wrapping kids in cotton wool
09 January 2003, 01:37 PM
#61
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Kenny
Believe you me mate, I agree.... I can remember clearly aiming for one of the 3rd years that I hated, (1st and 3rd years v 2nd and 4th years
) as I'd fashioned this snowball into ice and I swear to god, Finlayson literally walked into the snowball's path as it was pretty much on target 
Believe you me mate, I agree.... I can remember clearly aiming for one of the 3rd years that I hated, (1st and 3rd years v 2nd and 4th years
) as I'd fashioned this snowball into ice and I swear to god, Finlayson literally walked into the snowball's path as it was pretty much on target 
09 January 2003, 01:38 PM
#62
DaveP:"bank holidays that are outside of these weeks" No, only Mayday is, and teachers didn't get an extra day there, just one moved from somewhere else. "Statutory number of days open for children" rule comes into play. Just like it did this year when everyone else got a day off for the jubilee, teachers just had one moved from somewhere else. Even Estelle didn't have the power to give it them. Its on the statute book, and would have to go b4 parliament!
DocJock: I know why it's peak time, I've been married to a teacher for a long time.
:
Unfortunately, your "Any responsible parent" argument doesn't hold up. That's why the law allows it, 'cos any child can make up two weeks. Last year the government did research with a view to stopping it, but the researchers came back with that conclusion. And no, they weren't all teachers:
Alcazar
Edited to say-DocJock: even if you refute that argument, you're only tied to those dates as long as your kids are at home, and in full time education. Teachers are tied to it for their full working lives. And all the people without kids..............
[Edited by alcazar - 1/9/2003 1:41:37 PM]
[Edited by alcazar - 1/9/2003 1:43:21 PM]
DocJock: I know why it's peak time, I've been married to a teacher for a long time.
:Unfortunately, your "Any responsible parent" argument doesn't hold up. That's why the law allows it, 'cos any child can make up two weeks. Last year the government did research with a view to stopping it, but the researchers came back with that conclusion. And no, they weren't all teachers
:Alcazar
Edited to say-DocJock: even if you refute that argument, you're only tied to those dates as long as your kids are at home, and in full time education. Teachers are tied to it for their full working lives. And all the people without kids..............
[Edited by alcazar - 1/9/2003 1:41:37 PM]
[Edited by alcazar - 1/9/2003 1:43:21 PM]
09 January 2003, 01:46 PM
#63
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typical SN this, the ORIGINAL thread said the school had banned snowballs, the guy was gutted- had he overreacted.
my response is yes you had, i then gave reasons why schools wont let snowball fights happen and also why them not letting them happen wont harm the kids. as there is reason for the ban and no negative effect my conclusion was that to be "gutted" was an overreaction- even the kid involved wasnt bothered.
i never said dont have snowball fights, i never said dont fall of a horse or whatever other twaddle ppl have tripped of on. for all i care you can beat the hell out of your kids with iron bars if you think it harks but to some "better time" when kids where exposed to all of lifes threats (why not get them to play in sewers with rats? i hear the plauge was popular some time ago?)
does anyone on here belive that, if in a position of responsablity and accountablity at a school, they would allow snowball fights?
T
my response is yes you had, i then gave reasons why schools wont let snowball fights happen and also why them not letting them happen wont harm the kids. as there is reason for the ban and no negative effect my conclusion was that to be "gutted" was an overreaction- even the kid involved wasnt bothered.
i never said dont have snowball fights, i never said dont fall of a horse or whatever other twaddle ppl have tripped of on. for all i care you can beat the hell out of your kids with iron bars if you think it harks but to some "better time" when kids where exposed to all of lifes threats (why not get them to play in sewers with rats? i hear the plauge was popular some time ago?)
does anyone on here belive that, if in a position of responsablity and accountablity at a school, they would allow snowball fights?
T
09 January 2003, 01:56 PM
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Tiggs,
please read some literary licence into my post! I used a smidgeon of exaggeration for comic effect (allegedly!).He was miffed this morning,he was desparate to get to school,why? because of the snow.They just want to play out in it,which includes throwing it at each other.I only over reacted in the sense that its not life threatening,merely a conversation topic.
Kids are over molly coddled now-a-days,imho,and that doesn't mean i'm a "he can have it hard" kinda parent,merely a dad who values a smile on my kids face as much as a A+ in his book.
please read some literary licence into my post! I used a smidgeon of exaggeration for comic effect (allegedly!).He was miffed this morning,he was desparate to get to school,why? because of the snow.They just want to play out in it,which includes throwing it at each other.I only over reacted in the sense that its not life threatening,merely a conversation topic.
