Teacher writing names on kids backpack

Littlejen22 · September 2011

OMG, I just read in the review of the PBK backpack a parent who sent their kid in for the first day of school and when the kid came home the teacher had written the kid's name on the backpack in permanent marker. OMG I cannot imagine how pissed I would be if I bought a $40 backpack and without even one day's notice the teacher did this, this parent seemed like they would have had it monogrammed if they were told. And I know a lot of people he are very anti-names on backpacks for the safety factor. So, has anyone heard of this? I wonder if it was a private school.

AggieCouple · September 2011

Really on the safety factor? I totally agree with that POV, but have been too skerred to ever mention it, as I'm already Ms. Neurotic of the board. I also refuse to get any windshield stickers from our church or schools. Do I really need some weirdo know where my daughter takes ballet lessons? I monogrammed ML's with ML.M.

But the backpack, um yeah, I'd be pissed as hell. NO ONE has the right to write anything on things that don't belong to them, especially in permanent, $40 or $1.

Ilumine · September 2011

Its the principle of the action...PERIOD. If this were another child doing it, the teacher would have disciplined the budding artist, so what gives her the right?

I would have immediately gone to the principal, screw working it out with the teacher - since she did it to begin with, she will have NO understanding of why it's wrong. I would demand full replacement of the item.

SS has had very expansive REI backpacks each school year. His mother always buys him a new one. The old one is usually in good, not mint, condition and I can at least hand it down. But last years was actually sold and SS got 1/2 a video game. Having a name on the bag means noone else, even my DD would UAE that bag.

tinkerfly81 · September 2011

I am not sure if its universal or not. But I have a friend who made her daughter a backpack out of her husband's old BRU's (I think that is the correct name). She spent hours on it - sewing it together. She wanted it special because he is currently deployed- the teacher wrote her dd's name on it with the perm. marker. She was pissed! Fortunetly she was able to redo a part of the bag and have the nametag from the BRU's sewn on it.

shawlfrog · September 2011

Ilumine:
Its the principle of the action...PERIOD. If this were another child doing it, the teacher would have disciplined the budding artist, so what gives her the right?

I would have immediately gone to the principal, screw working it out with the teacher - since she did it to begin with, she will have NO understanding of why it's wrong. I would demand full replacement of the item.

SS has had very expansive REI backpacks each school year. His mother always buys him a new one. The old one is usually in good, not mint, condition and I can at least hand it down. But last years was actually sold and SS got 1/2 a video game. Having a name on the bag means noone else, even my DD would UAE that bag.

sounds a nice bag.

wildfloweragain · September 2011

Most schools or classrooms tell you to put the child's name on all their belongings. Otherwise, teachers are faced with a sea of stuff, they don't know who it belongs to, the kids won't speak up or they can't remember, and the parents call because they are pissed that their $40 pbk backpack went home with someone else.

As a teacher, I call before I alter most things (long sleeves on an art smock, names on the outside of things) but have been known to write in permanent marker on lunch pails (even the pbk ones), folders, boots and snowpants.

I agree with the safety factor - I don't write names on the outside of backpacks or put my own kid's name on hers. She's famous for loving ladybugs, so I ironed ladybug decals all over her designer llbean backpack.

FYI to parents, though, if you are sending your kid to school, it is going to get paint, permanent maker and possibly puke on it.

JOEBunny · September 2011

This would make me mad. There are other ways. Masking tape for example, that makes great name tags. I use it on a lot of DD's things, since it sticks nicely to pretty much anything. I buy things that DS can use too.

Zenya · September 2011

C's preschool teacher did that last year with his backpack. It pissed me off but I felt like it was my fault b/c I hadn't labled it myself (I actually didn't realize I was supposed to).

JCS2007 · September 2011

I'd be pissed. At DS' preschool, they collect all the lunchbags in the morning and put them in the fridge until lunchtime. They tag all the bags with different wristbands to mark which class is which, and ask that we leave them through the end of the year. That is totally understandable. That teacher should have used tape or some other type of label.

happy_momma · September 2011

I feel like that is so wrong! Like pp said - a piece of masking tape works. Or send a note home asking for it to be labeled. But to me, labeling the inside should be fine. Neither of my kid's school seem to be particular. There stuff is labeled with marker on the inside, but nothing on the outside.

penguingrrl · September 2011

I'd be pissed. Anything we can pass down we do, so nothing gets labeled with permanent ink with Julia's name on it. And I'd be furious if the outside was defaced.

shopgirl78 · September 2011

It annoys me when teachers write on anything. A lot of DS1's old jackets have his name in them (along with some clothes) thanks to daycare but now DS2 is wearing them and there is no where to put his name....what if there was another Nathan in Jacob's class?!?!?

I'd be even more annoy with a backpack although both DD and DS1's are labeled. DS1's are on the inside of the backpack.

