Schools and thier STUPID rules.............

When my girls were in elementary school, they had the same kinds of rules. Not only were they not allowed to phone home for things they had forgotten, they were also "penalized" and given check marks on the board if they left items in their lockers that they needed for class (such as their pencil case or what have you). No one was allowed back into the hall to retrieve things from their locker. They were told that they had to be responsible and bring the items they needed to class because the teachers would not tolerate kids running in and out of the classroom while they were trying to teach. Sometimes, they would be allowed to phone home for their lunch bag, if it was forgotten, but usually the secretary would give them cash to purchase a lunch from the cafeteria and then the parents had to pay it back. What we ended up doing is that the girls backpacks had to be prepared at night, before they went to bed. They were then placed near the front door. I made sure that all notices, forms, money, etc., that had to be sent back were given to them while they were filling their backpacks. That way, in the morning, things didn't get left behind too often. The school never really gave us a problem if we discovered something that was needed and we made the trip over to drop it off EARLY in the morning ... but they would not phone us and ask us to bring things. They did not want parents coming in and out all day, disrupting classes by asking for their children to be called down to the office, etc. It's really hectic trying to get everyone out the door on time and, sometimes, I still ended up feeling like I forgot to do MY homework! :(

Sometimes, the rules seem cruel and unfair but I think the whole purpose is to teach the children responsibility. I had my battle with the school with a rule similiar to yours. I was always in a rush to get 4 kids out the door and sometimes I would forget things too! When I would bring the kids stuff to the school, it was okay at first but than the guidance counselor sat down with me one day because I got upset with the secretary for not calling my school to get his homework. She said I was condoning my children's irresponsibility and I wouldn't always be there for them. I politely told her, Yeah, but I am here for them now. In the end I understood what she was saying. Kids need to understand that they are responsible for their school work, homework, lunches, etc. The majority of the class is able to HANDLE it and why should my children be an exception to the rule. It sucks, I hate the rule but it does make sense, no matter how angry it makes us. I did notice when I STOPPED bringing my children's forgotten items to school, they weren't as forgetful. Yes, they still forgot things but once in awhile, not every other day. I know it's tough! Hang in there.

I know how this is. The schools around here don't give the kids lockers in middle or high school. The schools don't have them at all. So the kids have to carry everything around with them all day long. Add to that they have his modular scheduling so that they only have each class 4 times a week. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday they only have 4 classes, each an hour and a half long. Monday's and Fridays are normal days. The problem with this is for example the student doesn't have math one day and if they goof up the day and forget something they are out of luck. Most of the teachers give all the work on Monday and it's due during the week and if you are late it automatically goes down to 50 percent so if you goof up what day it is you can really lose out on points quick. Yes students should have responsiblity but at the same time it should be reasonable. We should allow them to be human. When we expect them to be perfect all the time evenutally they just stop caring and say the heck with it all. They won't bother with the school work or the grades and then everyone loses out.

Wow, I've never encountered a school that wouldn't let the kids call home for something that they forgot. I think that's really over the top. Yes, they should have remembered, but simply penalizing their grade by 5 points would get the same message across. One policy that I think really stinks is my daughter's "no tolerance for tardiness" policy. At her school, there is a huge tardiness problem. A good 30% of the student body is late for their first class each day. Part of the problem is that most of the students either walk or are driven to school by their parents. The school's parking lot is poorly planned, so it's not unusual to sit in traffic for 25 minutes just waiting to drop of your child in the designated area. If you dare to drop them anywhere else, a staff member will come running out to your car to chew you out. In order to keep my daughter from being marked tardy, we must leave our house 45 minutes before the first bell. We live less than a mile from the school. The only way to avoid the traffic jam is to beat it. This sort of thing makes me wonder if the school administration members have children of their own. If they did, wouldn't they take forgetfullness and traffic into consideration?

When my son was in public school, they had the same rule. He couldn't call home if he needed lunch money or anything. So we too got to the point were we made sure everything was ready to go the night before, after he completed his homework we did the backpack routine as I called it. I made sure he had paper, pencils, homework, books, lunch money, and any forms that required my signature. However, that these same type of rules follow us even with homeschooling. There are still papers and such that he is responsible for relaying to me so I can take care of them. If they don't get turned in on time there is a pentalty, he can't go to that months outdoor trip or education hall.

