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Education

teacher taking P*** out of minor speech impediment

30 replies

fullmoonfiend · 04/02/2006 18:42

dS2 8, struggles wth 'sh' sound, comes out as sark rather than shark for example. Teacher's surname starts with sh and she has been 'telling him off'' in front of the whole class apparently on a regular basis. I am aware of his problem and while it means he's never going to get a job as a Radio4 announcer, he is very articulate and noone has ever highlighted it as a problem before. And I do try to gently teach him to make the sh sound.
Is it right that she should humiliate him like this?
I feel so angry on his behalf, but as she is the SNECO, and not just his year teacher, we will not be able to leaver her behind at the end of the year and forget about her. (DS has dyslexic problems for which he recieves extra help). I really want to go and rant at her, but feel this might make things worse. Tactful suggestions anyone?
(DH suggested teaching ds to enunciate ''go SHHHag yourself Mrs Ssssshhhharp'' but gratifying though this might be, I feel it's maybe not the best approach

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ScummyMummy · 04/02/2006 18:48

What does she say to him? Sounds crap.

I'd have a word in the guise of seeking her advice, all else being equal. Just say ds getting a bit upset and self-conscious all of a sudden though it's never been a major problem before and what does she suggest?

MarsOnLife · 04/02/2006 18:52

I think you need to talk to the teacher, but in a calm manner.

Sometimes our children exaggerate what happens. It is entirely possible that she is trying to correct his pronunciation by saying the Sh sound for him.

However, if this is not the case then a simple word with her should do. If talking to her doesn't do any good then you need to talk to the Head teacher.

It is hard to support the school when we feel our children are being badly treated, but we need to leave room for error... be it the school's or our child's.

mrspitt · 04/02/2006 19:27

I can see you point MarsonLife but sometimes it doesn't matter how mush someone tries to "help" a chlid pronounce a word sometimes, they just CAN'T.
My ds has speech problems and i know some think if they emphasise enough it will work but it's more complex than that, maybe his teacher needs to understand this.

getbakainyourjimjams · 04/02/2006 19:52

Not on, god I LOATHE it when people who know jack all about speech problems start interfering. I think you need to say something like "I understand that you have been correcting ds' prnounciation of "sh"; at the last meeting we had with his SALT she said it ewas very important NOT to correct him as that can be damging, but instead model the correct pronounciation so say "yes it's a shark" And if you haven't seen a SALT lie.

Grrr there is nothing that makes me mutter more (can you tell we are speech and language disorder family- and the amount of CRAP I have heard over the years from various ignoramouses would fill a book- that's spelt incorrectly isn't it)

fullmoonfiend · 04/02/2006 20:02

She had written something in his target book which said:
1: work on lk endings
2: work on number reversals
3: learn to sh correctly
which stung a bit, cos it's never been a big issue for us, altho he's never been able to make the sound consistently! Plus his front teeth were missing at the time, making it nigh on impossible for ANYONE! His teeth have now grown back so we have been trying to encourage him at home. But today, one of his schoolfriends said ''I feel sorry for you cos Mrs Sharp gets so cross with you when you can't say sh properly.'' And when I quizzed my son he got very embarrassed at admitted she does it often in front of the class and gets irritated with him. And says things like "I'm not answering you til you say Mrs SHarp not Mrs Sarp.''
Thank you all for your comments, wasn't sure if I was being over-protective but...

OP posts:

fullmoonfiend · 04/02/2006 20:02

sorry Getback, what's a SALT?

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getbakainyourjimjams · 04/02/2006 20:05

Learn to sh correctly is WAY out of order. A SALT is a speech and language therapist. She is NOT one and a SALT would never say that. You model the correct sound, you do not continually say "say it properly" (some SALTs may work with say mirrors etc to show the child how to do it, but that's a far as demonstrating woudl go). If I received that in my son's book I would actually be down there complaining (but like I said I've had 6 years of stupid comments relating to both ds1 and ds2, just waiting for them to start with ds3). Grrr on your behalf.

ScummyMummy · 04/02/2006 20:08

Agree with baka. She's just wrong. And to get cross with him is plain unprofessional and mean.

Mistymoo · 04/02/2006 20:11

What a shtewipid site she is....
Maybe a polite discussion whith her would help?
Or Maybe a brief word to the head. Without being too confrontational of course. Dont want ds to get singled out from here again

fullmoonfiend · 04/02/2006 20:11

Thanks, will gird my loins and speak to her. I'm crap at being assertive, but threaten my cubs and I WILL ROAR .

