Kids asked to stand for headteacher

[Worcswarrior]

So dd has just started high school. There is an expectation that the students stand up when the headteacher enters the assembly hall. Is this not a bit draconian in 2024?

No it’s showing respect.

This is fine.
Don't undermine the school by converting otherwise to your DC.

It’s a sign of respect, exactly the same as when I was at school. At my son’s schools (one state faith primary, one private secondary) they have to stand for every single teacher that enters a room. At the secondary school the children address male teachers as “sir” and female teachers as “ma’am” unless invited to call them by their names. At my younger son’s school they call the teachers by their title and surname unless they are nuns and then it’s title (sister) and their Christian name. None of that seems to be unreasonable to me. Children should respect their teachers and especially their head teacher.

We always did. Never minded doing it. Just a mark of respect.

Yes definitely it’s ok. Some people pay good money to send their children to schools where they do this.

It’s not something I did at school, nor my children.. I wouldn’t necessarily have argued against it, but to be honest I’d have seen it as a little old fashioned and unnecessary.. a sort of little England, know your place, elders and betters kind of thing.
FWIW, I happily stand at the appropriate parts of our church liturgy, but it’s not something done at my university when professors enter the room (I also call both my priest and my lecturer by their first names, something that would be considered ‘disrespectful’ in a school student / teacher context..)

Respect OP, how can you not see that!
Hope you haven't been teaching your kids to be disrespectful to teachers.

This.
I'm a barrister. Everyone in the court room stands every single time the Judge comes in or out of the room.

This is why people pay for private schools!

(And yes it is a good thing to teach children, a habit that will serve them and society well)

Teacher here who would be thrilled if 90% of the kids just stopped yelling whilst I'm talking...

As a former headteacher I think this is ridiculous. You don't earn respect by imposing petty rules.

There is a difference between getting up to meet someone, and jumping up and down like a jack in a box, as you and the people you spend 6 hours a day with, 5 days a week, go about their day.

How on earth do you teach children under those circumstances 🤷‍♀️ I don’t know how you cope.
I’ve observed children in public places and some of their behaviour is ferrel, parents don’t bat an eye, they don’t appear to care. What happened to teaching children basic good manners and respect.

Thankfully this is just one school I work at (tough day today). The other two schools I work at regularly are mainly lovely kids.

Yes, some kids behaviour and manners leaves a lot to be desired!

It’s not a petty rule.
And the best headteachers ( in my experience) are the ones who apply rules which create an atmosphere of self control, respect and order for everyone.

Children need guidance, and as a leader it’s the responsibility of the headteacher to demonstrate that. If the captain of the ship doesn’t command as well as give respect, how will children learn this. It is definitely not a petty rule.

'If you don't like it, move your kid elsewhere. At some time in life, he is liable to learn that there are those in positions above you and those in positions below you. If respect is something you learnt as a child, everything works out better. I think 'draconian' is a bit strong since that means things like stoning a woman to death in Iran because she was raped.