Trouble at the school gates!!

Cu Baire · 29-01-2015 01:07PM

bjork wrote: »

Are school buses still a thing?

or lockers?

Yes
and Yes.

But Leaving Certs unfortunately need almost all their books almost every evening and if they are taking a school bus then evening study is probably not an option for them.

bjork · 29-01-2015 01:07PM

eviltimeban wrote: »

Well, if only that were true... but it wouldn't happen. My eldest is 8 this year and there's no way I'd send him the 1.8 miles to the school on his own. He's just too young. He has a younger brother anyway so I still need to drive them. By the time they are 11 - 12 (5th or 6th class) I can see them cycling, there's a good cycle route outside which is all the way down, lights to cross at, etc. But for now the lift is still needed.

Our school issued rules to say don't park here or there, which I abide by. There's a big green where we can park around and walk a little up the road to drop them in. It infuriates me when I see the moms pull up outside and stop / park OVER the painted lines saying "no parking" or park in the "Coach" parking spot. Why oh why? It takes seconds and it's safer, plus there is actually more space available and it's easier to get in out from.

Giving abuse to a lollipop lady just takes the biscuit though.

~

Why can´t you cycle with him instead of driving, especially when there is a good cycle lane? Depending on how young the youngest is, get him a seat for the back of your bike or not if he´s older

snubbleste · 29-01-2015 01:07PM

NSAman wrote: »

How is Tarquin?

He has the sniffles this morning.

Kaizersoze81 · 29-01-2015 01:11PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

So I see. To be expected then, I suppose.

Your username makes sense now.

Cu Baire · 29-01-2015 01:14PM

The Peanut wrote: »

Most of the other kids walk. Many cycle from miles around with the bags, no complaints. Let him cycle if they're too heavy. There are little old ladies walking the distances with 2 full shopping bags.

He's an adult at 18, treat him like one. They are growing up mollycoddled.

I don't know the particular circumstances obviously but I have seen cases where bags weigh up to 30kg which is way more than your average 2 shopping bags unless the Christmas Turkey and Ham are in there:D.
Again I am only giving an example of why it might be acceptable behaviour, it is quite possible that it just a spoilt brat with a sense of entitlement and a clueless adoring parent.

bjork · 29-01-2015 01:15PM

Cu Baire wrote: »

Yes
and Yes.

But Leaving Certs unfortunately need almost all their books almost every evening and if they are taking a school bus then evening study is probably not an option for them.

There are more elearning books etc now than we ever had. If a 17-18 year old is too weak to carry their own school bag, how will they manage their laptop and briefcase when they start working. Does Mammy come along too?

vicwatson · 29-01-2015 01:15PM

I am sick of my sh1t asking people parking at our primary school (the sex shall remain anonymous for fear of being accused of sexism, but it's the same sex all the time), yes parking, not even dropping, in the "Keep Clear" sections outside the school gates, sick of asking them not to do it as they are there for the protection of the child when they come out of the gates so they have a clear view of traffic, I got laughed at and shoulder shrugging was enough for me to close my trap and now I say nothing, it's going to take a child to run out around those parked cars and be knocked down before someone will do anything about it. Its nuts. Its arrogance.

Stojkovic · 29-01-2015 01:17PM

Irish people dont adher to the rules of the road and cant use roundabouts properly so how the hell will the adher to any school drop-off system.

And they cant walk the kids to school in their pyjamas FFS !!!

The Peanut · 29-01-2015 01:23PM

Cu Baire wrote: »

I don't know the particular circumstances obviously but I have seen cases where bags weigh up to 30kg which is way more than your average 2 shopping bags unless the Christmas Turkey and Ham are in there:D.
Again I am only giving an example of why it might be acceptable behaviour, it is quite possible that it just a spoilt brat with a sense of entitlement and a clueless adoring parent.

I know the darling and it is definitely spoiling from Mammy.