Kids are over molly coddled now-a-days,imho,and that doesn't mean i'm a "he can have it hard" kinda parent,merely a dad who values a smile on my kids face as much as a A+ in his book.
09 January 2003, 02:01 PM
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"Kids are over molly coddled "
if this was your generic point then i agree, i dont think the snowballs in school example is a good one though. there are plenty of ways to unwrap kids from the cottonwool of overprotective parents- lobing snow around at school is not one of them.
T
if this was your generic point then i agree, i dont think the snowballs in school example is a good one though. there are plenty of ways to unwrap kids from the cottonwool of overprotective parents- lobing snow around at school is not one of them.
T
09 January 2003, 02:02 PM
#67
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At our scholl it was 'law' that on snowy days the fifth/sixth formers would aim to cause serious injury to as many 1st years as possible through intense snowball barrages, and tracking down any small snivelling children in the school and shovelling a good amount of snow down the back of their necks.
The only school rule around this was that snow was not allowed to be brough into the classroom - therefore if a fist year rcould make it into the classroom they were safe.....
I got it when i was a first year -it was a kind of school 'rite of passage' and it made all first years think 'I can't wait to be in the 6th form to dish it out' and we had max respect for those guys.
And the best bit was that when I got into the 5th year, we did the same. Nothing lie holding a cheeky young 1st yr down whilst you make him eat snow.
oh, and girls were exempt from all this. It was a boy thing.
The only school rule around this was that snow was not allowed to be brough into the classroom - therefore if a fist year rcould make it into the classroom they were safe.....
I got it when i was a first year -it was a kind of school 'rite of passage' and it made all first years think 'I can't wait to be in the 6th form to dish it out' and we had max respect for those guys.
And the best bit was that when I got into the 5th year, we did the same. Nothing lie holding a cheeky young 1st yr down whilst you make him eat snow.
oh, and girls were exempt from all this. It was a boy thing.
09 January 2003, 02:49 PM
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Tiggs?
erm.. I did.. 4 of us went out for a fight in the carpark!!
it was well funny, and quite warm once you run about a bit!!!
brought back some fond memories.. (i'm 34 by the way)
cheers
BB
ps- how many of you went out a lunch time and got soaked then went back into work dripping wet?
it was well funny, and quite warm once you run about a bit!!!
brought back some fond memories.. (i'm 34 by the way)
cheers
BB
09 January 2003, 03:33 PM
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I am stunned that kids aren't allowed to throw snow ***** at school. We spent countless winter days in the playground praying for it to snow, so that we could have a good fire fight.
One year it snowed and mightily. In our playground we had a tuckshop that was a tiny brick building with a stable door. The 5th former who was on tuckshop rota must have known he was a siting duck and sure enough he was. At lunch, the top door was shut, so we prepared our ammo and got a kid to knock on the door pretending to want some sweets. As the door opened, we let fly with everything that we had. It wasn't until our hard packed volleys had left our arms that the deputy head's face appeared in the doorway. My how we were caned for that one
With regard to wrapping kids in cotton wool, at this particular school, if you had a "dispute" with another kid, you told a PE teacher. If both kids agreed, you were put in the boxing ring, with gloves and a teacher refereed. The winner was declared when one kid gave up or there was blood. Best of all, the other kids in the school paid 1p to get in (this was 28 years ago) and the winner got the takings. I got a few hidings, but I certainly gave a few out too. 200 kids cheering you on was quite something.
I have thought about this many times since. Can you imagine it happening today
?
Think about it though... We wore gloves and it was a controlled environment, so no one got hurt and both kids had to agree to settle it this way or it was left.
In all my years at that school, I never saw one bare knuckle playground fight.
One year it snowed and mightily. In our playground we had a tuckshop that was a tiny brick building with a stable door. The 5th former who was on tuckshop rota must have known he was a siting duck and sure enough he was. At lunch, the top door was shut, so we prepared our ammo and got a kid to knock on the door pretending to want some sweets. As the door opened, we let fly with everything that we had. It wasn't until our hard packed volleys had left our arms that the deputy head's face appeared in the doorway. My how we were caned for that one
With regard to wrapping kids in cotton wool, at this particular school, if you had a "dispute" with another kid, you told a PE teacher. If both kids agreed, you were put in the boxing ring, with gloves and a teacher refereed. The winner was declared when one kid gave up or there was blood. Best of all, the other kids in the school paid 1p to get in (this was 28 years ago) and the winner got the takings. I got a few hidings, but I certainly gave a few out too. 200 kids cheering you on was quite something.
