Your child's school rules: the stupid, weird, or just plain annoying

[Madame]

OK, I can almost buy that if they are consistent between schools in a given district. But our middle school says no backpacks, but all of a sudden it's fine in high school. So either it's a safety hazard or it isn't. Which is it?

I'm honestly not sure. All Ontario schools should have this rule (some are way more lax about it than others). Maybe different fire codes?

It really is dangerous. They leave the backpack loops dangling on the floor & bam down you go!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm honestly not sure. All Ontario schools should have this rule (some are way more lax about it than others). Maybe different fire codes?

It really is dangerous. They leave the backpack loops dangling on the floor & bam down you go!

I can see any given district making a determination on it being a hazard, or not being a hazard. I'm just still scratching my head over high school and middle school within the same district having different determinations.

 

[Madame]

I can see any given district making a determination on it being a hazard, or not being a hazard. I'm just still scratching my head over high school and middle school within the same district having different determinations.

Me too actually. Here if it's a rule for one it's a rule for all. Like I can't bring my own cleaning products to clean my filthy desks & shelves b/c it might be hazardous or interact with other products they use

 

[Kellykins1218]

Our elementary students have to walk through the halls with their index fingers against their lips to remind themselves not to talk. It's very weird. They also have silent lunch (not all the time) where they're not allowed to talk. The cafeteria monitors have a freaking microphone and yell at the kids to keep it down all the time. It's a small school that's preschool-2nd grade...they really aren't that loud. I have unrestricted access because I'm a PTO officer so I am one of the few parents allowed to have lunch with my kids. The screaming just infuriates me & I complained about it to the principal at our last meeting. I'm going in again this week so I guess we'll see if anything's changed.

 

[mamasuf]

Why is it annoying to need to be to school on time? I am not getting this. Most people need to be to their jobs on time, that is just life. Isn't it a huge inconvenience for the teachers to have kids wandering in whenever they feel like finally getting out of bed?

I didn't mean that it was annoying that they couldn't be late, what I said was that the note couldn't say the real reason they were late. It had to say certain reasons that weren't logical or else it was an "unexcused" lateness.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Flame suit on

As someone who works in a school let me tell you how annoying it is to have parents coming in all morning with forgotten lunches, projects, gym clothes, sport clothes, homework etc. We are administrative assistants not drlivery people

Every year our principal gives a speech trying to discourage parents from dropping off forgotten articles. Trying to teach kids personal responsibility parents of course ignore this for their special child

Also why do some parents feel the need to come and eat lunch with your child. Let go of the apron strings!

 

[mom2rtk]

Flame suit on

As someone who works in a school let me tell you how annoying it is to have parents coming in all morning with forgotten lunches, projects, gym clothes, sport clothes, homework etc. We are administrative assistants not drlivery people

Every year our principal gives a speech trying to discourage parents from dropping off forgotten articles. Trying to teach kids personal responsibility parents of course ignore this for their special child

Also why do some parents feel the need to come and eat lunch with your child. Let go of the apron strings!

Flame suit on.......

Why do some school personnel make parents feel like we are just a necessary evil who gets in their way?

My youngest is in high school now. The times I made a last minute delivery to school were quite minimal. But teaching responsibility is a process and some kids take longer than others.

Thankfully the staff at our neighborhood school were always welcoming and never made me feel like I was an inconvenience to them, as I get the feeling from in your post.

And if it helps a small child transition better into school to have mom or dad come for lunch to be part of their world from time to time, I'm really not sure why that's such an imposition to you.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Also why do some parents feel the need to come and eat lunch with your child. Let go of the apron strings!

*eye roll*
Gee, maybe because some of us are volunteering several hours a day at the school and the principal suggested it?

 

[PlainJane]

Flame suit on

As someone who works in a school let me tell you how annoying it is to have parents coming in all morning with forgotten lunches, projects, gym clothes, sport clothes, homework etc. We are administrative assistants not drlivery people

Every year our principal gives a speech trying to discourage parents from dropping off forgotten articles. Trying to teach kids personal responsibility parents of course ignore this for their special child

Also why do some parents feel the need to come and eat lunch with your child. Let go of the apron strings!

What is so horrible about a parent coming to have lunch with their child every once in awhile? Apron strings? They're kids. It's alarming to me that a parent that is trying to be involved is an inconvenience to you.

As far as dropping off items, some kids I'm sure need to learn personal responsibility. Other kids probably just have really bad memories. A child that struggles to remember things needs help, they do not need to be told they're bad for forgetting. Then you're left with the kid who never usually leaves anything at home, but it happens to all of us at some point.

