Can school give student cleaning detention?

[randomguy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Is it legal for school to give a student cleaning detention, meaning perform some type of manual labor cleaning such wiping tables in cafeteria for misbehaving in classroom. Is such action by school without court order in violation of child manual labor laws?

 

[cbg]

Not even remotely a violation. Completely legal.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Is it legal for school to give a student cleaning detention, meaning perform some type of manual labor cleaning such wiping tables in cafeteria for misbehaving in classroom. Is such action by school without court order in violation of child manual labor laws?

I think it is a fantastic use of resources. If my child ever got out of line, I'd be the first one to suggest that my lil darling get to work

...teaches them accountability

 

[Banned_Princess]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Is it legal for school to give a student cleaning detention, meaning perform some type of manual labor cleaning such wiping tables in cafeteria for misbehaving in classroom. Is such action by school without court order in violation of child manual labor laws?

I'm sorry, don't you ask your child to clean up at home? does that violate child labor laws?

no, and as a matter of fact, I as a parent, think it is a great idea!! my daughter hates hates hates to clean anything other then her room, and if she were punished at school by cleaning off the cafeteria tables, or sweep a classroom or two might be very effective in the curbing of her bad behavior. (not that she has any yet)

As long as it doesn't involve the bathrooms and or a toilette tooth brush in school, then its perfectly fine, and shows great imagination of the principal / superintendent to think of such a brilliant consequence.

 

[randomguy]

I am not asking if you think it's a good idea, i am asking if school can legally have students perform manual labor without court sentencing them to community service. At the end of the day i know parent can tell school to take a hike when it comes to detention, i am just wondering if school is legally permitted to have student do cleaning at school without court getting involved or parent giving permission.

Thank you for reply cbg

edit:I have a maid at home, so no my child do not clean at home.

 

[Proserpina]

I am not asking if you think it's a good idea, i am asking if school can legally have students perform manual labor without court sentencing them to community service. At the end of the day i know parent can tell school to take a hike when it comes to detention, i am just wondering if school is legally permitted to have student do cleaning at school without court getting involved or parent giving permission.

Thank you for reply cbg

edit:I have a maid at home, so no my child do not clean at home.

This may explain much.

 

[tazeau]

At one of my daughters school they do this. They even make the kids scrape the gum from under the lunch tables outside.

 

[KnownOne]

I am not asking if you think it's a good idea, i am asking if school can legally have students perform manual labor without court sentencing them to community service.

Did you not read cbg's post? There's you answer. Others have every right to post their opinions/experience concerning the situation. If you don't like them, ignore them. Your question has been answered.

 

[cbg]

Yes. It is legal for the school to have a child perform manual labor such as wiping down tables without a court order or a parent giving permission. It does not violate any child labor laws.

I hope that the answer to your question is now clear to you.

 

[CdwJava]

Is it legal, sure. No labor laws have been violated for a host of reasons.

You are free to object to the punishment should you wish. The alternative to such an action as cleaning up could be a suspension or detention. Would you prefer that kind of blot be upon your child's record?

As a parent of a few children myself, I would prefer they feel the pain of their actions proximate to the cause of action.

I had a son who once, while in middle school, carved his name into a bench at the high school while sitting around waiting for swim team to begin practice. When it was pointed out to us, I walked him to the principal at the high school the next afternoon and he was sentenced to 5 hours of picking up trash after school. For one hour each day for one week he would assist the janitor with trash pick up. Yes, he recalls that punishment, and, no, he has never repeated any sort of vandalism again.

Labor invokes a negative association to unwanted behavior. Mommy paying a fine, or getting sent home to play video games and have the maid clean up after you does not.

 

[PQN]

detention

At the end of the day i know parent can tell school to take a hike when it comes to detention,

Seriously?

 

[swrdmbo]

I wonder what you are thinking when you say you "know" at the end of the day
the parents can tell the school to take a hike when it comes to detention.

I had the unfortunate experience of racking up quite a few hours of detention during my junior year. I never went, so at the end of the school year, I and several others were told to report to school during summer vacation!

They had us weed (huge stickerbushes that had to be chopped down), clean out lockers and all kinds of stuff like that. One of my fellow workers Dad thought he could throw his weight around and told the school board his son would NO LONGER be attending as he felt he was being abused.

The school board told daddy if his son did not show up, and did not COMPLETE the detention he would not be graduating.

Daddy pressed the issue, took it to court, and LOST!

Funny, because I had a similar conversation with my father, telling him I should not have to go blah blah blah and my Father told me that I WOULD be going, and pretty much told me that the school board could prevent my graduation.So I went. My comrades Dad spent a lot of money to find out exactly that.

So quit making problems where there aren't any. You are not helping your childs character by taking the position that his/her rights are being violated. He needs to learn to clean ,etc. anyway, unless you are planning to pay for his maid too (and even at college).

No-one likes dealing with spoiled children...so give your kid a break and let him develop some character, not into one of those PITA kids that grow up to be PITA adults because they were spoiled beyond reason by Mommy or Daddy!

 

[Country Living]

Is it legal for school to give a student cleaning detention, meaning perform some type of manual labor cleaning such wiping tables in cafeteria for misbehaving in classroom. Is such action by school without court order in violation of child manual labor laws?

I can't believe you consider cleaning tables to be manual labor. My idea of manual labor is clearing the fence line in the heat of the summer. If junior's eating and breathing is his only contribution to the household, then no wonder you consider something like cleaning tables punishment. You need to stay out of it and let him learn a lesson on accountability and responsibility.

cbg - good for you on the young un's picking up trash.

 

[randomguy]

Update: Talked to lawyer who told me that yes there is technically no law that prohibits school from giving cleaning punishment, however school is responsible for any physical/mental damage that results from performing the task being that student is not trained to do them. I stopped by school and talked to school official, and told them that i don't approve of my child doing any type of manual labor and that my child will not be doing the assigned detention. I was that is fine and they will give my child regular detention, 1/2 hours before school and 1/2 hour after school. Which is fine by me.

It's the job of the janitors to clean and not the students. What is next, having student clean classroom at the end of the school day?

@PQN, yes seriously as legal guardian of the child you have a say till they are 18 unless court sentences them.

@swrdmbo, exactly most they can do is prevent you from graduating, however i was told that a child can switch school and as long as they have enough credit they can graduate from that school. A school can't legally require you to do detention but yes they can withhold your diploma.

 

[Silverplum]

Let's all applaud the latest "Father of the Year" candidate.


*crickets*

Update: Talked to lawyer who told me that yes there is technically no law that prohibits school from giving cleaning punishment, however school is responsible for any physical/mental damage that results from performing the task being that student is not trained to do them. I stopped by school and talked to school official, and told them that i don't approve of my child doing any type of manual labor and that my child will not be doing the assigned detention. I was that is fine and they will give my child regular detention, 1/2 hours before school and 1/2 hour after school. Which is fine by me.

It's the job of the janitors to clean and not the students. What is next, having student clean classroom at the end of the school day?

@PQN, yes seriously as legal guardian of the child you have a say till they are 18 unless court sentences them.

@swrdmbo, exactly most they can do is prevent you from graduating, however i was told that a child can switch school and as long as they have enough credit they can graduate from that school. A school can't legally require you to do detention but yes they can withhold your diploma.