My Child WON'T Be Punished For Other Children's Bad Behaviour!

A couple of weeks ago I got into a public debate on my personal Facebook page which seemed to of got a few people rather frustrated. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm outspoken and not afraid to speak my mind, and when it comes to my child, I'm the first to admit that only I know best for him, no one else on this earth knows my child like I do, including his father!

I put a status up on my own Facebook profile about children being punished for other children's bad behaviour, some of the comments left on my status was rather shocking. Let me explain what my status was about.

A teacher shouted to a whole bunch of children if pushing wasn't stopped then everyone would be returning to their classroom.

Not my child!

Not because he's my child, but because he didn't do ANYTHING wrong!

Why should my child be punished for another child/other children's behaviour

Well he never has and hopefully never will, because I will kick up a storm! I'm not afraid to air my voice or opinion and I'm not afraid to stand up for a child when it needs to be done! If my child is being taken back to a classroom then best believe it's because of something he's done, and not because of something another child/group of children have done.

All of Spud's school life I have been told a countless number of times by teacher after teacher how well behaved he is, myself, family and friends can agree, he is such a well behaved little boy, of course he has his moments but who doesn't?

We need to remember that us adults have down days, we have moments where we have grumpy moods, bad attitudes and we act differently, but I don't hold that against my child and say he's naughty, he has a downish moment around once every six weeks, it's usually because of a game he is struggling with, but my point is, we need to stop holding our children to a higher standard of perfection than we attain ourselves, we're all human - no one's perfect!

Back to the story about the Facebook debate, homework was also mentioned. I see home time as HOME time, not home to do more work, but home to chill out, to enjoy time with the family, home time to enjoy your parent's favourite meals, for quality bonding time and much more. I believe education is vital and without education, I wouldn't be where I am today, but I don't believe in homework.

Reading is fine, helping me with the cooking/baking is fine, it's helping Spud learn valuable life lessons, he has a bookcase that can't hold all of his story books, then he has a storage box full of educational books, we go out on the weekend to visit tourist attractions - many that hold years of History behind them, and even a trip to the park can be educational when you come across some of nature's insects, so Spud is still continuing to learn at home, in many different ways, but in ways that he chooses to.

School isn't the most pleasant of places to be, as a child I hated school, if there's a stronger word than throw it in, and that's fine. I don't know of many children that LOVE school, enjoy it to an extent yes - but love it no! Even if I did come across a child who loved being in school more than being at home, I'd think I'd be worried with what sort of homelife the child had - but we'll leave that for another day.

Some of the comments left on my status was people agreeing with me, some not so - which is fine. I am one of the first to tell others off for not allowing others to have an opinion, I couldn't imagine the world if there wasn't debates, I was on the Youth Parliament team for a reason, later making the Roll of Honours for my local council. If I didn't have a child, I could just imagine me sitting in the Houses of Parliament having a debate on a weekly basis, I find them very interesting.

Not getting into politics, let me show you some of the comments, without mentioning names of course.

Of course everyone's entitled to their opinions, but how is this making a walk over teacher? Okay then...

A valuable LIFE LESSON!? Oh yes, I'm just going to teach my child that he should totally get punished for other people's behaviours!

This isn't a valuable life skill or life lesson!

This person clearly wasn't getting my point, my child isn't going to be punished for other child's punishments!

My mum then got involved....

Then Gareth (my fiance) got involved, and as you can see we clearly have different parenting views, babying a child and keeping adult drama's away from a child is two totally different things! Children are innocent and until they know otherwise, the world is a good place.

Then things started going down a different route, and me and this said person had already made it clear it was just a debate, no hard feelings, this was a whole different kettle of fish.

I then decided I had spent enough time and my view clearly wasn't getting across to certain people so I ended the debate there.

However, I then went onto ask some bloggers what their thoughts on the opinion was, and this is what I got back.

Michaela from Adventures Of A Yorkshire Mum said:

I saw your post and was going to comment but thought I'd better not. I totally agree with you. I would not be happy if my sons were punished for other children's behaviour. Like, in life, if a colleague was to do something wrong, you wouldn't be blamed also, so why should children?

Laura from Mummy Lala said:

I'm in complete agreement with you. Why should another child be punished for something someone or some other children have done? That's not fair at all. That's not how it works in the real world.x

Rachel from Blogging Mummy said:

 I think just the individual should be punished. Why the fek should my son be punished because some other brat cant behave!!!!

Kate from The Less-Refined Mind said:

I think it probably depends on the circumstances and how innocent the 'innocent' actually are...

In high school, our whole class was made to return for detention because somebody, er, passed wind (no delicate way of putting that really, is?!). The teacher was a tyrant and only aware because of an apparent bad smell - despite the fact we were in a chemistry class!

We were all brought back because nobody owned up. In principle, I can see why everybody would be punished in those circumstances. In those *precise* circumstances, I think perhaps the teacher involved should have been the one being reprimanded... 

Becky from Hectic Dia-BEC-tic said:

 I agree. The one child who did the deed isn't gonna care about getting punished if everyone gets punished, it's not gonna teach him that he (or she) should take responsibility for their own actions when others can get blamed too. I hope that makes sense lol x

Erica from Nine to Three Thirty said:

I can remember very clearly getting annoyed by this when I was about your son's age & complaining to classmates about 'blanket punishment'. It just causes resentment & teaches absolutely nothing apart from learning that life isn't fair or just.

Carly from Mummy and the Chunks said:

I think some teachers see it as the kids dont want all their classmates to hate them so by punishing them all they will think twice in future so their friends don't get angry with them. Does that make sense? Lol not that I agree with it at all and I would be fuming if my child was punished for anothers actions.

Ayse from Arepops said:

I don't think kids should be punished for others actions. Pre punishment never works and sometimes encourages kids to be naughty seeing as they will get in trouble anyway. 

Naomi from Tattooed Mummy said:

Very 'full metal jacket'. I think this just assumes (hopes) that either the bad child feels guilt or, much worse, the rest of the class 'sort him out'! It is passing the burden of punishment onto children. It's wrong and lazy imo.

Jessica from Beauties and the Bibs said:

If we don't teach them young that their actions have consequences then they will never learn they will think that others will take the flack for them and it's ok . It also no fair on the children who consistently behave and do what is asked of them . In my experience this can then make other children think what's the point in behaving when I get told off anyway X

Leslie from Messy Blog said:

We get this at work all the time. One person takes too long makes big a cuppa and the kettle gets taken away from all of us. Not fair at all

Paige from Paige's Preferences said:

If my son got blamed for nothing I would be going all psycho mom in the school haha! How is that teaching them anything in life if they are getting told of for not doing anything? Will just confuse the poor things xx

With every single blogger agreeing, I think it's fair to see that most parents agree with their children not being punished for other's crimes.

What I know for certain is, it will never happen to Spud with my permission thats for sure, and if it happens regardless, I will kick off the biggest stink going, it's not on at all!

I don't mean just at school either, this applies to family and friends too ! Punish the bad and reward the good!

What saddened me also, was the amount of people who messaged me privately with their views, agreeing but not wanting to get involved due to fear, I think it's sad that people can't have their voice in today's society!

This leads me to my final sentence, which is a question to my readers, do you agree with children being punished for another child's/children's bad behaviour?

Please do leave a comment below!

Jada x