 

[pocomom]

Flame suit on

As someone who works in a school let me tell you how annoying it is to have parents coming in all morning with forgotten lunches, projects, gym clothes, sport clothes, homework etc. We are administrative assistants not drlivery people

Every year our principal gives a speech trying to discourage parents from dropping off forgotten articles. Trying to teach kids personal responsibility parents of course ignore this for their special child

Also why do some parents feel the need to come and eat lunch with your child. Let go of the apron strings!

really? how about some people actually like spending time with their children? What about parents that work off shifts? live apart etc? How about ALL the multitude of studies that show involved parents have students that perform better in school. This is one of the major examples of what is wrong with schools today, a decent educator/support staff would be thrilled to have parents involved. It means they actually care.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Okay - first of all I am a parent and before I worked at our school I was a top volunteer - PTA President etc

Let me give you some perspective from the other side. While you think it's not an inconvenience to deliver forgotten items to "your" child multiply that over and over each day by the number of other parents who think it's just "thrir" child

Do you think my children never forgot things? I did how we follow the Principals advice to make them accept the natural consequence of their actions now I will say that our school will not let the kids go hungry. They are allowed to buy lunch in account (pay later) once. After that if they forget again they can have a cheese or PBJ sandwich

Teachers and staff always say it's more disruptive than it's worth for parents to come in and have lunch with the younger kids. The other kids feel bad that their parents can't come and it takes awhile to get everyone back on ttack

 

[mom2rtk]

Okay - first of all I am a parent and before I worked at our school I was a top volunteer - PTA President etc

Let me give you some perspective from the other side. While you think it's not an inconvenience to deliver forgotten items to "your" child multiply that over and over each day by the number of other parents who think it's just "thrir" child

Do you think my children never forgot things? I did how we follow the Principals advice to make them accept the natural consequence of their actions now I will say that our school will not let the kids go hungry. They are allowed to buy lunch in account (pay later) once. After that if they forget again they can have a cheese or PBJ sandwich

Teachers and staff always say it's more disruptive than it's worth for parents to come in and have lunch with the younger kids. The other kids feel bad that their parents can't come and it takes awhile to get everyone back on ttack

I guess the question is who are you talking about when you say it's "more disruptive than it's worth"? Parents don't exist just to make things as easy as possible for school staff and teachers. After reading your comments, I'm more appreciative than ever of the experience we had at our little neighborhood elementary school. They made parents feel welcome, part of a team caring for and educating their kids.

 

[clori]

Our school is k-8. I did bring things in for my dd15 when she forgot something. It was probably 3 times in 9 years. Most times the office has a volunteer helping up to x time in the morning dedicated to things like walking late young kids to class and delivering items etc. Sometimes teachers were just called and told to send the kid down before lunch etc. One of the 3 times it was more that I reversed lunches for both girls and my oldest who started earlier knew her younger sister wouldn't eat the wrong lunch. She called me from the office before school started. I brought her lunch when I dropped off younger dd. The principal was there and handed younger dd her lunch and said she would happily bring older dd her lunch since she loved having a non serious reason to go into the classes to say hi to the kids.

At the high school one day last winter when snow was melting (over 100 inches last year) dd15 got splashed. She texted me that her socks were soaked. I was going out anyway past the high school. She didn't ask me to but I know I hate being in soaking wet socks so I brought her a pair. I saw her assistant principal who told me he thought it was great that I was so thoughtful. He called dd's class at the very end and told her to come down between classes. He joked with us and let her change socks. I didn't need to wait but he said I should so I could take the wet socks home.

As for having lunch with the kids I never did that even when I was a PTO volunteer. The one time I did purchase lunch at the school and went back the PTO room to eat. I shut the door then a lockdown announcement was made. I wasn't technically locked in from the inside but the door was locked on the outside and we were told to stay inside. It turned out to be bank robber in the area.

Our schools allow any backpack though only the high school kids carry their bags around during the day. They ask that water bottles have covers. There is a rule against some head coverings such as no hats but girls can wear headbands etc. Hoodies could be worn but no hoods on inside.

Stumbled upon this thread. All I can say is thank God my kids go to school in Germany!!! I grew up in the states. I guess alot has changed , for,the worse. My kids age 10 carries a normal backpack ( all day), any water bottle and can put whatever he wants in there. Of course common sense, no rule, makes sure it, s not vodka. Can go out for lunch, wear a hoodie, i can drop things off. Etc.

The only difference at my kids school is going out to lunch is considered a senior privilege. I went to a public school in West Germany for 1 year. The only time you could leave was if you had a class like gym late in the afternoon you could leave at regular time and come back. What I found odd was that kids stood as a teacher walked into a room as a sign of respect yet would continue knitting. I can honestly say I never saw a student knitting in class in the USA.

 

[DawnM]

I didn't mean that it was annoying that they couldn't be late, what I said was that the note couldn't say the real reason they were late. It had to say certain reasons that weren't logical or else it was an "unexcused" lateness.

You are implying that you want to put down, "He couldn't get up, wouldn't get up, didn't want to get up" and have it excused?

