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What do you do when a teacher is wrong?

147 replies

RequiresUpdating · 26/05/2023 20:56

Say your DC writes something that is more or less correct. And the teacher marks it wrong and corrects it with such a glaringly obvious mistake that you are a bit shocked. What do you do?

DD took it back to the teacher and asked her to look at it again and that what she had written was right, but the correction wasn't. Teacher said it was and DD's answer was also wrong (it wasn't).

How do you handle this?
Is it better to explain to DD that the teacher is wrong and people often don't like being told they're wrong which was why she refused to correct the marks? And leave it at that - that the teacher is wrong, some people refuse to apologise etc life lesson. I feel this would be a pity as DD really likes this teacher and was shocked when she was dismissive of her.

Do I call the teacher and speak with her and give her a chance to apologise to DD?

Call the teacher and ask her how she wants to handle it? If she wants to apologise or if she's sticking by her response to DD so I have to explain the above.

I don't even know if it should be raised higher, as the correction she wrote on DD's work shows such a level of incompetence about the basics of the subject she's supposed to be teaching the class, that we're wondering what else she's teaching them. I feel a bit sorry for her, she's newly qualified, DD's isn't the easiest of classes and I know other parents aren't happy with her, but I don't think many have officially complained.

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GeorgeSpeaks · 26/05/2023 20:58

Leave it this time but if it keeps happening then bring it up with the head of key stage or school.

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marianacross · 26/05/2023 21:00

Ask the teacher to explain to DD how her answer is wrong and what she should have done to get it right. You can email and say DD is still confused and ask her that way.

I'm guessing this is primary school?

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Stabee · 26/05/2023 21:00

Leave it. Just say to DC sometimes mistakes are made.

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Nonylonneeded · 26/05/2023 21:01

depends a little in the age of the kid.
primary age I’d probs just let it go and keep an eye. Gcse level I’d be more concerned.

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OhcantthInkofaname · 26/05/2023 21:01

I was a professor - please do not let this incompetence stand. Talk with her.

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lilyboleyn · 26/05/2023 21:04

This reminds me of when I got my class to copy down their weekly spellings into their spelling book. All done and correct… except one came back with mum having corrected definitely into ‘definately’… 😁

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lollylew · 26/05/2023 21:06

I’d leave it! Good example of everyone makes mistakes

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RequiresUpdating · 26/05/2023 21:06

11 (primary) She "corrected" two questions incorrectly and marked DD down for it. I think if it had only been one thing, I'd be less concerned. I don't want to undermine the teacher by saying to DD that she hasn't a clue what she's talking about!

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RequiresUpdating · 26/05/2023 21:07

@lilyboleyn that's not the same though is it? The teacher is definitely wrong here!

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universityhelp · 26/05/2023 21:09

I also agree it depends on the age group - primary age I would let it go and explain that teachers can't be the experts on everything. It's a bit more tricky at secondary and depends on how the teacher is generally, your child's confidence, etc. Mine had an issue with a science teacher telling her something which was the opposite of what another science teacher said and when my dd challenged her, said something like 'I've been teaching this subject for 14 years..' Dd looked the facts up when she got home and was put out about it for ages and was going to write a letter of complaint. I suggested discussing it with the head of science.

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RequiresUpdating · 26/05/2023 21:10

@lollylew that's what we said and why we encouraged her to go back to the teacher with it. Assuming the teacher would say "silly me" or something and correct it. DD was a bit upset by the reaction of the teacher.

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misssunshine4040 · 26/05/2023 21:10

Stabee · 26/05/2023 21:00

Leave it. Just say to DC sometimes mistakes are made.

Why?
Teacher is a professional and should behave like a professional.
You wouldn't accept this from your anyone else would you? Imagine it was an exam paper etc.
It's not incorrect to teach kids to be assertive in asking for an explanation when they are sure they are right.

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lilyboleyn · 26/05/2023 21:10

@RequiresUpdating I didn’t say it was the same, did I? FFS.

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24KaratCucumber · 26/05/2023 21:13

Email the head

Photo of the paper.
DDS answer.
The 'correction'
Link to information online that shows the teacher is wrong.

A teacher can't teach effectively if they can't accept they're incorrect and adapt and learn.

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dammiejodger · 26/05/2023 21:19

I had this happen to me in school. Maths.

I'd done this exercise before and got all the answers right so I copied them, only this time the teacher marked some wrong.

I took it home and showed my parents. They went though my book and found ones I'd got right he had marked wrong, ones I got wrong he marked wrong and his answer was wrong and some that were wrong he'd marked as right!

My parents raised it with the head, it triggered a huge audit and he was sacked

It was GCSE year.

Definitely raise it.

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ParistoMilan · 26/05/2023 21:23

What exactly was the correction? I think it does matter if it was ambiguous or not, or how basic the mistake the teacher was. Sorry, but I think it does matter. Either way it's not great but the answers to the above do alter the outcome.

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Kokopenny · 26/05/2023 21:24

What’s the mistake ?

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Lancasterel · 26/05/2023 21:27

I’m a supply teacher, and also a really good speller!
The mistakes I’ve seen when covering other teachers… one teacher I covered recently kept putting “well done, great writting!” in kids’ books… in an “outstanding” school.
Honestly I despair sometimes.

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Topseyt123 · 26/05/2023 21:29

Tell the teacher that DD had been correct the first time and that the correction she had given was wrong. Ask her to explain to you why she thought DD was wrong.

I've done this. My DD had spelled "coronation" correctly in a spelling test and the teacher had marked it wrong, saying that it should be "corAnation" instead!

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clary · 26/05/2023 21:30

yh what was the mistake OP?

Also a primary teacher does have to know a lot about a lot of subjects, I could never have done it. So maybe this is a weak area for them. If they are a good teacher overall, it may not be as bad (IMHO) as (for example) a secondary teacher of MFL incorrectly "correcting" someone's already correct German past tense and refusing to accept that they were wrong.

OTOH if it is something basic like maths or English then maybe it should be flagged. Arrgh your dc is leaving in a half term tho.

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RequiresUpdating · 26/05/2023 21:34

DD wrote "When you rub a balloon on your hair, the electrons go from the balloon into your hair and all the bits of hair repel each other".
The teacher marked the electrons going from balloon to hair with a tick. However the second part she marked wrong and corrected with "the balloon and hair repel each other"

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ThirstyThursday · 26/05/2023 21:35

I'd go over her head, mistakes happen, but dismissing a child who is 'brave' enough to come back to you and say they still think they're right & the correction is wrong is terrible.

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LividHouse · 26/05/2023 21:36

In about 1987 my teacher correcting my spelling of (my friend’s name) Jane Jury to “Durie” and I’m frankly still salty about it.

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Remaker · 26/05/2023 21:37

When DS was in yr 2 they were learning about India and the teacher asked about countries that border India. DS put up his hand and said Bangladesh and she told him it wasn’t a country! He tried to show her on the map on the wall and she said it was an old map! We told him she was wrong and teachers make mistakes. I did check his work very carefully after that.

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Shinyandnew1 · 26/05/2023 21:39

RequiresUpdating · 26/05/2023 21:34

DD wrote "When you rub a balloon on your hair, the electrons go from the balloon into your hair and all the bits of hair repel each other".
The teacher marked the electrons going from balloon to hair with a tick. However the second part she marked wrong and corrected with "the balloon and hair repel each other"

What was the question out of interest?

What was the other one that was wrong?

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