If your kid lost a coat on a field trip, would you blame the teacher?

[darien]

My class and 2 other classes went on a museum field trip today. It was a warm day that had started out cool, so some of the kids had jackets, and some didn't.

At the museum, the docent had a bin for the kids' stuff. Before we left, I asked each child in my class if they had their coat. The child in question said he didn't bring a coat (and I didn't remember whether he had or not). I checked the bin before we left, and it was empty.

Halfway back to school, the child said he forgot his coat at the museum. Sigh. We arrived back much later than expected-- after dismissal-- so I didn't get to ask around if someone else picked up the jacket. Then, I forgot about it so I didn't write a note to the parents.

The parents called me at home while I was cooking dinner and questioned me about the situation. I explained, and said I would try to locate the coat tomorrow.

So... if I don't find it, what should I do? If my 2nd grader lost a jacket, I wouldn't consider it the teacher's problem-- but I think these parents disagree! What do you think?

[Limabean1975]

My Junior Kindergartener (not yet 4 years old) lost a pricey pair of shoes (bought for him by my mom) somewhere in the 30 feet between the door of the school and the classroom. I blame DH who dropped him off for not securing them to his backpack better - and me for not writing his name on them. Not a notion in my head to blame the teacher, who was the only adult present. She's got enough to do!

[Tilia]

No, I wouldn't blame the teacher. Most of the time, my 3 year old remembers to grab her sweatshirt off of her hook at daycare. Sure, that is a more routine thing, but still.

[Drummer's Wife]

Uh, no. I would not blame the teacher. When my kids go on field trips it is soley their responsibility to hang on to their jackets. I usually send them in somehing that is easy to tie around their waist, and not something that I couldn't replace if need be.

[Bokonon]

I would never blame the teacher for something like that!

[LaLaLaLa]

Nope, not the teacher's fault. DD has left a sweatshirt in the pew at church when she left with her Sunday school class, she left her mittens on the bus, her hat in the garden, water bottle in the car..... she's obviously absent-minded about her stuff, and I know that. So it's my job to remind her of her possessions and to track something down when it ends up not making it into the house with us.

If I were that parent, I'd call or drive to the museum myself to see if we could track down the coat, and probably ask you to keep an eye out for it at school, and that would be the end of that.

However, DD also has three wintery jackets, so if she lost one, it wouldn't be tragic. Even if she lost all three, we have the money to buy her a new one. Are the parents in this situation in a difficult position financially? Then I might see if there are funds available in the school (NOT out of the teacher's pocket) to reimburse the coat expense.

Good luck; when I was teaching it was never easy navigating relationships with the parents!

[luv-my-boys]

no I wouldnt blame the teacher, she has enough to worry about. Especially if she specifically asked the students if they had all their belongings. I think its not realistic to ask the teacher to remember every article of clothing or items every child has in her class. I would however ask the next day if anyone in class had the jacket by mistake or perhaps call to see if the museums lost and found had it. But yeah, no guilt on the teachers part.

[possum]

No, I wouldn't blame you at all. Kids lose stuff. Heck, from time to time, I lose stuff. It sounds like you took reasonable care to make sure all the coats were back on kids before you left the museum. I bet teachers would go broke if they were held responsible for all the stuff their students lose.

Melinda

[crl]

I would not blame the teacher for the lost coat and I would not call the teacher to ask about it either. (Now if the teacher lost my child. . . .)

Catherine

[Irishmommy]

They called you at home?????

[Belia]

NO WAY would I blame the teacher.

I would probably call her to see if she knew where it was, but that would be the end of it.

Good luck.... unreasonably demanding parents can be so tough to deal with (if that is what is really going on).

[LiamnEmma]

Generally speaking, No, I don't consider it the fault of the teacher. That said however, to me it depends upon the age/grade of the child. My ds has lost more sweatshirts and hoodies than I can count. It's annoying. Cheap ones, expensive ones, you name it. Sometimes we find them and sometimes we don't. He's lost other things too. The only time I felt the teacher was responsible was when he was in kindergarten and didn't yet understand all the rules and routine. At that point I felt the teachers (he had two that year) needed to take responsibility for helping the kids out a bit--for example, he didn't give them his money on picture taking day and they didn't check his backpack or even notice he hadn't paid. It was a big ordeal for me to get it fixed. But I expect my kids to keep track of their items, and to that end, I keep track of them as well with questions about where their things are at the end of each school day. I certainly wouldn't call their teachers during the dinner hour, I would approach the next day--and I have both kids' teachers' cell phones and home phones. I'm personal friends with their teachers and overly involved in the PTA, so it would certainly be possible for me to contact them at any hour. So I think your student's parents went a little overboard on you.

[karne]

Absolutely not. Teachers have enough on their plates, IMO. Asking them to be responsible for my child's clothing or belongings isn't appropriate, esp. w/school aged kids. I also think calling you at home about this totally crossed the line.

[Redheaded_Momma]

Absolutely NOT! You did everything you could to make sure your students had their belongings. A second grader is old enough to know if he/she had a coat and to remember it! Let us know how things work out!

[BCFD]

No way!!! A 2nd grader? And they called you at home? Wow. A 2nd grader is responsible enough to remember a jacket. Was it an expensive one? Maybe that's a hard lesson for a parent to learn, but I wouldn't send my child on a field trip with an expensive article of clothing.

[Alyantavid]

By 2nd grade, no, that's the kid's issue, not yours.

My 2nd grader lost his jacket the other day at school. And then went to the lost and found and found it. I don't think keeping track of a coat is really asking too much.

[mojumi]

No, I would not consider it the teacher's job to keep track of my second graders clothing, aside from the reminder to 'get your stuff before we leave'.

I doubt the parents would like a lecture about teaching their kids responsibility for their own belongings, though. I'd direct them to the school office to check with lost and found. They can complain to the office, if they like!

[Treasuremapper]

I have to admit, yes, I would expect the teacher to be responsible, depending on the kids' ages.

[Qbear'smama]

DD lost a brand new sweatshirt I had just bought her (first day wearing it) while at school. The teachers have really tried to locate it but to no avail. I don't blame them, but I am frustrated because it was new and they wear uniforms which means most likely someone else is wearing my kid's sweatshirt and ordering them and paying for shipping is a pain and I already pay enoough for her school and it's just annoying. I think it's a little unrealistic to expect a 3 year old to keep track of their clothing, but I know the teachers are busy and can't do it, either. So that's just the way it goes. An older child, though, should be able to keep track of his coat. You did your part.

[babymommy2]

Kindergarten on a field trip, yes, older kids no. I wouldn't blame if it was at school, because my 5 year old know the routine and where his coat should be, so if he lost it that is his fault, but in an unfamiliar place, I owuld expect the teacher to help for that age. I wouldn't expect the teacher to pay for it or any though. My 3 year old lost his tie at school, and I know for sure he lost it at the school (1 class room school) but no one can find it, I dont' expect the school to pay me for it. Probably some other kid took it by accident, and I didnt' put his name on it, so that is my fault.

How did they get your home phone #, that is over the top. Also I think they can also take some resposibility to go to the musuem and look themselves.