JenGK · September 2011

Z's teacher did this to his LL Bean backpack this year. I was pissed (and in fact going to ask this question) but never got around to it. I had actually bought a metal tag from Mabel's Labels that is attached to the outside with his name, so I don't know why she did this. Maybe another kid has the same backpack and she wants to easily distinguish them? I have a good relationship with her otherwise, so I didn't end up saying anything, but I was still irked.

stacynikki · September 2011

DS has a PBK nap mat for daycare. A new teacher took over the room DS was in at the time and wrote his name on his nap mat in permanent marker where it has the name line. I was furious. At least she could have put tape on it, or asked me to label it somewhere discreetly. Not ruin it with her ugly handwriting in ugly black permanent marker. She wrote it in large block letters. I'm still mad about it.

Mominator · September 2011

I would be pissed! I would be perfectly okay with a teacher asking me to label my kids items, but no way should they take it upon themselves to do so.

mlwooten · September 2011

wildfloweragain:

Most schools or classrooms tell you to put the child's name on all their belongings. Otherwise, teachers are faced with a sea of stuff, they don't know who it belongs to, the kids won't speak up or they can't remember, and the parents call because they are pissed that their $40 pbk backpack went home with someone else.

As a teacher, I call before I alter most things (long sleeves on an art smock, names on the outside of things) but have been known to write in permanent marker on lunch pails (even the pbk ones), folders, boots and snowpants.

I agree with the safety factor - I don't write names on the outside of backpacks or put my own kid's name on hers. She's famous for loving ladybugs, so I ironed ladybug decals all over her designer llbean backpack.

FYI to parents, though, if you are sending your kid to school, it is going to get paint, permanent maker and possibly puke on it.

This

mlwooten · September 2011

wildfloweragain:

Most schools or classrooms tell you to put the child's name on all their belongings. Otherwise, teachers are faced with a sea of stuff, they don't know who it belongs to, the kids won't speak up or they can't remember, and the parents call because they are pissed that their $40 pbk backpack went home with someone else.

As a teacher, I call before I alter most things (long sleeves on an art smock, names on the outside of things) but have been known to write in permanent marker on lunch pails (even the pbk ones), folders, boots and snowpants.

I agree with the safety factor - I don't write names on the outside of backpacks or put my own kid's name on hers. She's famous for loving ladybugs, so I ironed ladybug decals all over her designer llbean backpack.

FYI to parents, though, if you are sending your kid to school, it is going to get paint, permanent maker and possibly puke on it.

This

Jessys_Girl · September 2011

JOEBunny:
This would make me mad. There are other ways. Masking tape for example, that makes great name tags. I use it on a lot of DD's things, since it sticks nicely to pretty much anything. I buy things that DS can use too.

this was what I was thinking, USE MASKING TAPE! And if they really want it labelled they should call home and ASK that it be labelled, not do it themselves without the parent's permission.

Zenya:
C's preschool teacher did that last year with his backpack. It pissed me off but I felt like it was my fault b/c I hadn't labled it myself (I actually didn't realize I was supposed to).

And this is why a phone call would solve the problem. If they just contacted the parent like "Oh, little billy's back pack looks similar to suzie's and we'd really like them labelled so we can tell who's is who's" the parent can make a decision as to how and where to put the label.

mlwooten · September 2011

shopgirl78:

It annoys me when teachers write on anything. A lot of DS1's old jackets have his name in them (along with some clothes) thanks to daycare but now DS2 is wearing them and there is no where to put his name....what if there was another Nathan in Jacob's class?!?!?

I'd be even more annoy with a backpack although both DD and DS1's are labeled. DS1's are on the inside of the backpack.

I use our last name for this reason. I have two girls so stuff does get resused. Not to mention the first names are somewhat popular.

Zenya · September 2011

Yeah now I'm mad about it all over again.

shouldbworkin · September 2011

they used bag tags last year, they were great. I usually label the inside and the kids hang their bag on a hook with their name on it. It's never been an issue, even in PS. So, I think it's a sad excuse to say you need to write on something with permanent marker so that you/the kids can tell their stuff apart. Regardless, masking tape was made for a reason.

veloelle · September 2011

The kids in DD's kinder class can all easily id their backpacks, all 28 of them. Once in elem school, I see no reason for the teacher to user perm marker to label anything, I think that's a really poor excuse. And if Jane didn't speak up right away, the other 27 kids are like "that's Jane's back, Mrs. Smith." It takes about 5 minutes for the teacher to hand out all the backpacks, get their stuff from cubbys, etc. I'd be furious, most from the entitlement of the teachers attitude to deface property and the hand me down factor.

EastCoastBride · September 2011

I'm kind of wondering why it's coming as a surprise that the teachers want things labeled. Why is it on them to call/ contact the parents? Why can't the parents be pro-active and realize their kids stuff needs to be labeled and do it ahead of time so that it's not even an issue?

