New teacher - apparently ' a bit weird'?

[fluffyhamster]

Not quite sure what to make about this.

The DC are at juniors and they have various teachers. There is a new male teacher whom they both get, at different times, for a couple of lessons. He is new this term.

They have both, separately, described him as a 'bit weird' but haven't really been able to explain why/what they mean.

Today DS2 was off sick. Apparently this teacher asked where he was, was told DS wasn't in, then said, "Perhaps he's dead?"
This was to a bunch of 10 year olds.

One of DSs friends was a bit shocked and told DS1, and asked him is DS2 was really OK.

AS I say, I don't quite know what to make of this. I feel slightly uneasy - especially as the kids seem to both have a sense of something they don't like?

[bullethead]

Sounds like he was trying to make them laugh but his sense of humour missed its target by about a mile. He gauged it wrong!

[fluffyhamster]

Well, that's what I'm hoping...

It probably didn't help that DS was in hospital over summer for an op, which some of his friends knew about. Although his op wasn't anything life-threatening they may have put 2 and 2 together and got 5!

Still seems a weird thing to say, though.

Perhaps he is very nervous with his new classes?

[bullethead]

Could be. Is there any chance you could meet him informally or at least get a glimpse of him at the end of the school day? It might put your mind at rest.

[mummytime]

Do they have many male teachers at the school? Primary kids often don't get "male" style humour at first, having been surrounded by women for so long. Why not introduce yourself to him, and ask how he's settling in etc. so you get to know him.

[activate]

a teacher should NEVER make a joke like that

so you make a joke about a child being dead and miss by a mile - and then what if a child in the class has suffered a bereavement

I agree with your children - that is weird and as a parent (and someone who works in education) I would be speaking to head about inappropriate and insensitive comments and children's perception that teacher might be a bit off (the latter with a pinch of salt)

[Feenie]

[sunnydelight]

Joins Feenie!

[rainbowinthesky]

rolls eyes also

[rainbowinthesky]

thinks back to all the comments that I've made in my 10 years teaching that would have sent feenie running to the head...

[Feenie]

What do you mean? I am rolling eyes at others recommending running to the head - I thought it was clear I considered it ott and plain daft.

[rainbowinthesky]

oops sorry meant to say "activate" !

[Feenie]

[brassband]

You can't go to the head and say my DC find the new teacher a bit weird and then when he asks why say 'I don't know!'

[joins in eye rolling]

[MaMoTTaT]

[TrinityTheLonelyBrokenRhino]

hmm

I think you just need to meet the teacher tbh

the comment was crap and he mis judged but dd1 is ten and wouldn't have fallen over at that comment and she lost her dad last year


go and meet him and relax

[Hullygully]

I have never ever heard anything so terrible in all my born days

sack him

[FallingWithStyle]

It was a JOKE. They are ten not five and are more than able to understand it was a joke.

As for being "a bit weird", well what does that mean?
Different? Geeky? Well, some people are and thats ok - isnt that what you should be telling them, rather than picking up on their childish description and running with it?

I considered becoming a teacher last year. I'm very glad I didn't bother.

[FallingWithStyle]

Yes, yes..please do go and have a word about the joke. Stamp out any glimmer of personality while you're at it too.

Bloody hell, treating kids like delicate little flowers who need to be shielded from anything risque does them no favours at all.

[rabbitstew]

Sadly, these days I suspect most children would think a man in a primary school was a bit weird, because they are such a rare species.

[AgentProvocateur]

He's obviously a peado with necrophiliac complex.