DD’s science teacher AIBU

[Adviceneededalways]

Dd14 is quite an opinionated teen and has become very sensitive to even a sniff of inequality. I think it’s quite cool that she has strong beliefs but do sometimes have to tell her her to rein it in a bit..

She came down from Google classroom tonight on a fowl mood and announced that she was drafting a complaint letter to her science teacher due to an argument they had over an exercise in class...

The exercise was dividing statements into fact and opinion, ie FACT on average the sun is 150 million miles from the sun. OPINION pineapple taste good on pizza...

The final one was girls should be able to work in any area they choose which I’m sure you have guess the teacher was adamant was opinion and if had been marked down on the sheet as such...

I personally think this is less about being opinion or fact statement and more to do with it being a poor choice of example in a class of predominantly strong minded young girls but DD is very upset and angry at her teacher.

Is she being a bit immature and dramatic or does she have a point...

I’ll include the work sheet in next post.

[Adviceneededalways]

Worksheet

[Cherrysoup]

I think she has a point but I think the teacher walked right into that one! He should know his audience better. Silly of him, plus I think your dd was right. In what career can girls not work nowadays? I’m struggling to think of one, or am I being really dumb?

[Hankunamatata]

It's not a fact. It is an opinion 🤷‍♀️

[WhenSheWasBad]

It’s not ideal, but as a science teacher I’d beg you to cut the teacher a little slack.

I’ve worked 11 days straight, trying to prep everything for online lessons. Watched one of my lessons back today and I misspoke barely 10 seconds into the lesson (nothing catastrophic but had to correct myself).

Online teaching might look easy but it’s really not.

[Pukkatea]

Yes it's a poor example and the teacher should know better, but from a science perspective it is an opinion and not a fact. As an example it could highlight that just because something is morally right or everyone believes it (or should) still doesn't make it a scientific fact. But you're right that it's a dumb move.

[Hankunamatata]

"Ascientific factis an undeniably true statement accepted by thescientificcommunity.Factscan be proven to be correct through observations and testing. Thisprocessis known as thescientific method. However, it's important to remember that nothing is ever final inscience."

[Livinginatree]

I agree with your daughter's view, however it is all in the wording. Girls SHOULD not girls can. Some people don't agree they should. Whereas legally they can so had it been girls can it would be fact as l think legally they can, although I am sure someone will correct me that there are still roles in the army and they can't be in men's footy teams etc but I hope you get the gist of what I'm saying.

[Adviceneededalways]

Just as point of reference teacher is female.

[SionnachRua]

But it is an opinion. The opposite opinion is disgusting of course but that doesn't render this opinion fact. Wasn't a great example but encourage your teen to be pigheaded over something else.

The Earth revolves around the sun - fact. You can't change that.
Donald Trump is a disgrace - opinion. Even if I feel it's absolute fact

[Hankunamatata]

It's not an undeniably true statement. She shouldnt be cross she should be formulating how she could scientifically prove its fact rather than opinion

[doodlejump1980]

Great. Another teacher bashing thread. Just what we need.

[Adviceneededalways]

@Hankunamatata I like it!!!

[SionnachRua]

I do think it would have been easier for the teacher if it were worded as "girls can work in any area they choose". As we all know, that isn't the case around the world.

Or perhaps to just avoid the can of worms altogether. But hey.

[YerAWizardHarry]

It is an opinion though. Sure, not a very nice one BUT there are lots of people you don't agree with it (unfortunately)

[Hankunamatata]

I think its creates an interesting discussion.

[Brakebackcyclebot]

It is an opinion. It's an unpleasant, bigoted opinion, but an opinion nonetheless.

[Theunamedcat]

Its not really a good statement to be making though is it personally I would tell her its a grown up issue and write an email to the school myself about how it is a poor example in my personal view and I would suggest a rethink before using that resource again

[NewYearTypicalMe]

Is she a chicken? Fowl vs foul 🐓

[chillied]

It's a real shame and I think she should complain.

Does the phrase 'Boys should be able to work in any area they choose' look baffling. Yes it does.

[Thatwentbadly]

It’s an opinion but not one that he should have used unless she had time to unpack it - which as a starter in a science activity she didn’t.

[Frazzled2207]

Agree with @Livinginatree the fact that the teacher used the word should makes it an opinion.
“Can” would be a fact.

Poor example but I’d cut the teacher some slack

[ghostyslovesheets]

@Frazzled2207

Agree with *@Livinginatree the fact that the teacher used the word should* makes it an opinion.
“Can” would be a fact.

Poor example but I’d cut the teacher some slack

came to say the same - it is opinion - but I hope it lead to an interesting discussion

[adeleh]

It’s an opinion. I think your DD massively over-reacting.

[Pinkfreesias]

Not a great example, really.

I would say it's not a fact, though, whichever sex was used in the statement, as there are still some individual jobs which can be advertised as male only or female only, with an Equality Act exception.

[Theunamedcat]

Its also copyright protected from what i can tell