I carried my schoolbag (admittedly lighter), sports gear, a hurley and shopping home after school. My mam couldn't drive so I had no choice. Not the safest especially when I cycled. I'm looking backwards now at being 40 and no back-related injuries.:D

I understand the point about bags but I really think it's a general problem with kids being over-parented. I can remember very few kids being dropped to school by parents. We walked, cycled and the very rural lads got buses. Parents, where it's safe to do so, need to stand back from this overly hands-on approach to parenting.

hoodwinked · 29-01-2015 01:26PM

yeah my daughter is in another school like this, 100m down the road there is a huge car park big enough for every parent in the school, outside the school is a small road with 4 off road "nose in" parking spaces next to a parallel parking bus space which is next to the entrance to the on-site teacher's car park.

like this

|||||_______{entrance}

yet people STILL park in both the bus stop and ON the footpath crossing in front of the teachers entrance, not only blocking the footpath for all the children who's parents use the car park, AND meaning the bus has to park on the road and those children have to weave between these muppets cars, it also means then the teachers cars cannot get in to their car park AND since somebody else double parked along side the bus stop/entrance parked muppet making the road one way it ALL gets blocked up, :mad: but hey their kid only got wet during the one minute walk from the school gates to the building so yay to them for saving their child the extra 2 minute walk in the rain! :rolleyes:

NeilHammer · 29-01-2015 01:28PM

I rarely get a chance to walk my son (junior infants) to school, We live in a quiet enough town but I work in Dublin so not normally at home for school runs.....
I took a few days off recently just to be able to do the school run and I was astonished by the rudeness and vulgarness of alot of parents outside the school gates!

Im in my early 30's and work in construction circles so my language would be offensive to most people alot of the time however around kids (not just my own) I would be careful as to what way I speak, but to hear 2 mothers hurling around the c**t word outside the school gate made me physically recoil! I actually said it to the two of them!!! holy god the language I got outta the pair of them infront of my son was horrendous! I told them both they would want to take a good look in the mirror at themselves and hope to god their kids didnt come out with that mouth full!!!

I was thanked by a few other parents and one of the teachers who said this was common place for these individuals!!!

Dont be afraid to politely point out to people in the wrong that they are a bad influence on your kids and their own

Neyite · 29-01-2015 01:30PM

I understand personal circumstances mean that its handier to drop children on your way to work, or that there are younger children that couldnt walk the distance.

But do you have to park right on top of the school gates? on pavements? on double yellow lines? on corners?

What the hell is wrong with finding a legal parking spot nearby, parking safely and legally and walking the rest of the way with the kids?

I swear, some of the lazy fcukers would drive into the classroom if they thought the car would fit!

snubbleste · 29-01-2015 01:33PM

Neyite wrote: »

I understand personal circumstances mean that its handier to drop children on your way to work, or that there are younger children that couldnt walk the distance.
But do you have to park right on top of the school gates? on pavements? on double yellow lines? on corners?
What the hell is wrong with finding a legal parking spot nearby, parking safely and legally and walking the rest of the way with the kids?
I swear, some of the lazy fcukers would drive into the classroom if they thought the car would fit!

Yes, yes, my little darling is far more important than you and everyone else.

Ave Sodalis · 29-01-2015 01:51PM

The Peanut wrote: »

I carried my schoolbag (admittedly lighter), sports gear, a hurley and shopping home after school. My mam couldn't drive so I had no choice. Not the safest especially when I cycled. I'm looking backwards now at being 40 and no back-related injuries.:D

Good for you. I carried my bag the mile home off the bus most days during secondary school. My bag was around two stone most of the time and that wasn't including sports gear. I spent years in therapy to fix my back. In fact, the person treating me told me that if it wasn't for the sports I do demand good posture, I should have been bent double.

I think the issue is more so with the way people park and drive as opposed to them actually parking and driving. Some of it is terrible and there needs to be stricter rules around it.

diomed · 29-01-2015 01:55PM

I live thirty yards from school gates that are at the top of our cul-de-sac road.
Morning school run puts Grand Theft Auto in the ha'penny place. :pac:

anncoates · 29-01-2015 02:12PM

Cu Baire wrote: »

If the kid is driving I assume he is in Leaving Cert. In fairness have you seen the weight of the schoolbags these students are expected to bring to and from school everyday. Most of them need to bring more than one bag and no one could carry them for a km without causing spinal injury. Well maybe an Army Ranger could. .

