Page 5 | Teachers drawing on children?

Talktomyselfforhours · 2024-05-18T06:48:15+00:00

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!

ExtraOnions · 18/05/2024 08:25

When DD was at primary they had a smiley faced stamp .. normally went in books, but sometimes on hands, the kids loved it

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/05/2024 08:24

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.

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.

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?

Original poster

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 😝

OP posts:

whistleblower99 · 18/05/2024 08:22

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:19

I'm not daft and other parents in the class have confirmed the same, I've spoken to them at the playground and they all said the same that kids have smiley faces on their hands for good work....

I've held my hands up there was a mistake about drawings on the knee, that was a misunderstanding.

Yet only an hour ago you were saying your daughter absolutely had a circle on her knee and it was done by the teacher for bad behaviour.

CelesteCunningham · 18/05/2024 08:20

I would infinitely rather that than a barrage of stickers. DD refuses to get rid of them so we have a colony of old furry stickers in her room that I have to cull from the bottom up. More eco friendly too.

Original poster

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:19

I'm not daft and other parents in the class have confirmed the same, I've spoken to them at the playground and they all said the same that kids have smiley faces on their hands for good work....

I've held my hands up there was a mistake about drawings on the knee, that was a misunderstanding.

OP posts:

CelesteCunningham · 18/05/2024 08:18

My DC would LOVE that. I wouldn't have a problem with it if she was happy - like you it'd be hard to get off and she has sensitive skin, especially on her hands, but I just wouldn't try that hard.

EarringsandLipstick · 18/05/2024 08:17

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:15

Ah sorry I didn't realise the edit still shows! Sorry for any confusion! Mumsnet novice!

It's the first time we'd been spoken to about behaviour (swinging on a chair) and through tears she'd told me she had a circle on her knee (I suspect she said name now) and looking at her knee there were marks which looked like a circle so I believed this to be true. She has completely confirmed its on a board not her knee but at the time I'd already thought it odd when she came home with smiley faces on her hand and she'd said it was because of good behaviour, it sounded likely to be true what I'd heard, or misheard!

It is definitely true that the teacher does them for good behaviour / work. I'm probably less bothered now by that but still would prefer a sticker as surely its encouraging kids to draw on themselves?

Probably totally over thinking as I said!!

Not just over-thinking but you've clearly been fed a story by DD. The circles thing was invented. The smiley faces likely too.

So talk to her & get the details & then suss it out a bit more with the teacher.

And don't listen to everything DD tells you in future!

Original poster

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:15

Ah sorry I didn't realise the edit still shows! Sorry for any confusion! Mumsnet novice!

It's the first time we'd been spoken to about behaviour (swinging on a chair) and through tears she'd told me she had a circle on her knee (I suspect she said name now) and looking at her knee there were marks which looked like a circle so I believed this to be true. She has completely confirmed its on a board not her knee but at the time I'd already thought it odd when she came home with smiley faces on her hand and she'd said it was because of good behaviour, it sounded likely to be true what I'd heard, or misheard!

It is definitely true that the teacher does them for good behaviour / work. I'm probably less bothered now by that but still would prefer a sticker as surely its encouraging kids to draw on themselves?

Probably totally over thinking as I said!!

OP posts:

MargaretThursday · 18/05/2024 08:10

One of dd1's teachers used to do that. She always asked whether they'd prefer a sticker, a smiley face on the work or on the hand. They loved having them on the hand, and looked as that as the ultimate praise. She did it in a soft pen that came off quickly.

The main problem was they then didn't want to wash their hands afterwards.

OutOfTheHouse · 18/05/2024 08:09

If you click on the edit button on the OP you get to see all the versions.

In the op you said:
‘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.’

So did she have a circle on her knee or not?

lindsaybob · 18/05/2024 08:05

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:01

Yep edited sorry, you're all too quick! It's been on my mind since Wednesday and daughter straight up told me about circles drawn on knees to show bad behaviour, somethings got lost in translation and I spoke to her again just now to be sure and she said no, on a board in the classroom! That makes more sense now sorry!
Shes adamant though the smiley face drawings are done though by the teacher.

In that case, it’s not something I’d get worked up about, unless the ink has been irritating your daughter’s skin.

Even if that’s the case, I still wouldn’t make a big fuss about it, but just politely ask the teacher not to do it anymore because it’s causing a skin reaction.

Jifmicroliquid · 18/05/2024 08:05

I think your daughter is telling fibs I’m afraid.

EarringsandLipstick · 18/05/2024 08:05

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:01

Yep edited sorry, you're all too quick! It's been on my mind since Wednesday and daughter straight up told me about circles drawn on knees to show bad behaviour, somethings got lost in translation and I spoke to her again just now to be sure and she said no, on a board in the classroom! That makes more sense now sorry!
Shes adamant though the smiley face drawings are done though by the teacher.

I think you've more questioning of your DD to do.

You've made your OP v confusing by just deleting that part - you should have edited it to explain.

When my DC were small, they often got stamps of smiley faces on their hands, so similar I guess. Didn't have an issue with it.

Meredusoleil · 18/05/2024 08:04

How would she draw on a child's knee if they are wearing trousers or tights?

whistleblower99 · 18/05/2024 08:04

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:01

Yep edited sorry, you're all too quick! It's been on my mind since Wednesday and daughter straight up told me about circles drawn on knees to show bad behaviour, somethings got lost in translation and I spoke to her again just now to be sure and she said no, on a board in the classroom! That makes more sense now sorry!
Shes adamant though the smiley face drawings are done though by the teacher.

But in your edit history - it’s there. You said your daughter came home with a circle on her knee and then said the teacher does it when children are naughty.

ThePerfectDog · 18/05/2024 08:03

Wouldn’t have the slightest issue with it and think it’s cute to be honest.

ClonedSquare · 18/05/2024 08:01

If the teachers quite a laid back one, I can see how it might be an unusual kind of class in-joke if it's just smiley faces on hands.

Like a kid did it to themselves one day, teacher joked that it was a good idea and she would do it herself and it became a thing.

But the circles for bad behaviour and writing on their knees? That's weird (I didn't see your post before the edit so not sure what the whole situation was).

Original poster

Talktomyselfforhours · 18/05/2024 08:01

Yep edited sorry, you're all too quick! It's been on my mind since Wednesday and daughter straight up told me about circles drawn on knees to show bad behaviour, somethings got lost in translation and I spoke to her again just now to be sure and she said no, on a board in the classroom! That makes more sense now sorry!
Shes adamant though the smiley face drawings are done though by the teacher.

OP posts:

whistleblower99 · 18/05/2024 08:00

Why have you take out the part about circles on knees for poor behaviour op? I call bullshit.

soupfiend · 18/05/2024 07:59

I dont believe this

CarpetSlipper · 18/05/2024 07:58

I have worked in a school and seen staff do this (though I never did). The kids loved it and it was effective in encouraging good behaviour. I wouldn’t get worked up about it but I also do think it’s a bit inappropriate to draw on the children.

RaininSummer · 18/05/2024 07:57

Don't see a big issue with this but I can't see where people are reading about knees or bad behaviour circles.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 18/05/2024 07:57

Hadalifeonce · 18/05/2024 07:56

Was the OP edited? I can't see anything about circles for bad behaviour, just smiley face for good work. Which although a bit weird, if true, but I couldn't get too worked up about it.

Show quote history

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