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Is this rude from a child? Age 6, furious reaction from teacher

867 replies

partytimed · 02/10/2025 21:48

My DS was at school today and his teacher addressed the class saying “I don’t want to hear from you unless you need the toilet, you’re in pain or injured.” My DS raised his hand and said “I’m pain and injured is kind of the same thing.” Another teacher overheard and shouted at him so much he was crying and still crying about it at bedtime.

obviously I only have his account of the incident so this is all the detail I have. He didn’t think he had said anything wrong. I’ve noticed this year he’s complained of strict scary teachers and he’s becoming anxious about going to school. Would appreciate opinions on whether this apparently very big telling off was justified. He said his friends were comforting afterwards and he was crying and apologising whilst the teacher continued to shout.

OP posts:
BustopherPonsonbyJones · 05/10/2025 11:38

CoffeeCantata · 05/10/2025 10:32

Oh how ridiculous.

’Abusing children in their care’ 🙄

He was asked to be quiet. What did he do? Asked a silly question. He got told off. End (or it should have been).

The best thing OP can do for her child is to a) explain that when teacher says get on and don’t talk he needs to do that and b) to take it in the chin if you are told off for not complying with a request.

None of us on here know what really happened- some of us suspect the boy was trying it on and exaggerated the ‘shouting’. Others think the boy was cute and the adults were hardened abusers. All this tells us is a) there are different parenting styles and b) which pps have ever been a teacher!

Spot on!

The issue is that some parenting styles are not helping teachers when there are classes of thirty children and they all need to learn. It is highly, highly unlikely this is ‘abusive’ (but do mention it if you want it noted) and very, very likely it was a child who was a bit silly and who received a reprimand.

Just stop creating a drama that doesn’t (or shouldn’t) exist.

Implodingyourmirage · 05/10/2025 11:26

ByCyanMoose · 05/10/2025 09:41

Yeah OP just get on board with verbal abuse!

My God. Most teachers are delightful, selfless people, but somehow all the nasty ones are here.

Verbal abuse? 🤣

Implodingyourmirage · 05/10/2025 11:25

ByCyanMoose · 05/10/2025 09:39

I’m going to recommend you not listen to the people who won’t tolerate rudeness from a child but are ok with adults casually abusing the children in their care.

I'm going to recommend that you don't use the word abuse lightly.

Stiffnewknee · 05/10/2025 11:17

Bluedenimdoglover · 05/10/2025 06:09

Not every teacher is fit to teach young children. I'd speak to the teacher to find out what happened and why such a Draconian order was given. I have no objection to asking children to sit quietly and not to disturb her but to proceed to frighten and humiliate a 6 year old in front of the class is unprofessional and cruel. I'd expect her to at least speak kindly to your child in your presence to explain her actions and to reassure him that he needs not being afraid of her or going to school.

Draconian? Reprimanding a child for deliberately being rude is humiliation now? 🙄😂😂 Get a grip!
Interesting that you think not ‘every teacher is fit to teach young children’ I would say an increasing number of parents are not fit to parent these days and seem to be producing children with no resilience or ability to handle disappointments in life because they’re not used to hearing the word ‘no’ or not getting their own way.

CoffeeCantata · 05/10/2025 10:32

ByCyanMoose · 05/10/2025 09:39

I’m going to recommend you not listen to the people who won’t tolerate rudeness from a child but are ok with adults casually abusing the children in their care.

Oh how ridiculous.

’Abusing children in their care’ 🙄

He was asked to be quiet. What did he do? Asked a silly question. He got told off. End (or it should have been).

The best thing OP can do for her child is to a) explain that when teacher says get on and don’t talk he needs to do that and b) to take it in the chin if you are told off for not complying with a request.

None of us on here know what really happened- some of us suspect the boy was trying it on and exaggerated the ‘shouting’. Others think the boy was cute and the adults were hardened abusers. All this tells us is a) there are different parenting styles and b) which pps have ever been a teacher!

Kindlealltheway · 05/10/2025 10:07

youalright · 02/10/2025 22:43

So why didn't the teacher answer his question and explain the difference instead of shouting at him

Because clearly he/she has just given all the kids a clear instruction - now is not the time for questions - and he’s just ignored that.
I assume when he raised his hand he didn’t wait for the teacher to ask him what his question was but just blurted it out with his hand up.
It’s actually impossible to answer every 6yr old’s question in a class of 30 when you need to get them all started working on an activity. Even more so when you need most of the class to work relatively quietly (not silently) on an activity so you can work one on one with kids. So maybe you set the whole class a worksheet while you help 2-3 kids to correct their writing work and explain what they need to work on individually. Sometimes you just have to tell your class that now is not the time for questions and they will have to wait.

