Heartbroken about DS's teacher

Part of growing up is learning to cope with other people, even the ones you wouldn't choose to spend your time with if you had the choice. You need to encourage your son to just get on with it, not encourage him to think he should be able to dictate to others so he can get whatever he wants.

Quite. You need to catch a grip, OP.

@Foundanotherwrinkle parent entitlement is one of the things that puts off people being teachers

My son had a class teacher who thought he was wonderful, and let him get away with things like reading his own books hidden on his lap, instead of the class reader which the rest of the class was following, his reading age was very far ahead of the class. The teacher told me this at a parents evening. I didn't approve at all, and told my son that, although he was getting away with things that year, he should remember that he wouldn't always be teachers pet. The next year he had a different teacher, and wasn't!

They'll probably struggle more with adjusting to a new teacher in year 5.

And think of the child in the other class, who has perhaps never had a male teacher, who now gets their turn to have the wonderful Mr T.

The only way for them to make it completely fair on "adjusting to a new teacher" is to keep the classes as they are and Mr T take the group he didn't have this year. However that means they can't even up the things they are planning to even up by mixing the classes, which will probably have a bigger impact, given that it sounds as if both teachers are good.

Also, you need to be positive about the situation for your son's sake, as he will have a happier future if he can deal with and embrace change.

I opened this thread thinking the end was going to be that he's died. You're massively overreacting I'm afraid. Teachers change every year in the English system - it's not great, but it is what it is. Try and be glad you had him at all!

When did we become so entitled to kick off over teacher allocations? You get who you're given, just like everyone else for multiple decades before you. What makes your little darling so much more special than any other kid?

No, and even if I could I wouldn't tell you. It’s ridiculous.

I'm a teacher and my Head would never allow a parent to dictate what class their child should be in. If you are allowed to choose teachers, why shouldn’t every other parent? How do you think two-form entry schools could possibly function if every parent was allowed to choose which teacher their little darling should have the following year?

Part of growing up is learning to cope with other people, even the ones you wouldn't choose to spend your time with if you had the choice. You need to encourage your son to just get on with it, not encourage him to think he should be able to dictate to others so he can get whatever he wants.

other children will benefit from mr T which is what the school are thinking. Move on.

What a ridiculous attitude. Your child is not being punished for being a healthy, NT, well adjusted student.

Your attitude is very worrying and sure to impact your child. Worry about resolving that instead.

@Bluetie - you need to look at this very differently. Firstly your son is NOT being punished for being good - having a different teacher in the new school year is a perfectly normal part of primary school life. You need to lose this feeling of victimhood for your son because it will not help him settle with the new teacher.

Secondly, it is perfectly possible that the new teacher may be just as brilliant as Mr T, but in different ways that will also benefit your son and help him grow. As previous posters have said, at a bare minimum, he will learn resilience and adaptability. Don’t forget that, in senior school he will have a different teacher for EVERY subject, and will need to be able to cope with this - isn’t it better that he learns this skill now rather than having it as a shock to the system when he goes to senior school?

Thirdly, if Mr T has done such an amazing job with your son, he will be much better able to cope with the transition to the new teacher. Have faith in your son, and in the work that Mr T has done with him.

You seem to be assuming that Mr T is the only good teacher in the school, the only one who will be able to connect with your son and help him thrive - and that every other teacher in his school will be inadequate and just ‘phoning it in’ - which is just daft.

You need to model positivity to your son, and tell him that the new teacher is an opportunity not a punishment.

I understand. A good teacher that brings your child on can be rare and teachers connect easier with certain children. I had a good teachers at different stages in my own education and they do shape your progress.

Unfortunately, all you can do is ask and express a preference. Groups are put together for all kinds of reasons and there may not be wriggle room to move one child.

I hope he has a good year next year too.

Ah, it is lovely when a teacher and child make a connection. My DS Y6 teacher was brilliant and now DS is in Y12 they keep in touch occasionally and the teacher has been a great help with personal statements / guidance on uni courses.

You know in your heart of hearts that DS has to move on to other teachers and it's sad when they leave one they flourish with. Maybe the confidence that teacher has given your DS will help him get along with his new teacher?

I thought you were going to say he'd died! No, don't do anything. Maybe your son will really like his new teacher. In any case, he has to be used to moving on. I'm sure he will remember Year 3 with fond memories but all children have favourite teachers they do better with.

Heartbroken? I thought you were going to say your son’s teacher was terminally ill.

@Bluetie maybe see it is an advantage he is getting used to a new teacher, so building resilience for Secondary. If new teacher is amazing with getting results that might also be good for DS as building up challenging work.

In what world? It's a school. Teachers go where they're placed. It's not healthy, in my opinion, to get too attached to teachers. I still remember great students, but they need to move on to develop further. As do teachers.

My DC's primary school had a policy of changing the class teacher every year and no class getting the same teacher twice. DC had teachers they liked, teachers they loved, teachers they tolerated. Same from the teachers' perspective, I imagine.

They learn different things from different personalities and teaching styles.

In secondary school, it's the same. Some teachers they like, some they don't. But you can't go through 14 years of school with the same teacher or only the one(s) you like.

I like some of my colleagues more than others, have had some managers better than others. Part of life is learning to get along with different people.

Imagine if every child in your son's school asked to be in a class with their favourite teacher - how would that work?

It can feel like a big deal when you leave a favourite teacher behind. But it's completely normal and the next teacher may be just as great, in a different way.

WOOOOOOOOOAH there!

Are you actually saying "those lucky children with SEN, behavioural issues or other obstacles to learning get to ask for Mr T and my poor healthy, happy son doesn't?"

This is a phrase I generally loathe, but in this case it is so very needed -

CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE. Just be glad none of those things apply to your son and have some empathy for others.

What the school really meant by "will only move of exceptional reasons" is "no, interferring parent, class allocation is not up for discussion so please stop."

You need get a grip Op...

You are making this into a much bigger issue than it needs to be.

changing teachers is a common occurrence. children need to learn that and adapt.

At the end of the day Mr T could hand in his notice tomorrow and then what would you do? Move your child to the same school?

This

You would be disadvantaging your son if you tech him to be afraid of change. Much better to embrace the change and look for what else there is to learn.

Are you joking now? Because you don't sound well.... It happens to every child, every year, worldwide