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AIBU?

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Heartbroken about DS's teacher

584 replies

Bluetie · 06/07/2024 12:20

DS is a great kid. He's smart, funny, musical and sporty. He is also incredibly polite and has a caring nature. He is always winning awards at school, and is liked by all. DS attends a lovely small school with only 2 year-groups.

His previous teachers were OK but in year 3, he's had the most wonderful teacher, Mr T. Mr T is DS's first male teacher and they also share a hobby. Mr T has really helped DS develop his confidence, pushing him more in academics. DS has had a great year.

DS is now moving to year 4. Mr T is also moving to year 4. But they won't be together. All the classes have been mixed to mix abilities, sexes and SEN.

One morning this week, I went to ask Mr T if this class allocation was final. The head came to join our conversation, and he said he will only move DS for an exceptional reason. The head added that the new teacher has made the best progress in her year group across the whole school. I really want DS to stay with Mr T.

Can anyone think of something?

OP posts:
Buntycat · 07/07/2024 16:53

BowlOfNoodles · 06/07/2024 20:03

😂😂😂

Governors are there to deal with the strategic management of the school, finance, vision etc. They are emphatically not allowed to interfere with "operational" matters, i.e. the day-to-day organisation and running of the school. That is the Headteacher's job.

imustbeanidiot · 07/07/2024 15:04

How on earth is he being punished?

He's moving on in school, as per every
other child in the country. New class, new teacher, life moves on, we learn to deal with change and cope with the real world.

What if every parent asked for a teacher preference? It's just not feasible.

Teach your child to be grateful of the good teacher he's had, and prepare him to move on.

clarepetal · 07/07/2024 15:01

Bluetie · 06/07/2024 12:36

To put things in perspective... DS's year 1 teacher could not spell. Mr T is the best teacher we've had so far.

But his new teacher may be even better than Mr T! Why should your child have the choice to pick his teacher? All the other kids don't! You sound entitled to me, insisting he is being punished.
There are other kids at the school, you know!

WearyAuldWumman · 07/07/2024 14:59

Re: “three teachers who couldn’t spell”…

I had pupils complaining that a teacher couldn’t spell because she taught a text called “Hallowe’en”.
They refused to believe that anything other than the spelling minus the apostrophe had ever existed.

I finished up teaching several lessons on the evolution of spelling, thanks to the fact that parents and pupils spread their incorrect understanding to others.

coasting24 · 07/07/2024 14:44

I not only had new teachers but new schools
2 nurseries, 3 primary schools (one I was only there for 6 weeks), 3 secondary schools and 2 colleges
Still did absolutely fine

Workoutinthepark · 07/07/2024 14:10

Bluetie · 06/07/2024 12:27

I feel like DS is being punished for being a good kid.

Unfortunately you are being paranoid. There is zero evidence here your kid is being punished for being a good kid.

niclw · 07/07/2024 14:07

I'm a head of department in a secondary school and I get students every year coming to me and begging to make sure that they have Mr/Mrs X because they are the best teacher for them. One this year even had the audacity to say 'no offence Miss as I know that I haven't had you but I can already tell that you won't be able to make me learn!' This same student then told me that they couldn't possibly have Mrs Y as they didn't get taught properly by her. This is the teacher with the best results in the department. Children need to be resilient and need to understand that they need to get used to a variety of teachers in secondary. Plus they don't actually get to choose! Don't start your son on this path because he needs to build the resilience before going to secondary school. Every child has teachers they work well with and those that they don't but it doesn't mean that the teacher isn't going to get them to where they need to be.

Additionally your son is not being punished don't be so ridiculous!

BelligerentBanana · 07/07/2024 13:47

TheFormidableMrsC · 07/07/2024 13:25

This comment is absolutely batshit.

It astonishes me that people don’t understand humour and sarcasm.

BelligerentBanana · 07/07/2024 13:46

Zombiemama84 · 07/07/2024 11:32

🤦🏻‍♀️ Please don't encourage her, they will laugh at her.

That poster was clearly joking.

Aliciainwunderland · 07/07/2024 13:41

TheFormidableMrsC · 07/07/2024 13:25

This comment is absolutely batshit.

it was sarcasm

Zombiemama84 · 07/07/2024 13:38

MasterBeth · 07/07/2024 11:13

Kindly, putting "kindly" at the start of your post doesn't make it any kinder.

You're right, though. The OP is being batshit crazy.

