Does this sound ok? What happened at school today

[DramaKing]

I've namechanged incase the teacher is a mumsnetter.

My child is in year 4.

Child told me today that the whole class missed PE because some children were talking. They apparently all got changed, got outside then the teacher told them all she'd had enough and to get back instead and change back into uniform.

The teacher next told them "I don't want to come to school tomorrow with you lot but I've got to".

The whole class apparently keep missing 10 minutes of their lunch because a few are talking.

That isn't the first time they've missed PE and they've only been back a couple of weeks.

It all sounds very negative and dc told me the teacher hates them all.

I'm a bit annoyed my child is missing out on exercise and PE because of a few children. Never had this problem in any other class.

Am I wrong? What does the mumsnet jury think?

[Nanny0gg]

It's funny how they never miss maths because of talking...

Sounds like she hasn't quite got a handle on them just yet.

[UsernameHistory]

I don't think missing PE for a day is too detrimental to their health so it's way off topic.

Your child says 'a few' but assuming the teacher isn't a little mental, I suspect it was, at a minimum, the majority.

I'm sure your child was being the perfect role model though. Such a shame that they were included along with the other terrible children.

"The teacher next told them "I don't want to come to school tomorrow with you lot but I've got to"."

If the above is verbatim then yes, not ideal. It probably isn;t though.

[RachelRagged]

Hello OP . . Not MN jury me but I don't think YABU.
That type of punishment , in my non teaching profession opinion, once in a while may be ok but not almost every time.
Regards what she said , well to me that sounds like one stressed and possibly depressed teacher to me, if she said that (and I am not saying your DC is lying, but they may embellish things as kids do).

Have you spoken to other parents in your DCs class and if so are they aware of this and what do they say ?

[user1473282350]

PE is a subject where things could go seriously wrong if children are not listening to instructions properly (particularly as they progress through school and get javelins etc to play with). They are less likely to seriously injure each other in maths!

That said, I'd be annoyed my kid was missing out on exercise if it has already been more than once.

The teacher's comments are way off. That would be the reason I was going in to have a chat (not angrily, just to hear what she has to say and then take things further if necessary).

Perhaps she isn't coping, perhaps it's how she is. Who knows.

[UsernameHistory]

ps. Because, nanny ogg, it's unlikely to be a specialist subject. Besides which, numeracy and literacy are significantly more important than PE.

Year 4, IMO, are arseholes. It can take a while to 'get a handle on them'. It's the year to avoid at my school and has been for several cohorts.

[BlackCatSleeps]

My son once had a teacher who seemed to cancel PE a lot because of bad behaviour. I don't think she liked PE! They have a sports coach now and behaviour seems to have improved!

[missyB1]

I would pop in and have a chat with her to establish exactly what's going on. It might just get her to rethink her strategy, or you might find out that the situation is a bit different to how your child perceived it.

It does sound as though she's struggling with the class at the moment.

[Sirzy]

Problem with pe is unlike most other subjects lack of listening could end up being very dangerous.

If your concerned have a quiet word with the teacher about it.

[DramaKing]

Thank you.

Username take all that on board. I'm not daft I know my child is probably no angel, of course my dc swears it wasn't them talking but who knows.

I suppose my logic is some fresh air and exercise might do them good, help them to concentrate. Some children really enjoy PE far more than other subjects so it's more of a punishment for some than others.

It crossed my mind that the teacher just hates PE.

In general all the other teachers have said what a wonderful class they are. Last year they had a newly qualified and very young teacher and no problems at all.

They're getting older now I suppose.

If they are still missing PE each week by half term then maybe it's a problem?

[myownprivateidaho]

Not ideal to miss PE, but ultimately it was a professional decision and I think you have to give her time as a professional. I also think that with a really naughty class, an all-class punishment that works is better than individual punishments that don't work, and lead to continued naughtiness all year. She may be laying down the law at the start of the year. I think you should keep her on your radar though, and monitor the situation. The comment is awful if true, but again wouldn't be enough for me to go in there. Also, you need to tell your kid that the teacher does not hate him/the class. Your support is needed for him to succeed in school.

[bigTillyMint]

Year 4, IMO, are arseholes Really?

OP, I am not surprised you are annoyed that your DC is missing PE and agree that the teacher sounds very negative.

