My ds's teacher punishes all the class

[zookeeper]

Hi

My ds(8) has been coming home recently upset and indignant because he says that his teacher
shouts a lot and knocks five minutes of playtime if some of the children don't stop talking. His perception is that she has favourites and that she does not like him.

I'm seeing her tonight for a general chat about his progress. Before I mention it I would really like to hear what others think of this and how best I should approach her - I've got two dcs who she will end up teaching too and I don't want to get on the wrong side of her.

[bellabelly]

It's really bad practice to punish whole class - I'd be very surprised if the school thought this was ok.

[smee]

I agree - punishing the whole class went out with the dark ages i thought.

[chopstheduck]

I also think that the teacher is doing something wrong if your ds has a perception that certain children are favourites.

I'd be tempted to go to the head and let them deal with it, because like bellabelly said, its unlikely to be school practice.

[cocolepew]

I complained to my DDs old PS teacher about doing this. She said it was so the offenders would feel guilty, funnily enough they didn't .

[purpleturtle]

It's one of 3 things our school has identified for its pupil pledge this half-term: Children will not be punished for someone else's wrongdoing.

[zookeeper]

Thank you - I wondered if it was just me who thought it was not good practice - imagine going into work and being told you can't go out to lunch at your usual time because one of your colleagues has transgressed the rules.

I think I'll talk to her first and then the head if I get nowhere with her

Thanks again

[nellynerd]

My DS(11) has been upset by this lots of times. It seems that some teachers use this lazy method to "encourage" the rest of the class to keep the rowdy ones in line. When my boy once politely asked the teacher why he was being punished for another child's poor behaviour, he was told, "That's life - get used to it!"

I did have a word at the next parents' evening, without much effect. DS moved up a year, and the teacher concerned left anyway, but he is still taught occasionally by others who use the same technique.

It's usually (but not always) the same kids who play up in class. The only benefit is for the teacher who can regain control (at least for a while) without having to punish the same old faces again and again. All it does is cause confrontation and resentment amongst the kids. Surely that's not what teachers want to encourage?

It stinks as a technique for behaviour control. If the whole class is playing up, fine. Otherwise it's a cop-out.

[MrsFlittersnoop]

I was disgusted to find out that Year 9! DS's French teacher dishes out "whole class" lunchtime detentions on a regular basis to punish a handful of miscreants.

DS has been bullied in her class on several occasions - she had to send him out to calm down earlier this week after he'd been reduced to tears. So why is being punished alongside his tormentors?

And who on earth in this day and age thinks it's appropriate to treat teenagers this way? This isn't in the same league as taking away 5 minutes of "Golden Time" in primary school because the class has been boisterous.