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getbakainyourjimjams · 04/02/2006 20:11

Seriously and ranting aside I think it is important that she understands what she is doing is unacceptable as making children very aware of their speech mistakes can, in some cases, cause all sorts of problem (both social and speech- eg stuttering). I think you need to say something. (or write a long message back- that's what I did when I received something absolutely ludicrous in ds1's home school book).

Blandmum · 04/02/2006 20:12

Totaly wrong, and utterly unprofessional.

As mars say, check for exageration, it doews sometimes happen (eg the child who got his mum to phone the school complaining about me on thusday. She was hopping mad that I had given him a break and a whole lunch time detention, so he couldn't eat any food all day. In fact I had given him a 15 min detention out of a lunch time of 50 minures, and no break dt at all....it does happen sometimes)

If it is not exageration than you need to have a talk with this woman asap as this would be disgraceful

getbakainyourjimjams · 04/02/2006 20:15

This is from an advice for teachers page:

1.Avoid correcting speech difficulties - this will lead to a weaker self esteem, it's much more important to model correct speech patterns.
2.The learning environment needs to be positive.
3.Capitalize on the student's strengths as much as possible.
Be patient when the child is speaking, rushing a child with difficulties magnifies the frustration level.

OK it's focussing on children who have more complex problems but the same ideas will apply to your son. Can;t believe she;s a SENCO - not correcting speech is basic knowledge, god help us all.

fullmoonfiend · 04/02/2006 20:20

martianbish, I know what you're saying, which is why I didn't react straightaway - and why I'm asking you lot! I'm deeply sympathatic to teachers and I already feel like me and my ds are a nuisance because I pushed for assessment for dyslexia, and then went to the dyslexia institute becuase the social services woman said his learning problems were caused by immaturity. Turned out he's got an 'exceptional' iq veiled by fine motor control probs and dyslexia. So I'm extremely wary of confrontation as I need this teacher's support as the SENCO. But he suffers from lack of confidence enormously (thinks he's dumb cos he can't write or spell well) and hates school enough already without being publicly ridiculed for a very minor speech problem, IYSWIM!

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Blandmum · 04/02/2006 20:22

Totaly unprofessional to do this sort of thing. get to the bottom of it, and have a chat. This does need to be stopped.

Furball · 04/02/2006 20:24

I feel really sad for your DS to be treated like that. I would be livid if it was my ds, it would be bad enough for the other kids to tease but a SENCO, blimey, I'd go straight to the head. It's outragious.

Furball · 04/02/2006 20:26

Ps, not surprising he has no confidence if he gets knocked like that.

Blandmum · 04/02/2006 20:27

I wouldn't go to the head in the firs instanc. talk to the teacher in question first, and then if you get no joy, chat with the head.

That way you will be seen to have gone through all the correct stages etc. alos much less difficult if there has been a misunderstanding of some sort IYSWIM

Aloha · 04/02/2006 20:28

Oh, this is DREADFUL!
It's terrible when the teachers don't understand our children's problems, but when the Senco behaves in this appalling fashion, well, I despair. Would she shout at a kid in a wheelchair for not walking 'properly'? it's the same thing. Very and very on your child's behalf. YOu have to complain - or, if you prefer - 'explain' to her where she is going wrong. Her getting angry at him - if true - makes me want to cry.

ShaysMummy · 04/02/2006 20:30

used to have a boyfriend with a stutter. when his mother teased him about it, he could barely speak at all.
i would imagine this stupid cow teacher is making him worse and about an inch tall.
(if i could do the angry emoticon, i would do it here...._)

ShaysMummy · 04/02/2006 20:31

feel about an inch tall, sorry!

JonesTheSteam · 04/02/2006 20:32

Am appalled that any teacher would do this, let alone a SENCO.

I really feel for your DS

My DD (who is nearly 5) currently struggles to say 'sh' - don't know whether it's something she'll grow out of, or something more permanent, but I would be horrified if a teacher did this to her!!

I'd go to see the teacher and try and get it to the bottom of it. Explain how much it is upsetting him, affecting his confidence etc.

Aloha · 04/02/2006 20:36

And my ds struggles to say 'sh' and if his teacher got angry with him about it I would be so, so furious. Or if she told him off for running slowly or being uncoordinated.

cod · 04/02/2006 20:36

Message withdrawn

Aloha · 04/02/2006 20:36

Bloody hell, the world is full of highly successful, happy, rich and fulfilled people with minor speech impediments!

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