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Original poster

I cannot stand the online teacher meets for 8yo DD

62 replies

shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 14:18

Anyone else feel this way? 8yo DD has twice daily teacher meets and the teacher is really annoying. He barks at the kids, and rather than really engaging with them it just seems like a power trip, doling out the learning in an authoritative manner. Every bit of learning is read out like a command in a clipped strict voice.

He also reads out the names of the kids who have submitted evidence of the work (via Google classroom) by taking photos and uploading, essentially highlighting those that haven't done this.

Im a lone parent trying to work and whilst we are doing our best to complete classwork on paper we don't need shaming into list format for not "handing work in online". This involves another level of interaction from me at a time when things are even busier. I feel this is inappropriate at this time when parents are struggling. I despise the innate "shaming" nature of the read out lists of who has handed in work and who hasn't.

Sorry I know I probably am being somewhat unreasonable here but also feel like the teacher should be a little more understanding rather than shaming the kids in list form.

I also despise the intrusion into my living room and deliberately keep the camera turned off.

Argh sorry just venting. Does anyone else feel similar?

OP posts:
CookEatRepeat · 28/01/2021 17:19

Turning off the volume and laughing at the teacher is a pathetic thing to do and as bad an example to set your child as thinking that handing work in is unreasonable. Grow up.

Benjispruce2 · 28/01/2021 17:20

I’m in school with KW children and we tune in to twice daily teacher calls on Zoom. We are so proud of the children and parents. They’re so keen and doing their very best. It’s hard but doable. Some kids send loads of work, others not but we have to encourage them and sometimes a bit of peer appraisal works. Everyone is learning new skills so try to think more positively and perhaps it will rub off in your child.

minniemango · 28/01/2021 17:22

I'm not really clear what the teacher is doing wrong (other than you don't like his voice!).

He sets the work.
He praises the children who submit work.

If his voice annoys you I would just not listen in.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

8 year olds Families General education
Stovetopespresso · 28/01/2021 17:26

I would love a live lesson to engage my son! just one, even once a week!!

reefedsail · 28/01/2021 17:36

Teach your child to upload their own work- an 8yo with no SEN is more than capable of doing this.

Then put headphones on your child and leave them to it in the group sessions. My DCs school has specifically asked parents not to hover in the back of live lessons. You really don't need to listen.

movingonup20 · 28/01/2021 17:42

In the first lockdown the complaints were that there was no online teaching/work set and work wasn't marked. Now the complaints are that the schools are setting work and it's being marked. Schools cannot win. It's a difficult situation for everyone, if it's a case of you not being able to upload the mornings work until lunchtime and the afternoons work to evening that is perfectly reasonable, just saying you can't/won't is reasonable.

Cant comment on the teachers attitude or speaking style, doesn't sound great from what you say but not all teachers are amazing

ChesterDraws4Sale · 28/01/2021 17:53

I have a similar zoom meeting for children each day but their teachers are nice as pie. It’s been a lovely insight into how well the teachers are interacting with the children.

I’m sure the teacher has so many tiny windows on their screen that they’re not looking at your house in the background, they can probably barely see your child’s head.

It is a faff to upload all the work, I hate doing it. but from the school’s point of view if they don’t see at least some of the work they won’t know if that child is struggling or is unable to access the online work. Perhaps just upload the main things like maths and English rather than uploading every last art project etc?

It doesn’t sound like this teacher is the friendliest in the world but by the time schools are back your child will be pretty much moving up to the next class anywhere and hopefully they’ll have a teacher they gel with better then.

Good luck!

hedgehogger1 · 28/01/2021 18:16

I've been bcc'ing parents and kids for hours this week. It takes forever to get all the email addresses and then you have to get your wording right so no one gets offended. Instead he's praising kids that have done what they're meant to. Sounds like a much better approach

Original poster
shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 18:26

"Turning off the volume and laughing at the teacher is a pathetic thing to do and as bad an example to set your child as thinking that handing work in is unreasonable. Grow up."

We do the work, we hand it in, I encourage engagement, my child is academically bright and good as gold, polite and respectful. Educationally engaged. If you can't have an occasional snigger with your child then what is the world coming to?

I like to encourage independent thinking however. Authority sometimes needs challenging. If we want to have a laugh at the teacher once in a while that's ok by me. We are human beings not hierarchical obsessed robots. In person we are respectful and polite. If I saw a change in my child to the point where they were being rude in real life I would not be doing this (which was just the once btw!).

OP posts:
sherrystrull · 28/01/2021 18:42

@shallilogoff

"Turning off the volume and laughing at the teacher is a pathetic thing to do and as bad an example to set your child as thinking that handing work in is unreasonable. Grow up."

We do the work, we hand it in, I encourage engagement, my child is academically bright and good as gold, polite and respectful. Educationally engaged. If you can't have an occasional snigger with your child then what is the world coming to?

