Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teacher treating children too young

313 replies

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 21:40

My child is in a year 3 class, the teacher now sings a song to get them to sit on the carpet and has organised a book advent for this week. The children are 7 and 8, I feel they are far too old to be sung to sit on the carpet. Aibu to talk to the headteacher?

OP posts:
EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:53

Fivebedexecutivehome · 01/12/2024 22:52

Don't worry OP - most studies show that a fair proportion of kids this age are already watching hard-core porn on their smartphones, so the whole age appropriate thing should even out.

😂

EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:52

WearyAuldWumman · 01/12/2024 22:45

You beat me to it.

My late husband was an English teacher. He would help pupils learn poetry (often for exams) by taking in his guitar and using poems which had been set to music.

Show quote history

What a fantastic idea! I bet the students loved it.

skyandocean · 01/12/2024 22:52

Let them be taught like kids! Once they get into secondary school, there are no fun activities, it's so serious and full on.

Fivebedexecutivehome · 01/12/2024 22:52

Don't worry OP - most studies show that a fair proportion of kids this age are already watching hard-core porn on their smartphones, so the whole age appropriate thing should even out.

Pandasnacks · 01/12/2024 22:51

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:41

I didn't realise you have to work at your child's school to be allowed the right to complain.

You don't but you need something worth complaining about really, and you've got nothing apart from a judgy opinion that school won't give a crap about. It's not up to you how the teacher teaches.

Smeegall · 01/12/2024 22:50

I teach secondary music and when we are doing a show with 100+ kids, I sing: "are you listening" and make them sing back "yes we are". They are 11-16. It's a joke - they get it. I also sing at them to make a circle if I need them to...

There's no age limit on being sung to. Frankly the majority of children like it and the rest put up with it without moaning.

Also my voice is really good and I should really go on x factor

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/12/2024 22:48

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:25

I didn't say it was harming anyone, more that I expected a teacher to not be singing to 8 year old. I would of thought an experienced teacher would have more age appropriate strategies.

Show quote history

The question is - does it work, @Someonehelpmeagain?

I would assume that it does, otherwise the teacher would be trying different classroom management strategies.

Are the children happy, behaving well, and learning - if so, why fix something that isn’t broken?

And you haven’t said what is wrong with a book advent.

WearyAuldWumman · 01/12/2024 22:48

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:41

I didn't realise you have to work at your child's school to be allowed the right to complain.

Oh, you have the right to complain. Go for it.

Believe me, the staffroom will appreciate the laugh.

FOJN · 01/12/2024 22:48

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:41

I didn't realise you have to work at your child's school to be allowed the right to complain.

You might have the right to complain but you don't have the right to expect other people to take you seriously when you do.

Needmorelego · 01/12/2024 22:47

Some of the earliest BBC radio channels were ones created to be played in factories during the second world war to keep the workers entertained and focused.
I expect a few sang along.
The armed forces still have music to keep the pace when doing drills (I think they are called) and parades.
Music and rhythm is good to keep people focused. Even 8 year olds.

mollyfolk · 01/12/2024 22:45

Maybe the teacher could shout and whack a big stick across the desk to get them to sit down!!

Sitting on the floor is good for your core strength by the way. We should all do more of this.

Greenfingers37 · 01/12/2024 22:45

It's parents like you who've made me glad I retired at the earliest opportunity!

WearyAuldWumman · 01/12/2024 22:45

jigglywigglyhungryhippo · 01/12/2024 22:30

Teenagers are taught through appropriate songs at secondary school.

Are you saying they should stop that too?

You beat me to it.

My late husband was an English teacher. He would help pupils learn poetry (often for exams) by taking in his guitar and using poems which had been set to music.

Franjipanl8r · 01/12/2024 22:44

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:41

I didn't realise you have to work at your child's school to be allowed the right to complain.

Everyone has the right to complain. But you’ve posted on an online forum asking for an opinion and we’ve all said you’re absolutely bonkers to complain in this instance.

Lourdes12 · 01/12/2024 22:43

This is ridiculous, let the children be children for goodness sake

EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:42

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:41

I didn't realise you have to work at your child's school to be allowed the right to complain.

That's what you've got from this?!
Literally no-one has said that.....

Original poster
Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:41

I didn't realise you have to work at your child's school to be allowed the right to complain.

OP posts:
BeMintBee · 01/12/2024 22:41

There’s lots of information on the benefits of using songs and singing in the classroom. I would have thought a university lecturer would have naturally thought to research this a bit before dismissing it as babyish. I certainly hope you encourage your own students to look beyond their own narrow view point as part of their learning!

WearyAuldWumman · 01/12/2024 22:41

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:10

You are all very preumptious in assuming that the teacher is female! And I didn't say there was a problem with children sitting on the carpet, moreover how they are asked.

I'd say that the teacher's sex is irrelevant.

Redwinedaze · 01/12/2024 22:40

You concentrate on your job and let the teacher concentrate on their job.

FOJN · 01/12/2024 22:40

I'm starting to think that parents who complain about inconsequential things like this should be forced to home school.

Leave the teacher alone fgs.

EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:40

allthatfalafel · 01/12/2024 22:39

Next week's thread will be about the OP planning to write in to OFCOM complaining about Songs of Praise. If 6 is too old to listen to people singing, 86 definitely is.

😍😂😂😂

allthatfalafel · 01/12/2024 22:39

Next week's thread will be about the OP planning to write in to OFCOM complaining about Songs of Praise. If 6 is too old to listen to people singing, 86 definitely is.

Pandasnacks · 01/12/2024 22:39

OP get a grip, your kid is fine and you don't work at the school, so mind your own business.

doodleschnoodle · 01/12/2024 22:38

@Thewholeplaceglitters Quite! And they initiate the song themselves now too - when we indicate it's time to get started they all start singing it without prompting while getting into their circle and sitting down.

If these are 7yos then they are still young kids!