I have thought about this many times since. Can you imagine it happening today
?Think about it though... We wore gloves and it was a controlled environment, so no one got hurt and both kids had to agree to settle it this way or it was left.
In all my years at that school, I never saw one bare knuckle playground fight.
09 January 2003, 03:50 PM
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Pete- the boxing idea was the best thing I've heard -we had a similar thing but it wasnt school sanctioned and inevitable involved someone taking a pasting....but it occurred to me that it would also be a good idea to get some of these whinging teachers in the ring with disgruntled parents- let 'em explain the weight of their arguements in 6 rounds of give and take.
09 January 2003, 04:03 PM
#73
I would actively encourage the kids to go out snowballing and build noisy tree houses near big houses
If youv'e just moved into our street, we don't have any snow. But will you tell your glue sniffing offspring to get the hell out of the tree house and stop trying to peep into our bedroom!
09 January 2003, 04:10 PM
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Alcazar,
You mention your wife works bloody hard. As I said we moved our kids school. I was Chair of the PTA at the old school so got to see quite a bit behind the scenes, my wife also spent probably 2 1/2 days helping in the school. At the old school you wouldn't see the head for dust.. she never showed up to any PTA events and never encouraged other teachers to do so either. As a PTA we were very successful raised in excess of £10,000 per year. In the end we moved the kids for a number of reasons, one was the total apathy of the teaching staff. Given how involved we both were with the school we never got a call or anything to ask why we were moving the kids. Just a curt letter saying they had noted the children would be leaving.
The new school is a breath of fresh air. The headteacher is totally committed and expects 120% from her staff. There are only 73 kids in this school but the range of activities is huge. My childrens ability seems to have improved and they are happier. In fact my eldest daughter on her first day commented "why can't all schools be like this mummy". Consider that at the old school concert 450 kids there were 6 kids playing the violin, but at the new school 73 kids, there were 14 kids playing violin at the carol concert you can start to see the difference.
The irony therefore is that these two people will be earning the same money (possibly the one at the larger school more) unyet the new school headteacher is infinitely better.
This is my biggest gripe with teaching. We should be able to reward the excellent and make the poor suffer. Unfortunately people will only state the acses where they know bad teachers so the proffession as a whole gets a bad name.
Sorry totally off topic.
Dave
You mention your wife works bloody hard. As I said we moved our kids school. I was Chair of the PTA at the old school so got to see quite a bit behind the scenes, my wife also spent probably 2 1/2 days helping in the school. At the old school you wouldn't see the head for dust.. she never showed up to any PTA events and never encouraged other teachers to do so either. As a PTA we were very successful raised in excess of £10,000 per year. In the end we moved the kids for a number of reasons, one was the total apathy of the teaching staff. Given how involved we both were with the school we never got a call or anything to ask why we were moving the kids. Just a curt letter saying they had noted the children would be leaving.
The new school is a breath of fresh air. The headteacher is totally committed and expects 120% from her staff. There are only 73 kids in this school but the range of activities is huge. My childrens ability seems to have improved and they are happier. In fact my eldest daughter on her first day commented "why can't all schools be like this mummy". Consider that at the old school concert 450 kids there were 6 kids playing the violin, but at the new school 73 kids, there were 14 kids playing violin at the carol concert you can start to see the difference.
The irony therefore is that these two people will be earning the same money (possibly the one at the larger school more) unyet the new school headteacher is infinitely better.
This is my biggest gripe with teaching. We should be able to reward the excellent and make the poor suffer. Unfortunately people will only state the acses where they know bad teachers so the proffession as a whole gets a bad name.
Sorry totally off topic.
Dave
09 January 2003, 04:42 PM
#75
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Think about it though... We wore gloves and it was a controlled environment, so no one got hurt and both kids had to agree to settle it this way or it was left.
At least if they beat crap out of each other with gloves in front of a cheering class then the dispute is likely to end there!
09 January 2003, 04:56 PM
#76
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The term you are all looking for is 'duty of care', and anyone who looks after under 18's (teachers, scout leaders, youth club leaders etc.) has a 'duty of care' to the children they look after. This means that they have to take as much care over the children as the children's parents would. Unfortunately, this means the duty of care that the most careful parent would take.
In the case of snowballing, no doubt the parents who complained don't let their kids out in the snow at home either.
Many outdoor activities are being curtailed because of this, and mainly because of the Lyme Bay Canoeing tragedy from a few years ago. When I was in scouts our leaders could take us camping and hiking anywhere, today the leaders need qulifications for everything. My boss's wife is a teacher, and she can't even let her class paddle in the sea without a qualified lifesaver present!
