Headteacher criticised my daughter's water bottle

While you might have a general point in this specific scenario it was pointless and unfair to tell the child off, let alone appear to make an example out of her to the class, for something she had no control over. She didnt choose or pay for the water bottle. It's a different scenario for being told off for talking in class or whatever.

in that case he should have kept his gob shut.

In my sons class the teacher once did similar to a little boy, effectively making him an example. At lunchtime a few children said it to him. I think it’s bad form to draw attention to one child as opposed to clocking it and bringing it up later on without letting the children know why they said it.

Actually on a thread where a pupil felt singled out and shamed, the calibre of people is exactly the issue.

Teachers have a hard job with unreasonable demands being placed on them. That doesn’t mean they are above scrutiny and are always right.

That was stupid of him. He may not have meant to single out your daughter and make her feel ashamed for committing the terrible crime of carrying a disposable water bottle 🙄, but it doesn't take a genius or a seasoned child psychologist to understand that this approach could have that result.

Unfortunately, some people (including some headteachers) aren't particularly good with children or overflowing with common sense.

. . . and then they laminate everything they can get their hands on, use glue guns on everything, hand out plastic cups at school fairs, sell candy cones in plastic wraps and make reindeer glitter food.

IME, you buy and are given approximately 1,000,000 of the blasted things but by the end of the school year, never mind the end of primary, you have precisely none, because they last about five minutes before they start to leak, or your child looses them

It was unfair and unthinking of the head and if I was you I would complain.

I am a receptionist. I have to be polite and kind to every person I meet, even the ones who are not particularly kind to me. If I was to say something wrong and upset someone, it would be 100% brought up by my manager. I am on a little move minimum wage.

If I have to be professional at all times and make sure I speak to people correctly, then a headteacher on perhaps twice my salary most certainly does. Yes, ge may make mistakes but there should be consequences when he does. Especially when it involves a small child.

YANBU

I actually hate those thick, plastic, reusable water bottles and think they are going to end up being a big problem in the long run.

They are badly made, leak, and impossible to keep hygienic.

I have 8 of them cluttering up my cupboard as my child was given one by football club, swimming club, sports coach, gifts, membership goody bags.
They can't be recycled - no-one will want a second hand one - they are just landfill.
I bet every parent has at least 10 of these per child by the time they finish primary.

At least the plastic water bottles you buy actual water in can be recycled.

Ideally - stainless steel or aluminium but they aren't the one's that given away left right and center.

This IS a bugbear of mine.

This is correct.

If the school wants to teach this valuable lesson they should do it as a standalone, bring their own examples, and pass out reusable water bottles to the children who wish to exchange current plastic ones.

But I can assure you that banning single use plastic at a national level will have more impact than individual child choices.

Complete d*ck. And I think most kids would have been upset about being singled out like that. Tbh I know plenty of adults who would have been mortified too.

.. and there should be drinking fountains in schools, which would dispense with the need for bottles.

Id drop him an email and say exactly what you said on here . He needs to think before he speaks . It was a long time ago but I was ‘that’ very sensitive child at school and I can imagine how your daughter is feeling . Those thoughts need to be cancelled out or she will be worrying about going to school . I still remember being at school and a few teachers saying stuff that really affected me, recently I was diagnosed with ADHD so think a lot of my insecurities were probably influenced by that, but yeah he should of known better!

Oh no that’s humiliating for her. Your poor DD. I find it so hypocritical how teachers always encourage pupils and all to be aware of how they speak to others, use right words and not to hurt others feelings but yet they are unable to set an example themselves. I’ve had a few similar issues with both my DDs and their school.

There is nothing wrong with being an agreeable and compliant child . It does not mean a child does not understand right from wrong in fact I think it’s usually the opposite. Ridiculous people on here criticising kids who aren’t being given out to for no reason. You actually can’t win these days

What do you mean the head isn't wrong? Not every bottle ends up killing a turtle - the ratio of turtles to plastic bottles tells us that! 'Proper' bottles don't grow on trees like bananas, they are manufactured too. Single use isn't even the issue if they are recycled properly. S/he's the very definition of someone who wants to be seen as a good person, while their actions frequently tell a different story, as here!
You can't argue with stupid, so just ignore it and tell you DD what I tell mine. Teachers are experts in teaching, but they don't know everything. Some times they are just wrong.
I'd be tempted to send in an email saying that misinformation is more dangerous than any single use plastic... but in this heat, who can be bothered!😎

The issue isn't the calibre of people the issue is the job.

No I don’t want to be a teacher. I just want the profession to be more competitive in order to attract better talent.

Tbh my DD isn’t really what I’d call sensitive but if this happened to her she would probably get a bit upset because in her brain this would end up being “I’m killing turtles”. I’d maybe bring it up and let him know he should be a bit more tactful.

Shame should never be in schools (though unfortunately it is rife !). I am a teacher and I do think I'd email passive aggressively saying that she did have 2 water bottles that both broke. Next time could he direct any shame at you and not your poor 8 year old who has no control over what water bottle she is given.

Yeah I’d think he was a bit of a knob. Nothing that would remotely come close to the level of making a complaint (I appreciate you didn’t say you were thinking of doing that OP). But enough to make me roll my eyes and think he’s a twit.

Not because the comment was inaccurate, my DDs both have reusable water bottles. But because it’s most likely not something an 8yr old has control over, so seems a little unfair to criticise them on in front of the whole class.

Yanbu he sounds like an absolute dick and id be telling DD to look out for him going out to his car/using a plastic pen/wearing fast fashion/wearing new shoes instead of second hand charity shop stuff and all other things he'll no doubt be doing that arent great and pointing out how they are all ruining the planet.

Just on that point, one of my children has never had to be told off at school or at home by us. She listens and follows rules, it’s just the way she has always been, very different from her sibling! She is 18 now and it’s hasn’t caused any issues. She stands up for herself when needed but she’s just a very sensitive and kind person. The world would be a lot nicer if there were more like her and OPs daughter tbh.

Hope your daughter is ok OP.

This is dreadful behaviour. Some children are poor and don’t own an actual water bottle, they reuse plastic ones again and again. He should have had better social awareness and tact.

Its a ridiculous comment.
How many of the kids have cheap bottles which they break weekly, have bpught various noveltyitems for the world cup wjich will be binned by the end of summer, are driven half a mile to football practice etc ...

But one water bottle, which the parrnts can easily refill daily... is the evil