My schools had a fair few silly rules. One in which got parents into trouble and really it's so pointless. So people who was bored normally ended up skipping school, they'd sign in and walk out the gates. they decide to do something about it. Your never going to guess what it was they did but here goes, they decided to close and lock the gates 15 minuites before a pupil would of been counted as being late for school. which mean't they locked half of the schools pupils and some teachers who was running late and they didn't even bother letting them in! Kinda like a prison. It was funny but stupid (i always turned up half an hour before because i called at friends houses and we'd have a kick around before we went into our form class) Kudos! ~Joey

well schools...get excited by this word............i lved going there....meet friends...enjoy...have fun....and get scoldings frm teacherss....and what else....

This is an odd situation. When I was growing up, I never had to deal with anything like this. My school was quite lenient and user-friendly. They used to let my mom come all the time if we forgot anything. And we never got penalized for it either. I think it's a little way over the top the way they are treating these children. Everyone makes mistakes and forgets things, even them, so I think you should mention to them that everyone is human and makes mistake, and forgets things, and that they should act human and have a heart.

I think if it is something important, they should let the kids try and call. But, what I have found works for us is we pack up our school stuff the night before. We always rush out the door also. Now forget something that benefits the school, and they will have them calling in no time at all. I forgot their lunch money a couple of times the past few years, and the phone was ringing for me as I walked into work!

belive me i am always been hating this school and college law and rules and regulation , i mean common man give us a breath. they are busy in gettin new rules and regulation and pupils are busy to break them hehehe anyways rule and regulation are the sick thing i always had to face in school and everything. Regards, Sam

well...dis is a toughy...seems to me like da skl has a point.i mean..you have 2 become responsilbe at a point in ur life..cant keep relyin on ur parents all the time..on the other hand u also have a point..skls cannt be parital only towards homework..so..i dont knoe..cause kids would den use dat as an excuse for assignments..hm...but i still agrre wid u ..parents should have da choice..

Um thats lame! They shouldnt blame your kids for something they DIDNT do. I think if I was running late cause of my mom, the note would state that, and guess what? They wouldnt blame me. It worries me how much teachers have changed :(

Hi mbarryton.... I think rules r really required.... Some r meant to be followed while some have to be broken... Its upto to u to choose between them

Yes schools have stupid rules but are better than colleges

Youa re right, its hould be up to the parents. This means that the parent discovers something has been left behind and takes it to the school without the kids calling home, though. It sounds as if it would help you to be sure the kids have all their things in a special place before they go to bed. Then, they grab their things on the way out of the door to the car or to school.

Yea my school has the same rules. I can't leave the class to get a pencil or my homework.

I can relate to you. I had the same problem before and I confronted the school about it. My son was able to bring all his books, assignment, notebooks and other stuff, however he forgot his lunch box in the service bus. He called me and I immediately went to the school and brought him another set of lunch. The school guard didn't allow me to bring the food to him, he reasoned that it was school policy. I was really furious, imagine my son will go through the day without lunch. I told the guard that I wish to talk to the principal and discuss the matter. Fortunately, the principal was on her out of the school. We had a talk and she reasoned that children should learn how to be responsible with their things. I told her that i do agree that children msut learn how to be responsible with thier things but they should try to draw a clear cut on the matter. Let's say they'll forgive the child on the first time, 2nd time give him a warning, and the 3rd time that's the time that they reprimand the child.

Seems like a necessary rule to me. It's called responsibility. High school teachers (and even junior high teachers) will not tolerate it. College professors have no pity at all!! I now personally I do not accept late work unless there is a major medical documented excuse. So it wouldn't help them to call you when they got to school - it's already late as it's due at the beginning of the period. Employers don't take excuses do they? None of mine would have ever found it acceptable for me to say I forgot some project at home that day?! This could mean the loss of your job. My electric company does not find it acceptable for me to forget to pay the bill (they will turn off my service). How about the IRS (seems fitting for this time of year)? Can you imagine telling them that you forgot to pay your taxes? I don't think that would go over well. I think one of the main (maybe the only) purpose of schools are to prepare the children for the future and their future will include deadlines. Oh well, that's my opinion anyways. I would make no excuses for my daughter for forgetting her work and would find it appropriate for the teacher to give her a 0.

our school in elementary did had the same rules. well it wasnt good for the children especially those who rare sensitive because thye tend to be discourage and have the feeling of didnt want going to to school again

yes