All well and good, yes; but unless you dedicate your life to a specific pursuit then you can't get the qualification, and many leaders/teachers cannot do that for various reasons. Thus our children's lives will be all the more hollow.
I went on my scout troop's annual winter overnight hike at the weekend. The scouts were given a kitlist specifying things like waterproof trousers, warm hat and gloves, spare change of clothes etc. Obviously some of their parents don't care about them, as the one that decided to fall in a rockpool up to his waist didn't have any spare trousers and became near hypothermic!
In the case of snowballing, no doubt the parents who complained don't let their kids out in the snow at home either.
Many outdoor activities are being curtailed because of this, and mainly because of the Lyme Bay Canoeing tragedy from a few years ago. When I was in scouts our leaders could take us camping and hiking anywhere, today the leaders need qulifications for everything. My boss's wife is a teacher, and she can't even let her class paddle in the sea without a qualified lifesaver present!
All well and good, yes; but unless you dedicate your life to a specific pursuit then you can't get the qualification, and many leaders/teachers cannot do that for various reasons. Thus our children's lives will be all the more hollow.
I went on my scout troop's annual winter overnight hike at the weekend. The scouts were given a kitlist specifying things like waterproof trousers, warm hat and gloves, spare change of clothes etc. Obviously some of their parents don't care about them, as the one that decided to fall in a rockpool up to his waist didn't have any spare trousers and became near hypothermic!
09 January 2003, 05:33 PM
#77
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I remember when i was at school this lad made a snowball that had bits of grit in it and threw it at this other lad hit him in the eye was really nasty he couldnt see properly for weeks and had to where a patch he was lucky it could have blinded him.
It just shows its good fun but can be dangerous..
It just shows its good fun but can be dangerous..
09 January 2003, 05:40 PM
#78
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Sorry, but kids today are soft.
It's all playstation, x-box, and the like.
Kids need to get out more, have snowball fights, climb tress, build soapboxes/gokarts, play knock down ginger/british bulldog.
I can agree with Toerag regarding qualifications. But unfortunatley, kids only learn by mistakes, or the hard way, which can sometimes involve an injury.
p.s. slot cars ARE cool
Mark
It's all playstation, x-box, and the like.
Kids need to get out more, have snowball fights, climb tress, build soapboxes/gokarts, play knock down ginger/british bulldog.
I can agree with Toerag regarding qualifications. But unfortunatley, kids only learn by mistakes, or the hard way, which can sometimes involve an injury.
p.s. slot cars ARE cool
Mark
09 January 2003, 06:21 PM
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"kids only learn by mistakes, or the hard way, which can sometimes involve an injury."
all nice and easy to say that here but can a teacher say it to a parent when they ask why their kid is in hospital because he has had a lump of ice lobbed at him under the supervision of that teacher?
all nice and easy to say that here but can a teacher say it to a parent when they ask why their kid is in hospital because he has had a lump of ice lobbed at him under the supervision of that teacher?
09 January 2003, 08:37 PM
#82
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this is like arguing with 5 yr olds- no wonder you are all so into snowball fights!
the objective in football is not to hurt- snowball objective is to hit, throw, lob and chuck.
the objective in football is not to hurt- snowball objective is to hit, throw, lob and chuck.
09 January 2003, 09:02 PM
#84
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the objective in football is not to hurt- snowball objective is to hit, throw, lob and chuck.[
nope,lob and chuck are girly pastimes,my lad throws properly.
ps you were saying something about arguing with 5 yr olds?
we are gonna have to agree to disagree one his one,most schools will ban it,and most parents aren't bothered. (my opinion)
its a sad world when the fear of litigation,broken windows and wet pants gets int he way of kids having fun
nope,lob and chuck are girly pastimes,my lad throws properly.
ps you were saying something about arguing with 5 yr olds?
we are gonna have to agree to disagree one his one,most schools will ban it,and most parents aren't bothered. (my opinion)
its a sad world when the fear of litigation,broken windows and wet pants gets int he way of kids having fun
09 January 2003, 09:17 PM
#85
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Hate to say this TIGGS, but if you wrap your kids up too tightly, They will feel like you are suffocating them. Chances are they are going to peg it at the earliest opportunity. You have to cut them a bit of slack every now and again or you will build a wall of resentment.
IMHO its my duty to bring my kids up to know the difference between right and wrong and enable them to stand on their own two feet. That will be my gift as a parent to them.
