Oh god, not again -- dd1 and the art of teacher-baiting.

[frogs]

Aargh -- phone call asking me to come in to school to discuss the behaviour of dd1 (9). I have a fair idea of what it's about, as she told me about the incident yesterday, omitting to mention the fact that she'd been sent to the headteachers office as a result.

Apparently yesterday morning the teacher made a mathematical error in something she was explaining to the class, which dd1 picked up on and pointed out (not very tactfully, I'm sure). The teacher was obviously on her back foot and floundered a little, then turned on dd1 and had a go at her for being cheeky. Dd1 waited for her to finish, and then said, "Don't give up the day job, Miss."

When dd1 told me about this I confess I did laugh, 'cos it is extremely witty, but I pointed out to her that this did by a wide margin cross the line from cheeky to downright rude, and was unacceptable. In dd1's defence, this teacher's preferred classroom management technique is punishing the whole class for the behaviour of a few highly disruptive pupils -- earlier in the day they'd been told they were all going to miss the entire week's playtimes because of some behavioural incident involving just a few of the kids. Understandably, they do get hacked off about this, as it's beyond their control. Clearly dd1 was after revenge.

But FGS, there must be better ways of dealing with mouthy little smartarses like that than making a massive confrontation over it. A snappy "Thank you, dd1, that will be all", or "When you've quite finished showing off, the rest of us can get on with our work" would have put her in her place without all the drama, which frankly just encourages her. Oh well.

I do feel better now I've got that off my chest.

[marialuisa]

Frogs-I think your DD1 sounds fab! The teacher doesn't sound up to much (from your other posts) TBH. Do you think a chat about tact/diplomacy would cut any ice with DD?

[hoxtonchick]

frogs i knew this would be your thread just from the title! i really think the school should be doing more to push her, it sounds like the poor thing is really bored.

[motherinferior]

She - the teacher - sounds bloody appalling!

[Gwenick]

silly teacher - IMO anyone who thinks they can teach kids should be prepared for 'witty' comments like that if (as I'm sure most of them do) they make a mistake at some point which the kids pick up on!

[happymerryberries]

To err is human!

When I make a mistake I always try to make a joke out of it.

Must confess I wouldn't have liked the comment your dd1 made (witty though it undoubtibly was ). Trouble is, with the old teaching biz, is that funny, charming behaviour from a single child on a one-on-one, can turn into a real PITA 'session' with a class of 26 kids, some of whom don't know where the boundaries are, let alone try to keep inside them.

I would have squashed her with a withering comment of my own....realise you wouldn't mind this frogs but I bet there are some parents who would! personaly I wouldn't have refered it to the head, I'd have given her a hard time on my own!

Is this the same woman who thinks that blood in veins is blue, btw??!! If so, on eth quiet I could feed your dd1 and few good lines....only joking!

[MunchedTooManyMarsLady]

[frogs]

Just had meeting with the head in which we had the same old conversation we've had loads of times before -- I agree her behaviour is not acceptable, but say that she would be less of a PITA if she weren't so bored, he says they are meeting her needs and that the teacher has settled down now and all problems are in the past, etc. etc.

hmb is entirely right that dd1's comment was totally out of order, and I had already told her so. Problem is, the teacher will keep walking into these situations: dd1's previous sending-out was when the teacher said, "You're such a terrible class I'm going to walk out of the classroom and not come back", to which dd1 and her little partner in crime both immediately responded, "Oh, okay then, bye Miss."

Roll on secondary school, and some teachers with a faster repertoire of come-backs!

[MunchedTooManyMarsLady]

what is PITA please? Because I am rofl atm and can't get brain to work it out. TA!

[SoupDragon]

pain in the ar$e.

[MunchedTooManyMarsLady]

thank you! Now I can safely call my children that and they will never know.

[frogs]

Yes, this is the teacher who told the kids venous blood was blue.

BTW beetroot, did you see my post on the Faraday lecture? Dd1 enjoyed it hugely, and has been talking about it ever since. She's currently downstairs having surreal conversations with the computer on the Jabberwacky site. Many thanks for pointing it out.

[happymerryberries]

It sounds as if dd1 will also be happier with a lot of diiferent teachers and 'faster' lessons. Less time for the devil to make work!

My dd, although younger can also be a PITA, so I've seen it from both sides

[weightwatchingwaterwitch]

Oh frogs, I laughed too. Sorry, I have absolutely no advice other than tell the head the teacher could do with some training in behaviour management techniques since most of mumsnet know that giving big attention to bad behaviour rarely improves it. Good luck.

[weightwatchingwaterwitch]

Oh I see you've already been to the head. I'm sitting here sniggering at your dd. I know, it's childish of me.

[roisin]

Oh crikey, she's quite a character, isn't she? I'd love to meet her! I've no suggestions I'm afraid - you do seem to be banging your head against a brick wall as far as getting some stimulating/stretching provision for her.

Does she have this teacher for another 6 months, or 1.5 years?

[frogs]

Yes, roisin, she is quite a character. I'm torn between admiring her spirit and the sheer nerve, and thinking what a cheeky little toad she is.

She's actually fine at home, and I'm surprised by how compliant she is. She can never resist the opportunity to make a smart answer, but it's generally meant as a joke, and we take it as such. Occasionally she'll pick a bad moment, and then she gets shouted at. But then again I do spend a lot of time talking and explaining and making sure she understands the reasons behind what I'm asking her to do. I'm afraid the slightly brain-dead top-down discipline that seems to be the school's preferred option for dealing with that class is not bringing out the best in her.

Mercifully she's only got this particular nightmare teacher for another six months. But I fear the school have given up on that class, so not sure how much better next year will be. Humph.