AIBU about DS's WARNING?

[nostress]

DS is in Y6 and is never in trouble for bullying (occasionally in trouble for chatting as opposed to working!). Found a note in DS's homework diary stating he had said "[best friend's name] weighs twice as much as a person". Along with that was a red triangle warning stamp. No further explanation. So I asked DS and he explained that [best friend] had told him he weighed 40kg DS was shocked about this as he only weighs 25kg (he only knows this because he is on meds that are weight dependent) so he said "that means you weigh one and a half times as much a person [meaning himself obviously]". This was an exclamation not any sort of bullying and it is factually correct. However, the teacher (RS teacher not his actual teacher) was walking behind their desk and got really cross with him and was not interested in his explanation. DS is upset as 1) he wasn't being nasty 2)[best friend] was not bothered and was also discussing the differences in a similar manner 3) the teacher exaggerated the quote 4) One more warning and he will have a detention and he has never had one.

So I filled up the rest of the week's space with a note saying yes punish if malicious but the phrase was totally put out of context. And the explanation he gave is perfectly reasonable this was NOT chanting or picking on in the playground.

Also DS's aunty died recently of anorexia so he is acutely aware of eating disorders and I am sure he would not say anything to upset people about their weight. And if anything he thinks he is too skinny and likes people with a bit of meat on their bones so if anything he was probably highlighting his own skinniness.

I'm irritated by the teacher's unwillingness to listen to the explanation and now the comment is in his HW diary for all his other teachers to think he is a bit of a bully.

[EmeraldJeanie]

I think your response fine.
Usually I support teachers totally with my children's occasional not great behaviour but would also say if I had concerns. [Got tearful child at moment who certainly deserved trouble he is in at school today- ho hum].

[cansu]

Oh dear what a terrible thing to happen! Your ds made an unpleasant remark and teacher warned him not to do so again. Lets imagine that his friend didnt like the comment so much and was actually quite hurt but felt embarrassed about it. Perhaps this child has been the subject of other jokey but unkind comments and the teacher is trying to protect this child? Perhaps you just over reacted and would have been better to say to your ds, 'well it wasnt a nice thing to say, you need to think about what you say and whether it might hurt someone's feelings'.

[soontobeslendergirl]

Surely 40kg is only about 6 and bit stone anyway so his friend is hardly a heavyweight as I guess he is about 10 or 11? Sounds like the teacher was passing on her own judgement/issues rather than an actual problem. My not long turned 12 year old weighs over 9 stone but he is nearly 5' 7 so that's pretty spot on for him as he has a broad build.

Your note sounds fine.

[clam]

Don't think your note was necessary. Let it go.
He's Year 6. Far, FAR worse things will happen at secondary. Get used to it.

[cory]

Does he usually use "a person" instead of the first person pronoun? To me, from a child his age, this probably would sound like "a normal person", which would be offensive.

[nostress]

Thanks all- wise words! But it wasn't the case that he just said it randomly. His friend told him and he made the comparison. As you say his friend's weight is not an issue.

He definitely did not use "normal" as the teacher comment did not include that word and neither did my son when he told me about it.

[clam]

But "a person" isn't a common phrase in that context, so something doesn't add up.

[desertgirl]

wouldn't the "a person" just mean something like 'wow, I'm half/twice the size of a person' - ie, there is a person who is twice/half as big as me (as opposed to finding a cat, dog, etc of that size)? so much depends on tone etc - probably best just to tell him that it's best to avoid personal remarks (as he is growing up in the UK. There are other places where they seem to be entirely par for the course) as even if not intended with ill will they can be misconstrued (as may have happened here).

[clam]

Still doesn't work for me. "I'm half the size of an elephant," yes. "I'm twice the weight of a goat," yes. "Twice the size of a person?" No.