Children doing after school detention

[Rhp1]

My son recently had to stay behind at school for half an hours detention for nothing in particular -( talking out of place in class) . He was given a days notice of this detention , but what i was wondering was , what authority if any do the teachers have to make him stay beyond the end of school day as this can cause safety issues on him returning home. This was a one off situation so i dont expect it to happen again.

[buildersmate]

"My son recently had to stay behind at school for half an hours detention for nothing in particular"

Schools have enough trouble maintaining discipline these days. They could do with a higher proportion of parents who back their efforts to maintain standards.

[delboy3]

Exactly! You're more worried about your innocent little darling getting a seat on the bus home than learning to behave and grow up with respect!

[Rhp1]

Typical replies i expected. When i was at school a good clip round the ears served more of a punishment and a deterrent than powder puff detentions.

[annie0000]

What age is your son? Did you have to give permission for the detention?

These factors would affect whether it is appropriate or not - If the child was old enough that he goes to and from school himself then I think there is nothing wrong with it. Bearing in mind he has told you it was for nothing in particular - that doesn't mean that the teacher saw it the same way.

If he was younger, and has been given a punishment then it is your responsibility to ensure that he gets home safely - as long as the school have made you aware of it.

[xanderma]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I would like to comment on delboy's and annie's remarks - I think there IS a safety issue here. I am more than happy for my 12 year old to walk home from school at the same time as her mates, as there is an element of safety in numbers. Half an hour later? Not a chance. Unfortunately we do not live in a safe world sometimes, and I agree with wizard that break/lunch time detentions would be more suitable.

Also, what if you had after-school commitments or appointments? My children are at clubs (Cubs, Guides etc) most nights and I'm at college, so I wouldn't be best pleased if my daughter wasn't allowed home when expected.

And before you all have a go at me as well, I would be the first to support my children's schools if they had cause to apply any sanctions - I just think that after-school detention is out-dated and ineffective, besides potentially dangerous.

[xanderma]

Sorry, finished ranting now, and I've found this, which makes it clear that the school DOES indeed have full authority to apply detention as and when deemed necessary. Still doesn't make it the best punishment in my book though....


http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ibis/uploads/Detention% 20Guidance%20DP%20Behaviour%20(text).doc

[EngTeach]

If a child misbehaves to the point of being given detention, wouldn't worrying about clubs and such be pointless? They should miss those activities as a result of inappropriate behavior. Serving a detention at the convenience of a student or parent is not the school's problem. If there were more consequences given out and supported there would be fewer problems in the long run.

[xanderma]

I knew someone would make that point - but if I'm at home waiting for my older child to come in from a detention, my younger children would miss their clubs - and how is that fair on them?

Believe me, if my child were given a detention, they would be missing all their clubs etc for a month! But the point I was trying to make is that families have lives and commitments outside of school hours, and I don't think it is right that school's sanctions should encroach on these. If I punish my children, I do it on my time, so the schools should do it on theirs.

[annie0000]

sorry xanderma - I have to agree with Engteach. If you worry about your childs safety, then you wouldn't be waiting at home for them and having the younger children missing their clubs - you would be going to pick the child up. I agree that it is therefore a punishment on the rest of the family - all the better to hammer home that the message that misbehaviour affects other people.

My sons are in early primary school and haven't had detention, but I do know that they miss playtimes and choosing time as punishments - entirely appropriate at primary age High school is different and it is therefor relevant to find out how old the child is in this case.

Why should teachers give up their breaks to supervise your child - at the end of the day he is your child and his behaviour is your responsibilty, if schools could rely on parents to apply appropriate punishments, then maybe their job would be easier.

[DONNAKEBABUK]

what do you meant by talking out of place, was it a question he answered that the teacher did not like the answer to ?

