Calling all teachers!

In view of the turn this thread has taken I feel I need to clarify what I said about Simons. Upthread I said I never taught a sane one. This doesn't mean I didn't like them, or that they were naughty, although some were.

Every Simon I have taught has been delightfully eccentric in his own way and brought a great deal of colour to the classroom.

Teachers do try not to judge children by their names but long experience can mean that your heart may sink a little when you see a particular name. You are always hoping that stereotypes will not apply but all too often they do.

Names do matter, not just in school but in the adult world. They shouldn't but they do and it would be foolish to pretend they don't. People can be very judgemental no matter how much we may wish they weren't and I see no indication of that changing.

There always seems to be a race to claim the moral high ground by some elements. "Let he who is without sin....etc. etc. etc.."

Sometimes people are only saying what others are thinking, including sometimes the ones clambering onto the pedestals. If we were all perfect then it would not only be pretty quiet on here, it would also be mind numbingly boring.

I would absolutely hope that teachers didn't treat my child differently just because he happened to have a "naughty" name, but I really couldn't give a rats arse if they were judging me while doing it. I judge people all the time, I think we all do, it's human nature, it's then treating people differently because of your judgements that is wrong, there are no mind police as far as I know.

The George's thing was autocorrect. I didn't check it. Mea culpa.

The rest is me just be a tired mum of two small children with a business I'm running in my spare time too. I'm knackered & have a stinking cold. I made a typing error. Mea maxima culpa

I also have a first class degree from one of the country's best universities, an IQ of 135 and have been rated outstanding in every Ofsted I've been through.

I'm pretty new to MN, and wow, it's proving to be every bit as I was told it would be. Think I'll be rescinding my membership & heading back to forums where people are a little less judgemental of people with differing views to their own.

Not once have I actually passed judgement in any name. I've defended at every point the fact that whatever experience I have had, it doesn't affect my view of a child that comes to my classroom. Let me repeat in words of single syllables. I DO NOT JUDGE KIDS BY THEIR NAMES.

You think the plural of George is George's?

And you think "I've taught both delightful and vile of;" is a valid phrase and should end with a semicolon?

What sort of teaching do you do?

Re read my posts. Not once have I actually categorised any names under a heading. I've just added my experiences.

And Haiva, this isn't my thread. It's not for 'my amusement'. I'm grown up and intelligent enough to work out that just because I once taught a vile Emily or whatever, that the next one that walks through the door will be the same.

There's far too many people taking themselves waaaay too seriously here. Get down off your pedestals.

Nobody else is taking this in quite such a serious manner. Clearly I don't give a rats arse what you choose to call your child, that's your business. And I won't judge that child when he/she arrives at my door as I've taught enough kids to know stereotypes are just that.

Doesn't mean my experiences won't affect my viewpoint though; I loved the name George. It was top of my name list for a future son....then I taught a run if really naughty George's. It put me off choosing it for my child but it certainly doesn't mean I think all George's are naughty!

MrsT 'us teachers'? Speak for yourself.

I would never - even in this non-identifying way - comment on my students' names or behaviour. I'm not going to categorize them for your amusement, it just isn't right to participate. It doesn't ethically sit right with me to think of my (even non-identified) students as Mumsnet thread fodder.

And just as an aside, I actually find it really insulting that you believe teachers can't separate what we think from how we act in a classroom.

Clearly this is completely wrong, otherwise we'd all have marched to Westminster to smack Michael Gove in the face by now, or told ranting parents exactly what we think!

You need to re-read the thread with your blinkers off.

Nobody has said that all kids of a certain name are good/bad etc.

We're all just sharing our experiences. And clearly this matters a lot more to you than it does to us teachers!

Mistle

You are being sensitive here though. The teachers posting are speaking anecdotally of children with particular names who they have actually met. Nobody is saying " a boy with X name simply cannot be well behaved. They're all shits".

Wowsers.

Please re read the above....I think maybe you're taking this a tad too seriously.

People will judge you in life. Unfortunately that's the awful way the world is; fat, thin, short, tall, accent, whatever......please don't take offence at people's lighthearted anecdotes.

Yes, I've taught quite a few Elliot's. As with all names, the good, the bad and the in between!

Interesting MrsT

I do wonder how many people do go with their more "out there" name desires, which tend to be posted here, or in the end choose something perfectly lovely, more usual.

My dp also teaches secondary, amazed me the other day when he said Elliot was v popular. I've only met one, my own age, thought it was unusual! wails

I teach secondary so I'm a bit out of touch but my boy is in reception with 3 Henry's, 2 Charlottes......2 Isobels. Pretty 'standard fayre' names; George, Alex, William etc.

I'd like to hope nobody has preconceptions; I taught 3 truly dreadful Ethan's years ago and now teach the most delightful lad by that name.

However, there are sometimes associations made by some with regards to names, spellings etc.

Katie Hopkins was being vile saying she wouldn't let her children play with kids with certain names. Completely wrong; she really is pre judging. She certainly doesn't have anything to base her views on other than prejudice. I've had what, over 1000 kids through my door over the years. That's all I base my views on.

A particularly 'bad' kid puts you off that name for your own children. My poor hubby kept suggesting names I had bad associations with when i was pregnant!

I have to be honest and say that I have never looked at a register and made assumptions about children based on their names- that way madness lies! You see the children's names tell you about the parents who chose them, not the children IMHO.

Dolly it's a little breezy up here!

I would be genuinely interested in teachers telling us what names were very popular currently.

These threads don't end well. A lot of threads on this board don't mind.

I'd be more interested in primary school teachers from my area telling me what the most popular names were than this.

I mean "Kyle is a little shit, Lucian is delightful" style threads are just going to upset people.

Why do you want to know, OP?