Littlejen22 · September 2011

wildfloweragain:
Most schools or classrooms tell you to put the child's name on all their belongings. Otherwise, teachers are faced with a sea of stuff, they don't know who it belongs to, the kids won't speak up or they can't remember, and the parents call because they are pissed that their $40 pbk backpack went home with someone else.
As a teacher, I call before I alter most things (long sleeves on an art smock, names on the outside of things) but have been known to write in permanent marker on lunch pails (even the pbk ones), folders, boots and snowpants.
I agree with the safety factor - I don't write names on the outside of backpacks or put my own kid's name on hers. She's famous for loving ladybugs, so I ironed ladybug decals all over her designer llbean backpack.
FYI to parents, though, if you are sending your kid to school, it is going to get paint, permanent maker and possibly puke on it.

Puke comes out and kids should not have permanent marker to write on stuff in schools, am I missing something? And most paint comes out too. DS's backpack is washable so most stuff can come out but permanent marker forever changes it. There is zero reason that the teacher should do that without talking to a parent first and I can guarantee that if the kid walked up to the teachers purse and wrote her name on the outside in permanent marker the parent would be expected to replace it...I would love to see the teacher's face when the kid tells her that they were just trying to help b/c she did not label it herself so they did what she did.

ridesbuttons · September 2011

EastCoastBride:
I'm kind of wondering why it's coming as a surprise that the teachers want things labeled. Why is it on them to call/ contact the parents? Why can't the parents be pro-active and realize their kids stuff needs to be labeled and do it ahead of time so that it's not even an issue?

Amen.

GinandTonic · September 2011

ridesbuttons:

EastCoastBride:
I'm kind of wondering why it's coming as a surprise that the teachers want things labeled. Why is it on them to call/ contact the parents? Why can't the parents be pro-active and realize their kids stuff needs to be labeled and do it ahead of time so that it's not even an issue?

Amen.

I think this is precisely the reason why I WOULDN'T spend the money on a PBK backpack for a Kindergartener. I don't want to be upset when something ruins it.

Halo79RN · September 2011

I don't understand why a person would not label the bag prior anyway???

and yes, letters are sent home... there was info in our registration packets. they want them labeled. after joining dd on a field trip and seeing what teachers have to deal with , I can understand why they'd go ahead and label it. out of 17 kids going on the field trip, about 10 had to get in line to have the teacher either give them a bag for their lunch or label their lunchbag for them. people sent lunch in plastic grocery bags, so crayons and pencils do not work.

use some common sense. if you buy a $40 backpack, put your kid's name on it. buy the labels or write it yourself but do it. don't blame the teacher.... you'd blame her if your child left it somewhere or another kid took it home... you'd blame her for labeling it. really? would you buy a $80 coat and send the kid in without their name on it? really?

Mominator · September 2011

Here's the thing. Sometimes I just plum forget to label new stuff that I get for my kids. I try label everything, but unforuntately sometimes stuff gets missed. That in no way gives a teacher or anyone else the right to deface my property. Period. It takes what, 30 seconds to send an email or scribble a note? I know that this is Nestland and everyone is perfect, but really, sometimes things get missed. That doesn't make anyone less of a parent or mean that they deserve to have something that they spent their money on ruined. Sorry.

ETA: and yes, I realize that if the teacher has 25 kids and needs to send 25 emails that can be time consuming, but I'm fairly certain that that is not the norm.

JenGK · September 2011

Halo79RN:

I don't understand why a person would not label the bag prior anyway???

and yes, letters are sent home... there was info in our registration packets. they want them labeled. after joining dd on a field trip and seeing what teachers have to deal with , I can understand why they'd go ahead and label it. out of 17 kids going on the field trip, about 10 had to get in line to have the teacher either give them a bag for their lunch or label their lunchbag for them. people sent lunch in plastic grocery bags, so crayons and pencils do not work.

use some common sense. if you buy a $40 backpack, put your kid's name on it. buy the labels or write it yourself but do it. don't blame the teacher.... you'd blame her if your child left it somewhere or another kid took it home... you'd blame her for labeling it. really? would you buy a $80 coat and send the kid in without their name on it? really?

I bought a $40 backpack, and put a tag on it with my kid's name on it. Visible from the outside -- it hangs on the zipper tag for the outer small pocket. My kid's bag still got written on with a permanent marker. So am I right to be ticked?

Littlejen22 · September 2011

Mominator:
Here's the thing. Sometimes I just plum forget to label new stuff that I get for my kids. I try label everything, but unforuntately sometimes stuff gets missed. That in no way gives a teacher or anyone else the right to deface my property. Period. It takes what, 30 seconds to send an email or scribble a note? I know that this is Nestland and everyone is perfect, but really, sometimes things get missed. That doesn't make anyone less of a parent or mean that they deserve to have something that they spent their money on ruined. Sorry.

