Is it ever ok...?

[pusspusslet]

...for a boarding prep school teacher to shoutvirtually screamat a child for missing an appointment?

I witnessed this happening today. I was very shocked by what I saw. I'm not sure whether this sort of thing is accepted, as the teacher is in loco parentis (and parents do sometimes get angry with their children, and shout), or whether I'm right to have been very shocked. I'm not sure because I'm new to the environment. I don't know whether I should report it or not.

Advice welcome. Please don't have a go at me, by the way. I'm genuinely unsure about what is considered to be acceptable in a prep boarding school.

[Hulababy]

I don't think it is ever acceptable in any form of school, especially a primary school, for a teacher to scream at a pupil.

[Periwinkle007]

I suppose it really depends on the circumstances. I have no experience of prep boarding schools or boarding schools at all come to that except for having friends who went off to them when we were kids.

I suppose you would expect them to be nurturing, caring etc BUT having said that without knowing why the teacher felt the need to shout at the child it is hard to comment. the child might do this all the time and cause lots of problems, might have been reminded about the appointment, might be known for avoiding appointments and messing around instead or something?

what is your connection? are you a parent/teacher/prospective parent?

[Periwinkle007]

sorry yes I was imagining it as a case of a teacher shouting rather than screaming and I have to admit I am also imagining the child being at the older end of the scale not a very young one

[pusspusslet]

Thanks for advising. I work there, and don't want to out myself, or the child, by saying more about the circumstances.

If all depends upon the circumstances then perhaps it was justified.

Thanks again.

[Periwinkle007]

well I think if you work there then perhaps keep an eye on the teacher in question and the situation. You don't want to overlook something that is inappropriate especially if your instinct says it didn't seem right but equally it can sometimes be hard to tell without knowing the context.

your instinct will normally be right so if it seemed wrong to you then it probably was.

sorry I can't help advise more but it sounds like you are a good member of staff the school should be proud of if you are looking out for the kids like that

[pusspusslet]

Thanks, Peri. Sometimes it's hard to know what to do for the best.