Have things changed that much since I went to school?

I was able to carry my books and stuff in a rucksack for about 2km , no problem.

Not challenging, just curious.

Cu Baire · 29-01-2015 02:20PM

anncoates wrote: »

Have things changed that much since I went to school?

I was able to carry my books and stuff in a rucksack for about 2km , no problem.

Not challenging, just curious.

Unfortunately yes and no reason for it. The digital revolution has not hit most schools yet.

eviltimeban · 29-01-2015 03:09PM

bjork wrote: »

~

Why can´t you cycle with him instead of driving, especially when there is a good cycle lane? Depending on how young the youngest is, get him a seat for the back of your bike or not if he´s older

Well I don't actually have a bike! And I'm dropping them on my way to work - I'm literally sprinting back to the car after I've dropped them as the school doesn't open its doors until 8.40.

Love your new album btw.

keithclancy · 29-01-2015 03:16PM

When going to work every morning some years ago, I saw the same woman every morning getting into her vehicle with her 2 kids and driving 250 meters up the road to the school, sticking the hazards on and then getting the kids out. She would then pull a u-turn and drive 250 meters back down the road.

Every single morning I would see this happen and I thought to myself

Those kids are going to have problems when they are older.

Shrap · 29-01-2015 03:20PM

Cu Baire wrote: »

If the kid is driving I assume he is in Leaving Cert. In fairness have you seen the weight of the schoolbags these students are expected to bring to and from school everyday. Most of them need to bring more than one bag and no one could carry them for a km without causing spinal injury. Well maybe an Army Ranger could.

I agree about the horrendous driver behaviour outside schools though.

With you on this one. I used to send my kids cycling to primary school, unless it was pouring. We live about 1 1/2 miles from it. Bags on the carriers. Now though, I bring them up and back from the top of the road where the bus stops because of the weight of their bags. Their backs are obviously what I'm concerned about but add to that the weight dragging out of the bag shoulder straps. I'm constantly sewing them on again and buying new bags, which at at least 30 euro a go is not good news. Plus, they're teens and one of them is always too late to walk.

The parking outside the school when I did drive was shocking stuff mind you. It's amazing how few people can reverse

endacl · 29-01-2015 03:24PM

When the kids are fat enough as a result of never being made walk anywhere, could they not just be rolled to school?

bjork · 29-01-2015 03:25PM

Shrap wrote: »

With you on this one. I used to send my kids cycling to primary school, unless it was pouring. We live about 1 1/2 miles from it. Bags on the carriers. Now though, I bring them up and back from the top of the road where the bus stops because of the weight of their bags. Their backs are obviously what I'm concerned about but add to that the weight dragging out of the bag shoulder straps. I'm constantly sewing them on again and buying new bags, which at at least 30 euro a go is not good news. Plus, they're teens and one of them is always too late to walk.

The parking outside the school when I did drive was shocking stuff mind you. It's amazing how few people can reverse

You´re concerned about their backs, yet you changed the routine to one which makes them carry more weight on their backs? A front basket on the bike would have made more sense

Shrap · 29-01-2015 03:25PM

anncoates wrote: »

Have things changed that much since I went to school?

I was able to carry my books and stuff in a rucksack for about 2km , no problem.

Yeah, I used to carry all books etc. for 2 miles each and every day, rain or shine. Gotta say I've never felt anything like the weight of these books. Maths alone has 3 large text books (project maths is a new one). I never had a woodwork or metalwork theory book, or H.E. - now they do. Hardback copies are a must with some teachers...they're all adding up to weigh a ton.

Of course, I give out every day if they haven't left the ones they don't need in their lockers :rolleyes: That's part of it.

Shrap · 29-01-2015 03:26PM

bjork wrote: »

You´re concerned about their backs, yet you changed the routine to one which makes them carry more weight on their backs? A front basket on the bike would have made more sense

No! Wasn't very clear. I now drive them up the road to meet the bus! It's all of 1/4 mile but I won't let them (sometimes have to run) walk with the weight.

