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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teachers drawing on children?

133 replies

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 07:48

I might be totally overthinking this so hoping for a good sounding board with fellow mumsnetters!

DD is in Year 3 at school and has quite often come home with smiley faces drawn on her hand, she told me the teacher draws smiley faces when they've done good work or behaved well.

AIBU to think this isn't right and teachers shouldn't be 'marking' the kids? I'm probably over thinking it but surely there are other ways of doing this that doesn't mean I've got to scrub these off each night? And yes she would have a wash etc but pen marks take a little more work and she does have quite sensitive skin. It's a biro pen that's being used. Quite happy to be told to get over it!

OP posts:
SuziQuinto · 18/05/2024 08:46

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:44

Realised I'd misheard knee and name, seeing a circle mark on her knee and with history of smiley faces it added to my issues and why I'd posted. I'd edited the post within seconds but it was already live and I didn't realise you could see previous edits!

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Oh I see, that's the confusion!
I definitely think that a conversation with the teacher is needed, just to clear all this up.

TheLurpackYears · 18/05/2024 08:45

The smile face on the hand is a thing at one if my dc's school. I'm happy the (lovely and adored) teacher did it, my dc was having an extremely challenging time and I'm sure he would have got emotional and physical comfort from it.
Dc is a total soap dodger and it's probably still there, I hadn't thought to was it off.

Original poster
Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:44

SuziQuinto · 18/05/2024 08:41

The circles on the knees, in particular, sound a bit odd. I would think that an initial conversation with the classroom teacher would be of use, taking it further if you're still concerned.
Did your daughter say why she got the circles drawn on her knees?

Realised I'd misheard knee and name, seeing a circle mark on her knee and with history of smiley faces it added to my issues and why I'd posted. I'd edited the post within seconds but it was already live and I didn't realise you could see previous edits!

OP posts:
SuziQuinto · 18/05/2024 08:43

Sorry, I've just seen that you've indicated it was for swinging on a chair?
There seems to be a lot of parents/playground chat about this, so it's really important to talk to the teacher now.

21andon · 18/05/2024 08:43

Maybe the teacher just doesn’t want to / can’t afford to buy stickers (which anyway get lost/lose their stick/cause distractions). I can imagine the kids would absolutely love it too.

This wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. You also don’t have to scrub it off…if your dc is washing their hands it will be gone in a day or so.

This is not the hill I’d choose to die on.

Pippa246 · 18/05/2024 08:41

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 18/05/2024 07:57

Yes, it was edited. If you hit the edited button on the op, you can see both versions.

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Ooooo - I did not know you could do that!

Also struggling to believe it was a teacher and not another child but if indeed it was, absolutely not on.

SuziQuinto · 18/05/2024 08:41

The circles on the knees, in particular, sound a bit odd. I would think that an initial conversation with the classroom teacher would be of use, taking it further if you're still concerned.
Did your daughter say why she got the circles drawn on her knees?

Original poster
Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:40

I didn't think there would be so much debate about DD lying 🙄other parents in the class confirmed the same, smiley face looks well drawn and not by a child but I get it, the argument is, it's a smiley face - how hard can it be!

Regardless, if it is the teacher, it just seemed an odd way to recognise good behaviour so wanted to understand if it's normal and common practice.

Our school is quite backwards in some ways (kids aren't allowed footballs in playground at break or lunch time, no play equipment or use of trim trail, Head is risk adverse for anything like this!), so this is just a part of a bigger picture of practice's at the school that irk me, albeit very small!

OP posts:
Cityandmakeup · 18/05/2024 08:39

whistleblower99 · 18/05/2024 07:51

That Is not the teacher. It is your child and they are lying. Absolutely no way is a teacher drawing on hands and knees.

I’m going to go with this one.

whistleblower99 · 18/05/2024 08:38

Soontobe60 · 18/05/2024 08:36

Where does it say she draws on them if they’ve been naughty?

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Click the edit post and you will see.

Teachers drawing on children?
TTPD · 18/05/2024 08:36

I don't know why people don't believe this would ever happen.

We had little round stamps at primary school saying things like "good work" "well done" that would get stamped on your work. But if it was for something where there was no physical work to be stamped (eg PE), or where you didn't want a stamp on it (like a picture) you'd get it on your hand if you wanted.

