Mumsnet Talk

When is it ok for a teacher to tell a child to bugger off?

Sits back and opens packet of bickers sips coffee and waits for the fun to start.

um

When the child in question is THEIR child and they are sayi g in mock horror.."look just bugger off love. We'll discuss it later".

Can't think that there is any other reason, nor can I imagine a teacher actually saying this.

It's not OK, obviously. What was the situation?

OK, I'll bite... It is OK for a teacher to do that if there is a solidly good relationship there and all involved know it is light-hearted banter. I have told kids to bugger off before now. Also to get lost. Would only say it to certain kids though.

Need more details just because I'm curious.
Because the answer is, of course, never and in no circumstances.
Check your discipline and behaviour policy, I'm pretty certain that it won't be an option. You can think it, mind, as often and as loudly as you like.

<lurks in the staff room although not a teacher, just nosey>

Not sure about the use of "bugger" even as banter, but "get lost", of course!

#et lost is ok if said in a jokey manner. Buggar off is offensive language and I would be horrified if a teacher said it to my or any other child. i would never say it to anybody and certainly not a child.

Probably a primary/secondary split here.

I'm presuming senior school? Not P3.

Still on dodgy ground, but if staff and pupil had a bit of banter going, then perhaps ok.

More details needed.

I might say this to my own children, in a light-hearted sort of way. Not to anybody else's.

When they need to take their bag off sorry op, but I couldnt resist.

At a secondary school, to a 12 year old boy when the teacher was annoyed with him. The child cried for a long time afterwards.

No problem Body, have fun

So there's your answer. The child was distressed. The teacher was at fault.
What on earth had the child done?

I'm not surprised he cried. Not nice at all.

Absolutely not under those circumstances and with a child that young. Would never say something like that in annoyance anyway, only in banter.

Was not running fast enough!

<sigh>
Not from a PE teacher by any chance?

EXACTLY

No. Of course it's not appropriate.

Although I can see myself saying it in banter, in an 'informal' setting (on a residential, in a boarding house, during a Sunday rehearsal) perhaps to a member of the U6 who I knew extremely well (ie, had been in Loco-Parentis during his school career since he was 13). And even then- Maybe. Not definitely.

Why oh why do PE teachers think that some children are underperforming when in fact they are not very talented at PE?