They will learn much more from life experience than any book can teach them (and lets face it, they all get to a stage in which the switch off when you speak to them). I hope the important ones get learnt before they get there.
You can't live their lives for them and I feel that the rules and regs you are so fond of are biased to protect the teachers, not the kids. Uptight or what
[Edited by DRUNKNORGY - 1/9/2003 10:15:00 PM]
IMHO its my duty to bring my kids up to know the difference between right and wrong and enable them to stand on their own two feet. That will be my gift as a parent to them.
They will learn much more from life experience than any book can teach them (and lets face it, they all get to a stage in which the switch off when you speak to them). I hope the important ones get learnt before they get there.
You can't live their lives for them and I feel that the rules and regs you are so fond of are biased to protect the teachers, not the kids. Uptight or what
[Edited by DRUNKNORGY - 1/9/2003 10:15:00 PM]
10 January 2003, 12:21 AM
#87
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"Hate to say this TIGGS, but if you wrap your kids up too tightly, They will feel like you are suffocating them. "
what on earth on you on about?
all i have said is that i can understand why schools ban snowballs, that it doesnt bother me and that i would say to be "gutted" about it is an over-reaction.
you have no idea about how i raise my children, what dangers i expose them to or how i feel about that. for all you know i may tie them to a post and chuck dump valves at their heads while screaming "learn lifes lessons you evil ****es"
T
ps- if my kids want to chuck snowballs (and outside school they are welcome to) i encourage them to aim at over assumptive fools who dont read before responding in order that they can get their point across irespective of its relevance to the original point made.......so you better duck if they are near you!
what on earth on you on about?
all i have said is that i can understand why schools ban snowballs, that it doesnt bother me and that i would say to be "gutted" about it is an over-reaction.
you have no idea about how i raise my children, what dangers i expose them to or how i feel about that. for all you know i may tie them to a post and chuck dump valves at their heads while screaming "learn lifes lessons you evil ****es"
T
ps- if my kids want to chuck snowballs (and outside school they are welcome to) i encourage them to aim at over assumptive fools who dont read before responding in order that they can get their point across irespective of its relevance to the original point made.......so you better duck if they are near you!
01 August 2003, 05:28 PM
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my lad is seven and he has experienced his first snow fall EVER,never seen snow that can be played out in that hasn't turned to slush before.A wonderful experience.
he goes to school and they are banned from having snowball fights,including AFTER school.
he's not bothered,they made snowmen,but i'm gutted!.
Kids are treated like glass today,as a society we are breeding a future full of wimps.
have i over-reacted?
ps not a mupper post,i'm genuinely saddened and require alcohol
[Edited by dba - 1/8/2003 5:29:27 PM]
he goes to school and they are banned from having snowball fights,including AFTER school.
he's not bothered,they made snowmen,but i'm gutted!.
Kids are treated like glass today,as a society we are breeding a future full of wimps.
have i over-reacted?
ps not a mupper post,i'm genuinely saddened and require alcohol
[Edited by dba - 1/8/2003 5:29:27 PM]
01 August 2003, 08:17 PM
#89
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When I was a kid, The Nit Nurse would come around and check us. Now there is no such thing as its classed as assault .
The kids in Infants and Junior Schools just pass them back and forth to each other now. Because some pillock(s) back in the 80's decided to complain that little Jonnys rights were being infringed, We don't have any way to protect all of the kids from these disgusting parasites, we as parents of young children in schools have to deal with this on a regular basis. Many of the laws have little grounding in common sense.
Edited to read right
[Edited by DRUNKNORGY - 1/8/2003 9:23:59 PM]
.The kids in Infants and Junior Schools just pass them back and forth to each other now. Because some pillock(s) back in the 80's decided to complain that little Jonnys rights were being infringed, We don't have any way to protect all of the kids from these disgusting parasites, we as parents of young children in schools have to deal with this on a regular basis. Many of the laws have little grounding in common sense.
Edited to read right
[Edited by DRUNKNORGY - 1/8/2003 9:23:59 PM]
01 August 2003, 08:24 PM
#90
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Indeed. Our daughter has got hair several feet long. No matter how many times we eradicate the nits, back they come. It appears that some other kids' parents aren't bothering to check, and that means the whole class get it. 
PS: must have been later than the 80s -- I went to school in the 80s and we had the nit nurse.
[Edited by carl - 1/8/2003 8:24:52 PM]
PS: must have been later than the 80s -- I went to school in the 80s and we had the nit nurse.
[Edited by carl - 1/8/2003 8:24:52 PM]