Soontobe60 · 18/05/2024 08:36

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 18/05/2024 07:53

Putting marks on a child's body to show they've been naughty is not okay and needs to be stopped. Probably shouldn't do the smiley faces either, but I'm not sure I'd bother complaining about that. The crcles are not okay.

Where does it say she draws on them if they’ve been naughty?

SophieJo · 18/05/2024 08:36

I don’t believe this happened.

Packingcubesqueen · 18/05/2024 08:34

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/05/2024 08:26

Probably.

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I’ve googled it and apparently it is linked to an increase chance of cancer if done very frequently and in high amounts. I know the teacher is only drawing a small smiley face but it’s not something I’d want to encourage.

RedHelenB · 18/05/2024 08:33

My dc used to like getting a stamp on their work and on their hands. Think it stopped after ks1though.

lindsaybob · 18/05/2024 08:33

Vistada · 18/05/2024 08:32

I used to get a stamp on my hand for being good.

I can remember it vividly 25 years later, that's how fun it was!!

I don't see this as any different.

However I also don't think it's true.

Do you mean that you think OP’s daughter is lying about the smiley faces being done by the teacher? Or do you mean that you think the whole post is fake?

Vistada · 18/05/2024 08:32

I used to get a stamp on my hand for being good.

I can remember it vividly 25 years later, that's how fun it was!!

I don't see this as any different.

However I also don't think it's true.

AtrociousCircumstance · 18/05/2024 08:29

So odd that a handful of posters are adamant your child is lying.

Yes it is a bit strange for the teacher to do that - a sticker chart on the wall, or we have an app (where we get updates and can email the teacher) also uses a point system we can see.

OutOfTheHouse · 18/05/2024 08:28

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:23

Maybe it's cost cutting at schools, there used to be stickers given out in lower year groups!

I get it as a way to recognise good behaviour, I just didn't want it to encourage more doodling on hands and the issue if getting it off afterwards 😝

You know the teacher buy the stickers themselves? School doesn’t provide them.

You said though that ‘Then the other day she came home with a circle on her knee and she said it was because she had been told off about something. If you get 4 circles in the day then you go and see the headteacher.’

You saw the circle on her knee no confusion with name.

MermaidMummy06 · 18/05/2024 08:28

DD's teacher a couple of years ago did the smiley faces on hands. Thought, that's new, haven't had a teacher do that before.

And went on with my day.

It's far better than the piles of 'reward' tar/stickers/lollies that I have to manage/quietly throw out.

lindsaybob · 18/05/2024 08:28

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/05/2024 08:24

I've just re-read the OP and I can't see where it says she draws circles for bad behaviour. I've just woken up so happy to be shown something I missed.

I think it's odd and I've never done it as a teacher but I wouldn't be particularly bothered if it was my child. I gave my class stickers but they usually kept pulling them off to look at them until they lost their 'sticky'. Maybe the teacher is avoiding this or has just run out of money to buy stickers.

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The OP was edited. Originally it said the teacher draws circles on children’s knees for misbehaviour, but the OP has explained that she misunderstood what her DD was saying and that the circles are actually drawn on a board in the classroom.

LostMySocks · 18/05/2024 08:27

Presumably teachers still buy their own stickers (my mum did years ago) so pen faces save them money. I have seen skin stamps being advertised on social media

Stainglasses · 18/05/2024 08:26

Seems strange - I wouldn’t do it as a teacher - I’d expect it to annoy parents. I think you could ask the teacher to not do it in a gentle friendly manner. Just don’t be aggressive or stressed when you speak to her.

Meredusoleil · 18/05/2024 08:26

I'm with you OP. As a teacher myself, I would not like that on my child and would not do it to the children I teach. I have seen some members of staff in Reception put a stamp on the back of a child's hand. But again, I personally don't like it and would never do it.

I either put a sticker on the child's top (jumper/shirt) or stamp their work/draw a smiley face on their work. Never on their skin.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/05/2024 08:26

Packingcubesqueen · 18/05/2024 08:24

I was told growing up that it’s bad to draw on your skin because it can be absorbed?? Is this one of those lies that people tell children to stop them drawing on themselves?

Probably.

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