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I guess the question is who are you talking about when you say it's "more disruptive than it's worth"? Parents don't exist just to make things as easy as possible for school staff and teachers. After reading your comments, I'm more appreciate than ever of the experience we had at our little neighborhood elementary school. They made parents feel welcome, part of a team caring for and educating their kids.

First of all you misunderstood - it is disruptive to the other children.
Also teachers are there to educate your child, not cater to whims. All staff have jobs to do - delivery service is not one of them.

Also I may be saying it out loud but after many years of working in this profession you would be surprised how many teachers and staff from MANY schools say the same things. That's probably where the use of "Helicopter parents" came from.

 

[mom2rtk]

First of all you misunderstood - it is disruptive to the other children.
Also teachers are there to educate your child, not cater to whims. All staff have jobs to do - delivery service is not one of them.

Also I may be saying it out loud but after many years of working in this profession you would be surprised how many teachers and staff from MANY schools say the same things. That's probably where the use of "Helicopter parents" came from.

Oh, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that at all. It's a shame parents are such an imposition to some who chose education as their field. You haven't opened my eyes to anything I didn't suspect already.

If me coming to have lunch with my child on their birthday in grade school gets me a "helicopter parent" label, then so be it. Trust me, I didn't go eat in the cafeteria, only to watch kids pour milk on their tray and blow it out their nose for MY benefit. But if it helped my child enjoy their birthday and feel special on their birthday, it was worth it.

LOL on "catering to whims". Assume much?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I am still on page 1, but if a kid wants to bring in liquor, all they have to do is put it in small bottles and hide it under their clothes. They are then free to go to the bathroom and do shots. They also sellike small square packets of alcohol (looks like a condom package for lack of a better comparison), which are super easy to hide under your clothes. Kids will do stupid stuff, and they will find a way. Adults make rules to try and gain a sense of control, but really, they are just making it hard on the majority of kids who aren'the troublemakers.

 

[mjkacmom]

Our elementary schools discourage having parents drop off forgotten items, which is fine by me. My boys were always forgetting lunches, homework, instruments, etc., and natural consequences helped tremendously. There are no parent volunteers, and parents are only allowed in the office, unless there was something special going on. Parents were not welcome to eat lunch with their kids, but kids were allowed to go home for lunch (or out to lunch).

 

[mom2rtk]

I am still on page 1, but if a kid wants to bring in liquor, all they have to do is put it in small bottles and hide it under their clothes. They are then free to go to the bathroom and do shots. They also sellike small square packets of alcohol (looks like a condom package for lack of a better comparison), which are super easy to hide under your clothes. Kids will do stupid stuff, and they will find a way. Adults make rules to try and gain a sense of control, but really, they are just making it hard on the majority of kids who aren'the troublemakers.

And maybe that's why it so hard for kids to get access to bathrooms in many high schools.

 

[mousefan73]

Our school is k-8. I did bring things in for my dd15 when she forgot something. It was probably 3 times in 9 years. Most times the office has a volunteer helping up to x time in the morning dedicated to things like walking late young kids to class and delivering items etc. Sometimes teachers were just called and told to send the kid down before lunch etc. One of the 3 times it was more that I reversed lunches for both girls and my oldest who started earlier knew her younger sister wouldn't eat the wrong lunch. She called me from the office before school started. I brought her lunch when I dropped off younger dd. The principal was there and handed younger dd her lunch and said she would happily bring older dd her lunch since she loved having a non serious reason to go into the classes to say hi to the kids.

At the high school one day last winter when snow was melting (over 100 inches last year) dd15 got splashed. She texted me that her socks were soaked. I was going out anyway past the high school. She didn't ask me to but I know I hate being in soaking wet socks so I brought her a pair. I saw her assistant principal who told me he thought it was great that I was so thoughtful. He called dd's class at the very end and told her to come down between classes. He joked with us and let her change socks. I didn't need to wait but he said I should so I could take the wet socks home.

As for having lunch with the kids I never did that even when I was a PTO volunteer. The one time I did purchase lunch at the school and went back the PTO room to eat. I shut the door then a lockdown announcement was made. I wasn't technically locked in from the inside but the door was locked on the outside and we were told to stay inside. It turned out to be bank robber in the area.

Our schools allow any backpack though only the high school kids carry their bags around during the day. They ask that water bottles have covers. There is a rule against some head coverings such as no hats but girls can wear headbands etc. Hoodies could be worn but no hoods on inside.


The only difference at my kids school is going out to lunch is considered a senior privilege. I went to a public school in West Germany for 1 year. The only time you could leave was if you had a class like gym late in the afternoon you could leave at regular time and come back. What I found odd was that kids stood as a teacher walked into a room as a sign of respect yet would continue knitting. I can honestly say I never saw a student knitting in class in the USA.

I would think that knitting needles woulc be considered contra-band and a reason for suspension in the states!!! LOL!! My son's Gymnasium allows from grade 5 on the kids to go out for lunch and longer breaks if we sign a release. most kids do.. His friend's school in the ohter town only allow from 7th grade on.