Kindlealltheway · 05/10/2025 10:00

Ringthebell26 · 03/10/2025 00:31

“I don’t want to hear from you unless you need the toilet, you’re in pain or injured.”

TBH I think the teacher was really rude saying this. Would she have been as abrupt with an adult?

With adults you’d just specify that you’re not to be interrupted unless it’s an emergency. With 6 year olds you have to explain what interrupting is (ie. the kids trying to talk to you) and what situations are justify interrupting during this activity (needing permission to leave the room and go to the toilet or someone needing medical attention). It would be rude to say exactly the same thing to adults because you’d be implying they can’t figure out what constitutes an emergency themselves.

ByCyanMoose · 05/10/2025 09:41

Jamesblonde2 · 05/10/2025 07:53

Jesus OP. Just accept he was back chatting and being cheeky. Probably does it at home too. But hopefully wont do it at school now especially when the teacher has 30 6 year olds to deal with. Come on OP get on board with the school’s discipline.

Yeah OP just get on board with verbal abuse!

My God. Most teachers are delightful, selfless people, but somehow all the nasty ones are here.

ByCyanMoose · 05/10/2025 09:39

I’m going to recommend you not listen to the people who won’t tolerate rudeness from a child but are ok with adults casually abusing the children in their care.

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 05/10/2025 09:08

The fact that the teacher didn’t mention it would probably suggest it wasn’t a big deal. Lots of children try to mess around. Part of a teacher’s job is to control the messing around so that learning takes place

OP - six year old children are not little babies. Their actions have consequences and they have enough understanding to deal with that. The consequence here was being told off. A resilient child would be upset (no one likes being told off) and move on. A less resilient child may be upset for longer and then move on. It really is such a minor event. As a parent, the best thing to do is to say that it sounds like it was a tough day for him and that it will be a fresh start tomorrow. Then just remind him why the teacher needs him to be quiet when he is asked to do so and why continuing to ask questions was rude and stopping him and his friends from learning. If you respond dramatically, the child will continue to respond dramatically and you are going to have a long twelve years of education to navigate.

Implodingyourmirage · 05/10/2025 09:01

Bluedenimdoglover · 05/10/2025 08:58

I don't think it's an appropriate way to speak to 6 year olds. To an adult or teenager, fine, but that is not the way to speak to young children. It's not simple or plain and elicited a response from a child that the teacher found cheeky. We hope to bring up children to be thoughtful, polite and intelligent - this child clearly has a good vocabulary. It's a shame the teacher doesn't have the same. It's also a shame that the teacher felt it necessary to call out and embarrass the child in front of the class. Personally I'd have spoken to her and then to the head teacher.

The teacher asked them to be quiet.
This child ignored that, thinking the rules don't apply to them.
Gentle parenting done wrong has a lot to answer for.

Bluedenimdoglover · 05/10/2025 08:58

Implodingyourmirage · 05/10/2025 07:25

It wasn't 'Draconian'.

I don't think it's an appropriate way to speak to 6 year olds. To an adult or teenager, fine, but that is not the way to speak to young children. It's not simple or plain and elicited a response from a child that the teacher found cheeky. We hope to bring up children to be thoughtful, polite and intelligent - this child clearly has a good vocabulary. It's a shame the teacher doesn't have the same. It's also a shame that the teacher felt it necessary to call out and embarrass the child in front of the class. Personally I'd have spoken to her and then to the head teacher.

Sarahutv · 05/10/2025 08:36

He is 6 for godsake! If he was older I would get people saying saying, he is rude, a smart arse, etc.
Yes he needed talking to but to be shouted at where he is that upset is not justified! The fact that the teacher didnt tell you themselves about the incident says everything. I got pulled by the teacher when my son was in reception for calling another child a poopy head! The child's parent spoke to his teacher as her daughter was upset. I thought it was bit ott by the other parent especially as spoke to each other in the playground and at the park, she could of come to me about it. However I had a chat with my son about it, he apologised to the child.He never called it anyone again, the parent of the child never spoke to me again! A child that made a comment that was so bad that the child was shouted at to the point he was crying and upset for the day and the teacher doesn't mention it?
I would have a chat with the teacher to get the full story.
You are definitely not being unreasonable!

Jamesblonde2 · 05/10/2025 07:53

Jesus OP. Just accept he was back chatting and being cheeky. Probably does it at home too. But hopefully wont do it at school now especially when the teacher has 30 6 year olds to deal with. Come on OP get on board with the school’s discipline.

