Daughter's teacher called her a numpty

[Ottermum23]

Hi all,
We have a lovely little daughter, in year3.
She is a very enthusiastic learner, who always loved school and loves academic challenges.
This year, she had a new teacher, who is not the nicest, but nevertheless, We thought, just give her the benefit of a doubt.
Our girl been contstantly saying, that the teacher shouts, and today, she said, she called her a numpty, as she accidentally started to do her writing on someone else's book.

I find this very frustrating and just would like to hear others opinions.
Thank you.

[Sirzy]

Can’t see anything wrong with it! It’s along the same lines as “silly billy”

[Dljlr]

Sorry, I'm not clear. Opinions about what?

[SoyDora]

I would have no issues with ‘numpty’, it sounds like an affectionate type of exchange to me.
What do you mean by ‘not the nicest’?

[NotUmbongoUnchained]

Pretty normal teacher thing to say

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

She was being a bit of a numpty though? I can't see an issue here.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Numpty is fine. Can’t see an issue there. She was being a numpty if she wrote in someone else’s book

[Anasnake]

Perfectly fine

[TheHandmaidsTail]

IMO a "shouting" teacher is usually a teacher who raises her voice above the rabble.

And numpty is a very very gentle tease, she didn't call her stupid or an idiot which would be an insult.

[NormHonal]

“Numpty” is almost a term of endearment and doesn’t suggest any level of severity IMO.

Year 3 does involve a lot of shouting in the first term as it’s a step up for the children and they have a lot of changes to make in their behaviour. It’s sometimes tricky for the younger and more sensitive ones - I have two of those and have been there! But I’ve also been in the classroom and it’s the year they are supposed to start settling down and doing a lot more work, so teachers do have to clamp down on it early on.

[ConsiderHerWaysAndOthers]

I think it’s a semi-affectionate way of saying she’s done something silly. I remember teachers saying it when I was at school, it’s a perfectly fine thing to say isn’t it? Unless you think the teacher is specifically singling out your DD...

[TheNumberfaker]

That does sound like a very numptyish thing to do.

[Ottermum23]

Yeah, sorry, didn't describe my problem.
I originally thought, that is quite rude, as it's not in a family/friends environment.
I appreciate, that year3 is completely different, as they just started KS2.

I don't agree with the shouting though...

[Mookatron]

Some teachers are shouty and horrible though. My DD had one last year. I happened to be passing the classroom when the window was open and she was being really unpleasant.

However it is just the beginning of term really. Keep an eye on it - and a record of what your daughter says. 'numpty' is debatable (though I don't like it) but if she crosses a boundary go and have a chat. You have to go carefully because the chances are your daughter will be her biggest fan by Christmas!

[NonaGrey]

I would have no problem with “numpty” particularly when she was, in fact, a numpty.

As a PP said it’s like being called a silly billy.

If your DD complained to you about that I wonder is she terribly sensitive? And if she is terribly sensitive is she interpreting “slightly raised, stern voice” as “shouting”?

My kids would have relayed the “numpty” incident as a funny story...

[Ottermum23]

Yes, NonaGrey, she is a sensitive girl.
The shouting issue well-known around the school.

Just don't want DD to be put down by a teacher.

[missyB1]

Hmmm I’m a TA and I’m not a fan of staff calling the kids silly names, I think it sounds unprofessional. Having said that it probably just slipped out. If it becomes a habit though then that teacher would definitely go down in my estimation, in fact I would think they were a bit of a numpty!

[Ottermum23]

MissyB1, the teacher calls a lot of children in her class a numpty

[WhenIWasAYoungWarthog]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with calling a child a numpty. Especially when she was being a numpty.

What do you mean by ‘just give her the benefit of doubt’ though? It almost sounds like you’ve been waiting for her to slip up so you can go and complain about her. Pick you battles, this really isn’t an issue.

[Wolfiefan]

It’s not putting a child down to call them numpty. It doesn’t mean idiot. It’s juat pointing out that they’ve done a daft thing. Very much a regional expression I think.
Shouting isn’t generally the best form of class control but isn’t necessarily a problem.

[tenlittledinosaurss]

You're being over sensitive

[Haireverywhere]

I agree it's in the same vein as silly billy and wouldn't bother me, same as daft as a brush etc. Obviously only if said affectionately and not as a proper telling off.

[Starlight345]

I have no issue with numpty . It is affectionate.

Some teachers are shouty some not. Your dd is going to have to deal with it . It might not be her best year academically but it will teach her something more.

[Sirzy]

What should the teacher have said then? What wouldn’t you have found offensive?

She did something dsft. The teacher laughed it off.

[OnceUponATimeInAmerica]

If she is calling lots of them numpty, it isn't personal to your DD. It's just that teacher's way of addressing a child doing something a bit daft.

[MissMarplesKnitting]

Yeah I nearly went ranting into school when teacher wrote "whoopsie, you Wally!" when DS1 made a mistake in his homework.

Luckily I didn't.

She was new, and I went into mama bear mode, and irritated teacher too as I'm not sure it's best practice and assumed a relationship where she could joke with him.

However, I was so wrong.

The two of them get on do well. She totally gets my a-bit-over-sensitive son. He adores her.

There was absolutely nothing meant in that comment other than light-heartedness. If I'd have gone in all guns blazing I'd have potentially ruined the positive relationship between my child and his teacher and the one I have developed with her.

Tread carefully.