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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was the

238 replies

WantToBeAMamma · 06/07/2023 16:48

AIBU to be upset that my daughters teacher took off 5 marks from her exam total because she doodled on the back of the paper while waiting to be allowed to leave the exam. She would have got 96% without the deduction. See attached the offending doodle. Teachers comment was "minus 5 marks for graffiti at the back. I have told you many times its not on."

Was the
OP posts:
Conkersinautumn · 06/07/2023 19:40

That flies in the face of all of the positive mark exam methods im aware of. The teacher sounds petty and vindictive

Pringleface · 06/07/2023 19:40

Fucksake. They’re all out tonight.

Namechange1345677 · 06/07/2023 19:39

Arty??? She's not arty! Part of me hopes she doodles on an official exam....and it gets thrown out! That will teach her.

MumblesParty · 06/07/2023 19:39

Firecat84 · 06/07/2023 19:07

Why is the teacher so anti art?! What a miserable sod! I'm with you on this OP.

Because it won’t be allowed in GCSEs, and she needs to prepare for them

JobzaGoodun · 06/07/2023 19:38

JaneJeffer · 06/07/2023 19:28

Was it because the toes are the wrong way round on one of the feet?

Or the tiny little fists? They're a bit creepy.

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 06/07/2023 19:38

importantly, this is mumsnet where anything a teacher asks for is sacred

you do realise that doodling and making recognisable drawings in most official exams will get your paper invalid and fail you automatically?

Teaching a lesson after repeatedly warning the child is exactly what the teacher is supposed to be doing.

tidalway · 06/07/2023 19:36

This reply has been deleted

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EthicalNonMahogany · 06/07/2023 19:35

You reason like my 10 year old OP. I said I'd give him £10 for doing something the other day. He didn't do it but said "But I tried hard!! Can I have it anyway?"

I said no, an approach to learning that rewards effort is absolutely right. But an approach to achievement that only rewards effort just doesn't match the real world.

Because your daughter worked hard to learn you think she shouldn't have marks docked. But she did something against the rules of the exam - so she didn't follow the instructions. If you're doing the exam you have to follow all the instructions! The exact thing that exams are supposed to teach are the discipline, attention to detail and resilience of following all the instructions!

Original poster
WantToBeAMamma · 06/07/2023 19:34

Well spotted.😀

OP posts:
smooththecat · 06/07/2023 19:33

I don’t mind the doodle, depends a bit on age tbh. But, importantly, this is mumsnet where anything a teacher asks for is sacred, apart from better pay and much improved working conditions, when they can eff the f off and get back in their shitty lane as a bunch of low-skill, know-nothing asshats.

This has been a message from an ex-teacher, brought to you by better career with better pay and actual skills and knowledge.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 06/07/2023 19:33

WantToBeAMamma · 06/07/2023 19:03

Over the years some teachers have turned a blind eye to her doodling while others have let her know its unacceptable. She has tried now, that she is getting older to rein in her arty side but I guess with the stress of all the exam revision it made her forget herself. Apparently she has drawn on her other exams so will be interesting to see how the other teachers will handle this.

Hopefully they will deduct marks from them all, until you and your daughter learn how to listen. If you feel she needs to demonstrate her artistic flair this much then let her draw on your wallpaper for fucks sake. I don't know who acts more entitled and precious, you, or your child!

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 06/07/2023 19:32

She has tried now, that she is getting older to rein in her arty side

😂😂😂

No one is asking her to rein her arty side. Just don't doodle on the exam papers, use something else.

If she wanted to express her artistic side by singing opera in the exam, would you also attack the teacher asking her to shut up to let the others concentrate in peace?

Zingy123 · 06/07/2023 19:30

Stop excusing her behaviour. She has already been told and ignored the teachers.

onlyamam · 06/07/2023 19:28

WantToBeAMamma · 06/07/2023 18:13

Because in this day and age where kids get up to all sorts this hardly seems like the worse crime to do. She clearly has worked hard to get a good result and shouldn't be punished for being arty.

It's not the worst crime at all, but not is a 5 Mark deduction the worst punishment. I think it's an important lesson to take things that matter seriously. And if she still got 90 odd percent, then it'll be a top grade regardless.

JaneJeffer · 06/07/2023 19:28

Was it because the toes are the wrong way round on one of the feet?

Gerrataere · 06/07/2023 19:27

burthday · 06/07/2023 19:23

The exam board wouldn’t deduct points. So why is the teacher?

Because the teacher has asked her to specifically stop defacing her work. But the daughter obviously thinks she has the right to carry on regardless and her mother evidently thinks she’s a special little flower who’s not causing an issue. I honestly don’t blame teachers for these strikes, some of the nonsense they have to put up with from entitled kids and their families. One simple rule, don’t doodle on an exam paper. One simple bloody rule. Then have to sit for hours marking these things well into the night only to find Little Miss Van Gough has been at it again. I’d be pissed off as well.

WonderfulUsername · 06/07/2023 19:26

Gerrataere · 06/07/2023 19:23

Goodness @Irritateandunreasonable you really live up to your username don’t you…

I'm just ignoring and reporting it.

Irritateandunreasonable · 06/07/2023 19:25

Muddygreenfingers · 06/07/2023 19:23

Wow.
Says it all.

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I know! She’s rude right!

Muddygreenfingers · 06/07/2023 19:23

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Wow.
Says it all.

Gerrataere · 06/07/2023 19:23

Goodness @Irritateandunreasonable you really live up to your username don’t you…

humus · 06/07/2023 19:23

Brilliant, she has talent, tell her to keep on doodling and ignore the deduction…

burthday · 06/07/2023 19:23

The exam board wouldn’t deduct points. So why is the teacher?

Muddygreenfingers · 06/07/2023 19:23

Irritateandunreasonable · 06/07/2023 19:17

I’m so confused by the way you’re speaking to me? I’m glad you don’t teach my children.

And I’ve no idea if other teachers allow her to do so or not, I had not mentioned that in the original comment.

I’m also so confused about the statement Parents who think the sun shines out of their child's arses and can do no wrong. Where in what I wrote did I suggest that? How can a teacher talk about parents and students like that?

I think that your attitude may be why parents are not happy with you. I fully respect you may have a different opinion than I on this, I would even be willing to hear why, I’m open to changing my mind. I just am perplexed at your whole demeanour.

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Apologies.

Only the first line of my reply was in reply to you directly.

The rest was aimed at the OP.

That said, I do think some parents think the sun shines out of their child's arse. Call me unprofessional, but it's 100% true. So yes I can talk about them like that, if it's true.

Parents aren happy with me. How do you know they aren't?

I'm as confused as you are.

Irritateandunreasonable · 06/07/2023 19:22

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WonderfulUsername · 06/07/2023 19:21

Irritateandunreasonable · 06/07/2023 19:20

It’s a doodle though? I’m not sure what the harm is? She wouldn’t be marked down if she did this in her GCSEs?

It’s a little irritation - petty imo. Im open to hearing why it’s not though. But, won’t engage if people are just rude/abusive for no reason. If there’s good reason behind it and people can be civil explaining, im open to changing my mind.

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Of course she'd be marked down for defacing her GCSE paper.

What world do you live in?