[buildersmate]

Glad that I didn't disappoint you, Rhp. I fully agree with the clip around the ear bit, but unfortunately it doesn't work like that nowadays - the kids 'do' the teacher for assault.
Now there are several of the above ABers worried about the loss of a after-school club for a younger sibling, the safety issue etc etc.
The answer is simple - go and pick the errant kid up if there is a perceived safety isue - but make it pretty clear that you as a parent have been considerably inconvenienced by their poor behaviour and you won't expect it to happen again. Stop blaming the schools for your kids c@@p behaviour.

[xanderma]

As a mother of 3 children, one of secondary age and two at primary school, all I can say is, annie, wait until you're in Rhp1's boat and then comment on the suitability of after-school punishment. I actually work in a primary school, and there are far more effective and appropriate sanctions than detention.

Also, your final comment doesn't make sense, you think teachers shouldn't give up their breaks to supervise punishments but it seems to be ok for them to stay behind after school?? And if you read what I said last time, I DO take responsibility for my children's behaviour (which is exactly why they behave well both in school and out) but I was responding to the original question raised of safety and care of children in today's world.

[JonnyBoy12]

I know black people can't cope with this sort of stressful punishment: they can't cope with de-tension!

And no I am not racist,before the PC police jump on my innocent little pun.

[annie0000]

xanderma - I was not accusuing your children, although it does read like that, I was using you in the general sense. I am not saying that there is not a more effective punishment than detention, but if that is the punishment that the school has deemed appropriate, then I believe that the parent should support it as far as the child is concerned, but if they have worries, they need to take those seperately to the school. Too many kids can use these situations to manipulate to get what they want out of it.

I see after school as different from breaks during the day as we are all entitled to a break during the day, but I don't necessarily think that teachers should walk out of school at 3.30 or whatever at the end of the day. They usually have paperwork, marking etc to do.

[JockMcGrotty]

Yes, he should do the detention and you should pay for the staff to supervise the detention. If you are worried about his safety you could arrange for a taxi to take him home.
This type of 'low level' misbehaviour undermines the education process and students' access to learning.
Schools' have the right to impose reasonable sanctions of discipline and you will have agreed to them by signing the admissions form.
If you don't like it why don't you educate him at home and you'll soon learn that your darling little child is probably a nuisance.
PS it never is a one off!!..
It starts off with talking in class, and then shouting across class and before you know it you'll be visiting him in Wormwood Scrubs!
The school are doing him a favour and I bet if he does the detention he will never end in Wormwood Scrubs.

Attila

[yswan]

Jock does the same count for Holloway?

[Nerd101]

I am a middle school student and is well behaved, a "staright A" student who has never recieved a detention, but is writing a persuasive essay on detention for my English paper and have to research. My mom is also a teacher and I agree completely with detentions ALL THE WAY!!! If your kid has after school activities, well then you learn from your mistakes, and next time he/she won't talk out of turn and behave. If they recieved the detention, then they obviously deserved it and therefore has to serve it. I go to a very prestigous school with high expectations and bad behavior is not excepted. You have one day toi serve it or you will recieve another one. And if your child's detention effects your family's scheduele, then that is the consequence that you all will have to suffer. As for the parent taking matters into their own hands is quite irresponsible. The magority of parents (not all of you neccessarily) but will not handle the situation as needed. That is why I believe in detention is a proper punishment for any misbehavior.

[Nerd101]

I am a middle school student and is well behaved, a "staright A" student who has never recieved a detention, but is writing a persuasive essay on detention for my English paper and have to research. My mom is also a teacher and I agree completely with detentions ALL THE WAY!!! If your kid has after school activities, well then you learn from your mistakes, and next time he/she won't talk out of turn and behave. If they recieved the detention, then they obviously deserved it and therefore has to serve it. I go to a very prestigous school with high expectations and bad behavior is not excepted. You have one day to serve it or you will recieve another one. And if your child's detention effects your family's scheduele, then that is the consequence that you all will have to suffer. As for the parent taking matters into their own hands is quite irresponsible. The majority of parents (not all of you neccessarily) but will not handle the situation as needed. That is why I believe in detention is a proper punishment for any misbehavior.