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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this acceptable for a teacher to say..

87 replies

Countrygirlxo · 25/06/2024 17:33

My son is in year 7. So my child has sports day outside today in the sweltering heat. Drinking lots of water he asked if he could go to the toilet, the teacher who he hasn't spoke to or seen before said no he can wait, he didn't complain he waited until there were a few of them that needed to go and the teacher gave my son a 'key', a kind of card to access the door for them to go in.
He said "don't lose it or you're a dead man walking." My son wasn't bothered about the way he was spoken to (which he said was grumpy and wasnt said in a joke way) and shrugged it off but mentioned it in conversation, I just think it's an odd thing and unacceptable way to speak to a 12 year old as a teacher.

OP posts:
DoreenonTill8 · 25/06/2024 17:53

Do you and your son think he meant he would actually kill your son?

FloofPaws · 25/06/2024 17:52

MultiplaLight · 25/06/2024 17:37

And people wonder why teachers have had enough.

Get over yourself.

Yep

Smartiepants79 · 25/06/2024 17:52

IT’S A JOKE!!
It’s a bit of mild teasing about how important it is that he looks after the keycard and returns.
I don’t know why teachers bother to have any sort of personality anymore.

betterangels · 25/06/2024 17:51

I don't know how teachers get through the day at this point. Everything seems to be questioned.

Countrygirlxo · 25/06/2024 17:51

allwewant · 25/06/2024 17:48

If you start complaining to the school about things like this at secondary level, be prepared for your son not to tell you what happens at school.
Ask me how I know?

I was never going to complain to school I'm not that parent I just wanted others opinions on whether they think it's acceptable. Which clearly it is

OP posts:
Tiredforfive45 · 25/06/2024 17:50

It’s an idiom. Your child wasn’t bothered. Stop thinking about it.

AlliumLake · 25/06/2024 17:49

If he’s 12, surely he understands figures of speech?

allwewant · 25/06/2024 17:48

If you start complaining to the school about things like this at secondary level, be prepared for your son not to tell you what happens at school.
Ask me how I know?

LadyWiddiothethird · 25/06/2024 17:48

Don’t be so idiotic! People can’t say anything these days without offending someone,it didn’t bother your son so just leave it.

Greatmate · 25/06/2024 17:47

Catch a grip.

lemonmeringueno3 · 25/06/2024 17:47

I'd say that to a pupil. I probably have. It would be lighthearted and not meant to be offensive or threatening.

fieldsofbutterflies · 25/06/2024 17:47

MushMonster · 25/06/2024 17:37

I would be bothered about that sentence.
I would be more than fuming about them locking the toilets and not allowing my child to go to the toilet! I would raise a complaint for that.
Fair enough, I would slso remind my kid to go to the toilet during breaks, but no way I would accept them refusing access if needed!

It's totally normal for toilets to be locked during lessons and for students to sometimes have to wait before they're allowed to go.

What exactly would you be complaining about?

OneHandInPocket · 25/06/2024 17:46

It’s not ideal but I wouldn’t be worrying too much with Year 7.

MinistryOfTragic · 25/06/2024 17:46

You're being way oversensitive, it's obviously just a joke, he's not actually threatening his life. Jesus.

Bluevelvetsofa · 25/06/2024 17:46

You're determined to be offended bout nothing then. If you really are a teacher, you will know what was intended perfectly well.

lemonmeringueno3 · 25/06/2024 17:46

MushMonster · 25/06/2024 17:37

I would be bothered about that sentence.
I would be more than fuming about them locking the toilets and not allowing my child to go to the toilet! I would raise a complaint for that.
Fair enough, I would slso remind my kid to go to the toilet during breaks, but no way I would accept them refusing access if needed!

Does your child never have to wait a bit if he needs to go while you're driving on the motorway?

A Year 7 pupil should be able to wait a bit. If the whole school was outside for sports day then surely you can see that allowing pupils in and out at will could become difficult to supervise. It sounds as if they just needed a little group to need the loo to justify sending someone down to supervise.

ManchesterLu · 25/06/2024 17:45

Oh god. People really can't say anything anymore, can they?

Kuol · 25/06/2024 17:44

Teachers shouldn’t make jokes now? What an absolute drama out of nothing, your son telling you and now you debating it on here. Maybe consider home schooling as an option

Crazycrazylady · 25/06/2024 17:44

Honestly it was a joke. I really think you need to leave this one go.

longdistanceclaraclara · 25/06/2024 17:44

You need to relax.

Bellsandthistle · 25/06/2024 17:44

I thought you were going to say the child is five. At twelve he can understand turns of phrase such as this and not take it literally.
YABVU.

QuillBill · 25/06/2024 17:44

I think it's fine.

KrisAkabusi · 25/06/2024 17:43

Countrygirlxo · 25/06/2024 17:40

I am a teacher and I would never speak to a child like that.

Speak like what? It was a joke.

notbelieved · 25/06/2024 17:42

Jesus wept. And you’re a teacher? Really?

Putyoursunscreenon · 25/06/2024 17:42

Are you a primary school teacher or secondary?

Anyway I think YABU here and don't think it was meant in the way you're interpreting it.