I like to encourage independent thinking however. Authority sometimes needs challenging. If we want to have a laugh at the teacher once in a while that's ok by me. We are human beings not hierarchical obsessed robots. In person we are respectful and polite. If I saw a change in my child to the point where they were being rude in real life I would not be doing this (which was just the once btw!).

An educational snigger? Ok, so how would u feel if the teacher was having an educational snigger at your child?
Original poster
shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 18:59

"occasional snigger" is what I said. If the teacher did as long as I didn't know about it I obviously wouldn't care! It's not like we're doing it on camera or mic fgs.

OP posts:
EduCated · 28/01/2021 19:04

Have you uploaded any work yet?

Get your DD to do it, and get her some headphones.

1AngelicFruitCake · 28/01/2021 19:06

Would it be ok for the teacher, once back in school to have ‘an occasional snigger’ with your child about her Mum? What’s the harm, after all you don’t want her to grow up not challenging authority?
Uploading work takes a few minutes in the evening.

Funny how parents who have a problem with school always happen to have a bright, polite, well behaved child...🤔

Thewiseoneincognito · 28/01/2021 19:08

Teachers really are hated on Mumsnet aren’t they. Although the way some people come across it makes you wonder why the had children in the first place, clearly a hindrance. 🙄

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 28/01/2021 19:11

You've contradicted yourself
We do the work, we hand it in, goes against your OP where you aren't handing it in.

MakeWorkYourNewFavourite · 28/01/2021 19:13

Upload the work. It's expected of you. Make sure you're irreprochable. You sound more than capable. That way, you can mention his teaching style and tone, but make sure you've got everything covered from your side first.

Original poster
shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 19:17

"You've contradicted yourself
We do the work, we hand it in, goes against your OP where you aren't handing it in."

There's a button to submit the work and "hand it in". Now there's an additional task to upload photos which is new.

OP posts:
AuntyPasta · 28/01/2021 19:18

Teachers really can’t win.

Original poster
shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 19:20

"Teachers really are hated on Mumsnet aren’t they. Although the way some people come across it makes you wonder why the had children in the first place, clearly a hindrance. "

You try doing a full time job from home and home schooling your child as a lone parent with no family nearby or ex partner on the scene, whilst getting simultaneously berated by the teacher for not doing everything perfectly... I just wish a slightly more understanding attitude could be displayed from the school.

OP posts:
Original poster
shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 19:23

"Would it be ok for the teacher, once back in school to have ‘an occasional snigger’ with your child about her Mum? What’s the harm, after all you don’t want her to grow up not challenging authority?"

Having a harmless one off joke with your own child is hardly the crime of the century... and yes my child is well behaved.

OP posts:
HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 28/01/2021 19:24

You try doing a full time job from home and home schooling your child as a lone parent

Plenty of teachers doing this.

Clicking a button is not submitting the work and you well know it.

The time spent bitching on this post could have been spent uploading it.

AuntyPasta · 28/01/2021 19:24

’getting simultaneously berated by the teacher for not doing everything perfectly’

The teacher is talking to your DD, not you. Lots of posters have said their DC of similar ages to yours are uploading the work themselves.

Maybe you need to stop taking it as an attack on you.

Original poster
shallilogoff · 28/01/2021 19:27

"HercwasanEnemyofEducation" teachers are keyworkers and are entitled to a school placement for their children.

OP posts:
MakeWorkYourNewFavourite · 28/01/2021 19:37

I don't think teachers are hated on MN, but... weirdly... I've started to hate (too strong a word, rather eyeroll and tut a lot at/about) them since joining MN. If someone has a moan about a teacher, other teachers come on and shoot them down in flames and go on and on about how hard their jobs are. You'd think none of the rest of us worked. They want vaccinating before everyone else, they want us to believe they're working twice as hard as everyone else. I think what we see more often on MN is teachers hating parents. They think they know better. There's something smug about them. They really like to play the martyr. Not all, of course. My DD's primary teacher is incredible. She teachers all year groups (very small school ages 2.5 to 11). She does this in two languages. It's a bilingual school. She has two teaching assistants. She comes out with the kids and speaks to parents every day (takes a good half hour). School is from 8.45 to 16.45 (with kids). She only has 10 kids (all years combined), but God only knows how she does it. All that planning? Every subject? Every year group? It's incredible. DD is only three, but at the end of every half term, she brings her work home for me to look at. It's incredible. I don't know how the woman does it. It's a hell of a lot of responsibility. I really admire her.

BluebellsGreenbells · 28/01/2021 19:40

You try doing a full time job from home and home schooling your child as a lone parent with no family nearby or ex partner on the scene

DDs teacher is a lone parent with two kids working from home - her DD appears sometimes, no family and ex has done a runner.

What makes you special?