriate/necessary to ask the teacher/school to replace the packs. I don't think the principal even needs to be notified. A simple, polite note/email/conversation with the teacher is about as far as I'd go.

I'm surprised that no one has called for the teacher to be fired yet (or did I miss it?).

 

[MidgeD79]

I am a school bus driver and our districts policy is EVERYTHING has to be visably labeled. I cannot be held responsible for things that go missing or may hae gone home with another child if the item doesn't get some sort of identifying mark. The top 3 items that get mixed up are hats, gloves and BOOKBAGS.

 

[Sanchez]

So what is the appropriate level of anger one should display. I'd be POed, not a little mad, I'd be pretty angry and I would be calling (or emailing) the teacher and the principal to let them know I don't appreciate a teacher making that decision for me. That is usually how it works, you have a problem with something, you let them know.

In my opinion getting angry and calling the principal is over the top. You can be as angry as you wish, make a scene, demand payment or have any other response you wish. I will restate what I said earlier: As usual, I do not understand the level of anger some people reach. I would not necessarily have a problem letting the teacher know that in my opinion he/she made an error. I just do not think an angry call or email is appropriate. You think it is.

I apologize if the situation presented does not make me as angry as you think I should be.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are so many sides to this issue, but I'm going to weigh in also.

While I agree with the labeling the kids stuff, unless there was a notice (prior to school starting) that all backpacks, etc must be labeled, I think the teacher was wrong in marking the names on the backpacks without notification.

I'm a non-confrontational kind of person, but I would go talk to the teacher (yes, in person) and confirm that there was no notice (or there was notification) as to labeling items. If there was none, I'd tell the teacher that I was unhappy with what she did. If the teacher chooses to make some sort of offer of restitution, so be it. If not, I've said my piece.

 

[Buckalew11]

Haha, no firing but this IS a hill I'd die on. Maybe it is my bad temper, but I think this is uncalled for. My DD had 2 backpacks throughout school--1 LLBean and one Land's End. Both were great bags that lasted forever. A teacher writing her name on one of them with a Sharpie would totally tick me off.

 

[Sanchez]

I'm surprised that no one has called for the teacher to be fired yet (or did I miss it?).

No one has suggested a complaint to the school board or a call to the local news to report the criminal act. Surprising, I know.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm surprised that no one has called for the teacher to be fired yet (or did I miss it?).

No one has suggested a complaint to the school board or a call to the local news to report the criminal act. Surprising, I know.

We're only on page 8 though. There's still time.

 

[luvmy3]

No one has suggested a complaint to the school board or a call to the local news to report the criminal act. Surprising, I know.

I was thinking maybe the OP could form an angry mob and march to the school picking up pitchforks and torches along the way, instead.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

The kids in my class (I'm an aide) are special ed preschoolers. After 10 years, I'm still surprised at the number of parents who don't label their kids' belongings. Pracically every kid has a Thomas or Dora backpack, and most can't identify their own lunchbox or jacket. We send home reminders throughout the year to ask them to label everything that comes to school.

That said, I would not write on any child's belongings with a Sharpie. What I usually do is write the name on a large strip of paper and tape it around the handle of the backpack or lunchbox. It looks kind of obnoxious, but usually prompts the parent to stick on a label or write the name on the backpack themselves. It really is difficult to sort out stuff and get the kids together for the bus when things aren't labeled. However, I would never deface anyone's property.

 

[luvsJack]

Yes there is a easy one size fits all answer, the teacher should let the parent decide how they want to label their child's backpack on the outside. Send home a note on the first day asking parents to make sure their backpacks are labled on the outside. You really can't get easier than that.
And FTR, our lists also ask to have all items labeled, however not once have I ever labeled my child's backpack on the front. Somehow through 3 kids and years of school there was never an issue.

And a child mistakingly taking home a backpack and most likely returning with it the next day is so not the same as a teacher permanently marking the child's property, unless of course the teacher was going to replace the backpack the next day.