I agree that the teacher needs to have control of the class, particularly in PE. However, this is not the way to go. The teacher sounds like she is struggling and needs help to gain the respect of the class/pick off the worst offenders/get SEN support or strategies in place asap.

FWIW, I am a teacher (Y4 this year!) with nearly 30 years experience.

[DramaKing]

I don't think I'd say anything at this stage. If she is stressed I doubt she needs me questioning her so early in the year.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

PE is part of the national curriculum. Therefore it should be treated no differently to maths. (And I say that as a mathematician.)

It is also a dangerous strategy. What if the talkers hate PE?

[spiderlight]

My DS had a long-term supply teacher last year who was fond of these whole-class punishments. Entire class banned from playing football in the yard for a week because one child bounced a ball in the corridor on the way out at playtime (and yes she did stay out there and police it...), entire class missed PE twice in a row because one child talked whule they were getting changed. All it achieved was that the entire class hated her and the behaviour of the disruptive kids got worse and worse because they were so angry with her. A group of the children eventually all wrote letters to the headteacher saying how upset they were about her and there was a new supply teacher the following week!

[WyfOfBathe]

The school might have their behaviour policy on their website - and, if they do, I bet it says that whole class punishments will never be used. I'm not sure I'd recommend printing off the policy and waving it at the teacher though .

As a teacher (secondary), I do everything I can to avoid whole-class punishments - partly because I remember being kept in during break several times as a child/teenager when just a few kids where chatting.

One of my colleagues, however, seems to have a class line up outside her classroom mid-lesson at least once a week, so that she can rant to a couple of students that they've "ruined the lesson for the whole class" But this teacher does have a few... unusual... methods in general.

Personally, I would see if it happens again, and if it does then have a quiet word with the teacher (possibly focussing more on the "DD is missing PE" angle)

[Nataleejah]

Used to happen when i was in primary. Teacher would cancel PE and replace it with Maths

[WinterBloom]

Why don't you just ask the teacher to clarify what happened and then, if you're not happy about it, have a quiet word with the head?

[blushrush]

I remember complaining to my mum when I was little about how the whole class had to stay behind because of the mis-behaviour of a few. Thing is, no matter how I unfairly treated I felt, my mum would simply say, "that's how it works love, sometimes things aren't fair, but that's the school rules and that's that."

Thing is, she was right :) Your child's class will soon learn that playing up means less fun and more work :)

[ShouldHaveBeenJess]

Nat. Me too. I never minded because I was a lazy little sod who hated PE got plenty of exercise outside of school. But I do remember other children being upset and disappointed. Whole class punishments are extremely unfair. She sounds as though she needs some support with discipline.

[Nanny0gg]

Not ideal to miss PE, but ultimately it was a professional decision

No it wasn't. It was the easy option because most children enjoy PE and she was using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

PE is a curriculum subject and should not be missed unless the class are behaving badly during it, in which case it's a H&S issue and they should do written work around it.

[toptoe]

They shouldn't 'miss' PE as a punishment. Schools are meant to be improving their PE provision, not cancelling lessons because of behaviour. I would keep an eye on what your child is telling you and then if you think the teacher's behaviour becomes very inappropriate you could make a complaint to the school. Or you could 'inquire' with the office/senior management team why your child keeps having their lessons cancelled. They might not be aware and will probably intervene, at which point they'll realise the teacher isn't coping well and help them out.

Teachers have an incredibly stressful, intense job but no one can help them if they don't know about it. I'd probably go for the latter and ask the school why your dc is missing pe so often and pretend you don't know about the 'behaviour' reason.

[waterrat]

I really don't think it is acceptable to miss games/ PE as a punishment - it's vital for their health and for their energy levels at school.

As others said - you never hear of kids missing maths as a punishment - maybe the teacher hates teaching it and was glad of an excuse to cancel the class.

[LetitiaCropleysCookbook]

Year 4, IMO, are arseholes.....It's the year to avoid at my school



Anyone who thinks of a whole cohort of children as arseholes maybe shouldn't be working in a school?

[Rowgtfc72]

Dd hasn't had a pe lesson yet, they keep getting cancelled.
Her teacher has a noise app on his phone, this year's yr5 class are loud. They missed a part of break everyday the first week. I did explain I didn't think he would have been too thrilled either when he looked out at his new class and clocked all the loud children..
Luckily there have been no reports of the noise app this week and the naughty children have been punished separately .