ETA: and yes, I realize that if the teacher has 25 kids and needs to send 25 emails that can be time consuming, but I'm fairly certain that that is not the norm.

And they can photocopy and put the note in each backpack with a reminder. I am sorry but while I agree that the parents should label things I am with Mominator on this, just b/c you are a teacher with 20-something kids does not give you the right to ruin the kid's stuff. And it does not matter if it is a $40 backpack or a $7 one you got at a consignment shop, the teacher is starting off the year basically teaching the kids that their stuff is crap and should not be treated with any respect. I am all for defending teachers and think that parents expect too much and do too little very often but this is just insane to me that there are people defending a teacher writing on stuff in permanent marker on day one. Hell, she could have used a washable marker and hoped it would come off if it was washed but should not have done it at all.

peekaboo716 · September 2011

JenGK:
Halo79RN:

I don't understand why a person would not label the bag prior anyway???

and yes, letters are sent home... there was info in our registration packets. they want them labeled. after joining dd on a field trip and seeing what teachers have to deal with , I can understand why they'd go ahead and label it. out of 17 kids going on the field trip, about 10 had to get in line to have the teacher either give them a bag for their lunch or label their lunchbag for them. people sent lunch in plastic grocery bags, so crayons and pencils do not work.

use some common sense. if you buy a $40 backpack, put your kid's name on it. buy the labels or write it yourself but do it. don't blame the teacher.... you'd blame her if your child left it somewhere or another kid took it home... you'd blame her for labeling it. really? would you buy a $80 coat and send the kid in without their name on it? really?

I bought a $40 backpack, and put a tag on it with my kid's name on it. Visible from the outside -- it hangs on the zipper tag for the outer small pocket. My kid's bag still got written on with a permanent marker. So am I right to be ticked?

I think you do.

Amberzxoxo · September 2011

Oh I would be soo mad if a teacher did that to DD's things. I pass on her things to girl friends with children a year younger so they get second life. When it comes time I will be making sure her things get labeled but if I miss something I would prefer a note. I don't spend money of her things to be ruined by others especially thoes who know better.

peekaboo716 · September 2011

Our school asks that the backpacks be labeled. I labeled DS's on the inside, and have had no issue. It's a black backpack, though, so tought to use a black permanent marker on it [;P]

Related - DS lost his sweatshirt at school. I was assured that if it was labeled, it would be returned to his locker. It was clearly labeled, but never returned. I checked the lost and found and it was right on top. Confused

melmax · September 2011

I got DD a nice PBK backpack and lunch tote. THey don'trequire backpacks for K, so she just uses her lunch tote. The teacher specifically asked that the backpacks be labeled on the outside where it could be easily seen. This was specified in both a letter and at orientation. I didn't want to ruin the tote, so I put her name on the inside portion where it has a label for name, number, etc. It's also monogrammed on the outside, but it's not as easily seen since the name is the same color as some of the pattern.

However, I was still shocked (even though it was explicitly asked for, and I guess I didn't follow directions exactly) when the tote came home the 1st day of school with Ava {last name initial} written in blue sharpie on the side. I know i didn't do exactly what she asked, but I thought having her full name on the inside would suffice. I was upset about it, but I guess it goes with the territory of them having so many totes that they need to be able to see them labeled very easily.

J&A2008 · September 2011

I was annoyed when the teacher at their new school wrote their bus number on their hand in permanent marker, and they're not even taking the bus.

I would be livid if a teacher wrote on a backpack. I've never seen kids names written on the outside of a backpack, ever. Huge safety issue, and do these kids have some sort of condition that prevents them from recognizing their own backpacks? They seem to be a part of your school identity, so I have a hard time believing a child would not recognize their own even in a sea of backpacks.

MrsSR · September 2011

I'm a teacher and would NEVER do that. If anything, I'd just stick a label to it that can come off without ruining the bag.

And why OP are you wondering if it's a private school? Does that really matter?

fancynewbeesly · September 2011

I remember HAVING to do this unwillingly as a teacher.

Years ago, when I worked at a daycare/preschool the corporate rule was EVERYTHING had to be labeled. (including silverware, dishes, water bottles, etc) Of course, most parents were good about it.

However, if the corporate office came for the annual check and a parent forgot to label something (They would check EVERY single cubby) the preschool would get written up and points deducted for not following corporates policy. I remember, once the word was out that morning that they were there, frantically checking the cubbies and making sure everything was labeled. (And if it wasn't, labeling it!)

My first year, my class got written up because I didn't check the cubby and one parent sent their daughter to preschool with a new fork and dish set, and it wasn't labeled.

I hated that rule and it was completely irritating and irrational to me.

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