That's pretty easy. . . until someone's back pack walks off the first day. And they don't always come back the next day or at all.

You are lucky that you haven't had an issue. Not true for everyone. I have 3 also. First two, no problems. DD had the backpack issue and then her jacket stolen in Kindergarten!!

Before jumping on the teacher, maybe someone should find out why she decided to do this. Maybe there was an issue going on in the grade of things being stolen and she was TOLD to get everything labeled?

Techniques to getting it out may or may not work but there is no reason not to try. And WD-40 is another suggestion the OP should try.

 

[luvmy3]

That's pretty easy. . . until someone's back pack walks off the first day. And they don't always come back the next day or at all.

You are lucky that you haven't had an issue. Not true for everyone. I have 3 also. First two, no problems. DD had the backpack issue and then her jacket stolen in Kindergarten!!

Before jumping on the teacher, maybe someone should find out why she decided to do this. Maybe there was an issue going on in the grade of things being stolen and she was TOLD to get everything labeled?

Techniques to getting it out may or may not work but there is no reason not to try. And WD-40 is another suggestion the OP should try.

I'm not here to debate the merits of labeling items, I'm just here saying what the teacher did was wrong. She shouldn't have taken it upon herself to do it without first asking the parent. The 100 reasons why a backback should have a name on the front doesn't matter.

 

[declansdad]

Before jumping on the teacher, maybe someone should find out why she decided to do this. Maybe there was an issue going on in the grade of things being stolen and she was TOLD to get everything labeled?

It happened on the first day of school.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm not here to debate the merits of labeling items, I'm just here saying what the teacher did was wrong. She shouldn't have taken it upon herself to do it without first asking the parent. The 100 reasons why a backback should have a name on the front doesn't matter.

But don't the "merits of labeling items" factor into the discussion? Some people (including the teacher apparently) think everything should be labeled. That's discussion number 1. The spin off of this (call it 1a) is whether, assuming everything needs to be labeled, the teacher should have been the one to label.

Discussion number 2 is how upset to be over this. Some have sounded like they want the teacher fired over this. Others (me included) don't think it's that big a deal.

BTW, OP, how do you know the teacher used a Sharpie? Is it possible they used a washable marker?

 

[sam_gordon]

It happened on the first day of school.

You could look at past years as an indicator though.

 

[declansdad]

But don't the "merits of labeling items" factor into the discussion? Some people (including the teacher apparently) think everything should be labeled. That's discussion number 1. The spin off of this (call it 1a) is whether, assuming everything needs to be labeled, the teacher should have been the one to label.

Discussion number 2 is how upset to be over this. Some have sounded like they want the teacher fired over this. Others (me included) don't think it's that big a deal.

BTW, OP, how do you know the teacher used a Sharpie? Is it possible they used a washable marker?

I haven't read any comments about firing the teacher, did I miss something?

 

[declansdad]

You could look at past years as an indicator though.

Since this was a kindergarten class I would think the school would make sure the parents would know this was an issue and items would be labeled if necessary. You can't assume that the parents had children that had attended the school in the past.

 

[sam_gordon]

I haven't read any comments about firing the teacher, did I miss something?

No, and I didn't say anyone did. I said the posts SOUND like they want the teacher fired. I don't think anyone does. I guess everyone thinks firing would be too extreme. Some of us think it's too extreme to notify the principal and ask for the backpacks to be replaced.

 

[tyniknate]

The issue is the teacher wrote directly on the backpack. She did not ask permission to do that and should reimburse the OP for the backpacks. If she did need to label them, for whatever reason, she should have not have done so in the manner she did.


Teachers, if my son came home with his backpack, lunchbox or other non-classroom supplies labeled with a marker you could expect a callfrom me.

I totally agree. I will teach my kid to identify his backpack. Writing on it in permanent marker is not acceptable and I would be angry. I would also be making a visit to the school. There are other ways a child can identify their belongings without having their name sprawled all over the outside.