Edit: Oh, I get where I went wrong. Forgot to say they're now in secondary and getting a bus.

keithclancy · 29-01-2015 03:29PM

bjork wrote: »

You´re concerned about their backs, yet you changed the routine to one which makes them carry more weight on their backs? A front basket on the bike would have made more sense

I wouldn't cycle a bike in Ireland.

Roads are not made for it and the mentality is not there to allow sharing the road space in a safe manner.

eviltimeban · 29-01-2015 03:47PM

keithclancy wrote: »

I wouldn't cycle a bike in Ireland.

Roads are not made for it and the mentality is not there to allow sharing the road space in a safe manner.

Plus there are lots more cars on the road these days - the roads I used to cycle to school on are now chock full in the mornings and they certainly weren't back then.

You could put a teenage kid on a bike to school, he'd probably have the skill and awareness to cycle with traffic, but a pre-teen / under 10? Not so much.

zl1whqvjs75cdy · 29-01-2015 03:53PM

I always walked to school and it wasn't that long ago (8 years). I was the studious type so carried a lot of books home to study in the evenings. Along with the gear bag on PE days. Think I got a lift three times in five years of secondary school. Kids are too soft these days.

bjork · 29-01-2015 04:24PM

keithclancy wrote: »

I wouldn't cycle a bike in Ireland.

Roads are not made for it and the mentality is not there to allow sharing the road space in a safe manner.

How to change that mentality? we need our own version of "stop the kindmoord", we´re following down an american path of bigger and bigger vehicles for shorter journeys, paying more for petrol, struggling with an obesity problem and joining gyms-personal trainers like there is no tomorrow

eviltimeban wrote: »

Plus there are lots more cars on the road these days - the roads I used to cycle to school on are now chock full in the mornings and they certainly weren't back then.

You could put a teenage kid on a bike to school, he'd probably have the skill and awareness to cycle with traffic, but a pre-teen / under 10? Not so much.

While I don´t disagree that there are roads that are dangerous, there are many that are safe (your own children cycled to primary). What´s making the roads full chock in the mornings? would it be everybody leaving their children to school or driving very short distances to work! Under 10, the parents can accompany them and teach them the rules so by they time there are teenagers it will be normal for them.

How do we go about changing the mindset of drivers and of parents or are we happy enough to go the american route?

eviltimeban · 29-01-2015 04:31PM

bjork wrote: »

While I don´t disagree that there are roads that are dangerous, there are many that are safe (your own children cycled to primary). What´s making the roads full chock in the mornings? would it be everybody leaving their children to school or driving very short distances to work! Under 10, the parents can accompany them and teach them the rules so by they time there are teenagers it will be normal for them.

How do we go about changing the mindset of drivers and of parents or are we happy enough to go the american route?

No, my kids have never cycled to school. Bit too young yet. I agree that from about 13 onwards, if they are in cycling distance to a school, they could be encouraged to cycle. I live right near a secondary school and the difference on mid-term break / summer is so vast - its like a zombie apocalypse has hit, there's so few cars on the road. And these are all teenage boys! I have no problem with people dropping primary school kids off in cars, but 13 - 16 year old boys being chauffered around?? Mad.

You have to appeal to the kids - in "my day", it wasn't "cool" to get a lift. You walked or cycled. We had no helmets in those days, and that's a big no-no nowadays, and I would hazard a guess that helmets aren't considered "cool" either. But unless the kids want to get up on their own bikes and cycle to school, the problem will continue. Of course they'll take the lift.

I dunno, get the schools to give them an incentive - a free class or no homework once a month on a Friday or something if they cycle (unless proven they are incapable / live too far away). I dunno. Anything like that, a certain faction of parents would resist.

smash · 29-01-2015 04:32PM

Why do most schools in Ireland not allow parents to drive on to the grounds? It causes traffic chaos when people are fighting for spots outside the school to drop their children off safely. Just let them fcuking drive in and have a drop off zone at a roundabout! In and out in minutes while the main road remains usable!

Trouble at the school gates!!

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