😂

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 07/07/2024 13:31

Bluetie · 06/07/2024 12:27

I feel like DS is being punished for being a good kid.

That's life I'm afraid. If your child is good and well behaved he'll be consistently overlooked as teachers will reward Little Johnny for not spitting for over ten minutes or not pinching anyone for a whole hour...

But in your situation I don't think it's intentional punishment that your child hasn't got Mr T. It's probably all to do with how they allocated the classes.

Beezknees · 07/07/2024 13:30

YABU. My DS never had the same teacher twice. Stop being precious.

Bluebirdover · 07/07/2024 13:29

Bluetie · 07/07/2024 12:22

I’m not setting up a club. I don’t like other people’s children.

Presumably because they're not a patch on your DS?

Time to teach your son resilience!

TheFormidableMrsC · 07/07/2024 13:25

Llamasinjamas · 06/07/2024 17:47

I'd write to the school governors in the first instance OP, highlighting all the good qualities of your ds as in your OP. Explain that despite all your DS's great qualities, he's lacking in confidence and the only elixir for this is Mr T. Tell them that you feel that your DS is being punished for being too good. See what they say. If you are not happy with their response then write to your local MP, and maybe even go as far as the new PM, if your local MP ignores you.

This comment is absolutely batshit.

HejLittleAppleBlossom · 07/07/2024 13:21

Bluetie · 07/07/2024 13:12

I’m glad someone has a sense of humour…

I’m barely joking tbh. Why on Earth would it be a problem for your child to have a teacher whose first language wasn’t English?!

ScruffMuffin · 07/07/2024 13:12

@Wintersgirl the post you quoted is massively sarcastic!

Bluetie · 07/07/2024 13:12

HejLittleAppleBlossom · 07/07/2024 12:59

OP: so just to clarify, you’re not keen on your son having a woman because of the risk she’ll have a baby, and you've not been keen on a teacher who doesn’t have English as their first language? But a British man is to be praised at all costs? Are you sure your heartbreak about Mr T is not, in fact, a carefully crafted allegory about the boo hoo hoo demise of the Tories?

I’m glad someone has a sense of humour…

OP posts:
Wintersgirl · 07/07/2024 13:07

Llamasinjamas · 06/07/2024 17:47

I'd write to the school governors in the first instance OP, highlighting all the good qualities of your ds as in your OP. Explain that despite all your DS's great qualities, he's lacking in confidence and the only elixir for this is Mr T. Tell them that you feel that your DS is being punished for being too good. See what they say. If you are not happy with their response then write to your local MP, and maybe even go as far as the new PM, if your local MP ignores you.

Are you fucking joking? Are you seriously suggesting that the OP contacts Keir Starmer if the local MP doesn't jump to the OPs tune??? Fucking batshit, if this is what teachers have to put up with on a daily basis then I feel really really sorry for them, the world has gone insane.

TheaBrandt · 07/07/2024 13:06

Honestly with the current teacher shortage you will need to manage your expectations on this. Dd chose her 6th form on the basis that each of her 3 a level subjects had an excellent teacher she got on well with teaching it. By the end of the first term of year 12 all 3 had left. She’s not usually dramatic but on hearing of the third departure she came home and cried. This is now the norm.

HejLittleAppleBlossom · 07/07/2024 12:59

OP: so just to clarify, you’re not keen on your son having a woman because of the risk she’ll have a baby, and you've not been keen on a teacher who doesn’t have English as their first language? But a British man is to be praised at all costs? Are you sure your heartbreak about Mr T is not, in fact, a carefully crafted allegory about the boo hoo hoo demise of the Tories?

BelligerentBanana · 07/07/2024 12:41

Mr T could be planning to hand his notice in right now. He might leave any time. Nobody is indispensable. Best not to get too attached to one teacher as so much can change.

BelligerentBanana · 07/07/2024 12:26

Bluetie · 06/07/2024 12:36

To put things in perspective... DS's year 1 teacher could not spell. Mr T is the best teacher we've had so far.

Lots of teachers cannot spell. Even in secondary school. It’s a sign of the times.

AliceOlive · 07/07/2024 12:25

Bluetie · 07/07/2024 12:22

I’m not setting up a club. I don’t like other people’s children.

Has one of your children gotten ahold of your phone?

WearyAuldWumman · 07/07/2024 12:24

Bluetie · 07/07/2024 12:22

I’m not setting up a club. I don’t like other people’s children.

😂😂😂