Implodingyourmirage · 05/10/2025 07:52

cloudtreecarpet · 05/10/2025 07:39

Having raised two kids to nearly adulthood and been through the education system with them I would say the biggest favour you can do your kids is to help and encourage them to become resilient.

...and to listen to their teacher.

cloudtreecarpet · 05/10/2025 07:39

Having raised two kids to nearly adulthood and been through the education system with them I would say the biggest favour you can do your kids is to help and encourage them to become resilient.

CoffeeCantata · 05/10/2025 07:38

Honestly, this thread!

The little boy was a bit cheeky (not a hanging offence, but he needs to learn).
The class teacher possibly gave an instruction in the moment which could have been put more simply- but personally I love more amusing phraseology.
Another teacher (and this is the crucial point) came in and firmly reprimanded him for disobeying an instruction.
He didn’t like being told off.

Surely that’s all, folks? For God’s sake - what a storm in a teacup. Teachers on here understand why the boy was corrected and not indulged with attention at that point. Some non- teachers, who equate the school/classroom context with home don’t understand and also give full credence to the small boy’s version of events (prolonged shouting).

A teacher has to manage the whole class and occasionally that means some children are going to feel their needs have been sacrificed for the sake of the other 29. It’s not the end of the world - it’s normal and something parents should help their children to understand.

Implodingyourmirage · 05/10/2025 07:25

Bluedenimdoglover · 05/10/2025 06:09

Not every teacher is fit to teach young children. I'd speak to the teacher to find out what happened and why such a Draconian order was given. I have no objection to asking children to sit quietly and not to disturb her but to proceed to frighten and humiliate a 6 year old in front of the class is unprofessional and cruel. I'd expect her to at least speak kindly to your child in your presence to explain her actions and to reassure him that he needs not being afraid of her or going to school.

It wasn't 'Draconian'.

Mere1 · 05/10/2025 07:19

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 04/10/2025 18:45

It’s a job most teachers take very seriously. Low level disruption stops learning. Teachers (should) stop low level disruption so all children can learn. If one little boy who has been a little bit silly is stopped in his tracks, all children will find it easier to learn, including him. A minor incident and one which does not need all this woe. He will get over it like countless children before him. In the words of the song, let it go.

This is sensible.

Bluedenimdoglover · 05/10/2025 06:09

Not every teacher is fit to teach young children. I'd speak to the teacher to find out what happened and why such a Draconian order was given. I have no objection to asking children to sit quietly and not to disturb her but to proceed to frighten and humiliate a 6 year old in front of the class is unprofessional and cruel. I'd expect her to at least speak kindly to your child in your presence to explain her actions and to reassure him that he needs not being afraid of her or going to school.

Pryceosh1987 · 05/10/2025 01:55

Address the issues with the teacher.

cherish123 · 05/10/2025 01:46

ThreePears · 05/10/2025 00:51

This wasn't smart-arse cheeky backchat from an adolescent, this was a child of 6 confused about whether being in pain or injured were the same thing or not, and asking for clarification. A not unreasonable question from a kid that age.

Teacher was 100% out of order.

Don't be naïve. Presumably, you don't have children. If you ever do, they'll run rings round you.

cherish123 · 05/10/2025 01:44

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 04/10/2025 23:05

Oooh big crime. Being a bit cheeky. Let’s yell at him.

😜

We don't know he was yelled at. The OP wasn't present during the incident. His/her DS told her about it.

Stiffnewknee · 05/10/2025 01:42

dontmalbeconme · 05/10/2025 00:35

Don't think there's a single one who has defended shouting or losing temper.

Many who have said he was rude and disobedient and deserved to be told off.

His own mother can't grasp that he is being disobedient when he does exactly what he's been told not to do, and can't see that he's being rude when he talks back and tries to (erroneously) correct the teacher. So it's easy to see that he has been allowed to be cheeky and disobedient at home, and it probably does feel unfair to him to be pulled up on the same behaviour at school. So yeah, he's gonna cry snd say it's unfair when someone tells him off. He'll probably describe a simple telling off as being shouted and screamed at too.

Exactly this! It’s quite clear that he was rude after being told not to disturb the teacher, I’m guessing it wasn’t the first time either. The fact his mother can’t see that his words and actions were rude is a clear sign he’s not pulled up on this at home and is probably not used to being told off. This is likely why he described it as screaming. Teachers do not scream at kids in this day and age. I despair at some of the shit parenting these days and the hostility towards teachers.

SorryNotSorry00 · 05/10/2025 01:33

Maybe I’m not with it but as a teacher I probably would have used that moment to quickly explain the difference between being sick and being injured, before moving on. He’s only six so it’s not like an older child who may be more likely to disrupt the class with such a question.

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