To be pissed off with DS's science teacher?

[teameric]

DS started secondary school for the first time Monday. He was really looking forward to it and came home on the first day in high spirits.
This continued until wednesday, he was a bit quiet when he got in and I knew something was up. Eventually he told me that in his Science lesson the teacher shouted at him ....for scratching his nose.
I thought he was joking but apparantly, the teacher slammed his fist down on DS's desk and got in his face shouting at him that no fidgeting or scratching was allowed in class and that if he did it again he'd get detention.
Apparantly he shouted at another boy for something as equally stupid as well.
I have tried to downplay it a bit, and said that maybe the Teacher is just setting an example of how he wants the class to behave, but inside I'm fucking seething, DS was really anxious this morning (not usual for him) because he has Science again today. He's a good kid and wants to do well, I know his school days aren't going to be all plain sailing but ffs surely this teacher could have gone about it in a different way?

Bet your son doesn't misbehave in this guy's lesson.

It's a bit like PE though isn't it? Let them know right at the beginning what they should never do as it saves accidents later on, better off being consistent.

Don't you believe it. Being pointlessly strict about non-issues is no way to manage a class.

I'm just throwing in some stuff to make you think that there's alot more to this story. The OP should have a chat with the teacher.

TheFallenMadonna, being pointlessly strict about 'non-issues' can save you bother because the kids rebel against the 'non-issues' (e.g. uniform) when they otherwise might be doing something worse to stamp their individuality on their school experience.

I don;t think uniform is a non-issue . The OP said it was scratching his nose. Now I know as well as any teacher that a child's perception of an event doens;t necessarily match that of the teacher, but taking it at face value, it is coming down hard on a non-issue IMO.

The OP should let the teacher get on with his job. It should be clear after a few weeks whether he is a bullying meglomaniac with a vendetta against the OP's precious bundle or whether he's just trying to set his standards high at the start of term.

Well yes - I said in my first post she should hold fire and see how it goes. I was responding to the suggestion that her son wouldn't as a result misbehave in his lessons.

Uniform isn't a non-issue? How a tie is tied or whether a blazer is worn between lessons is important to the learning experience of the students? No. Obviously not. But make an issue out of it and you'll save yourself problems elsewhere.

Ah well. We don't have blazers. Or ties. Our uniform infringements tend to be skirts so short you can see pants, trousers so low you can see pants, or heels high enough to require a risk assessment. So our experiences may be somewhat different

Yeah, if you had a proper uniform, you wouldn't have to suffer the stilettos...they'd be too busy trying to wear their ties like necklaces

It's the beginning of a new year, some teachers play the scary card. Not great to shout in someone's face I agree but the scary, don't-smile approach works for some teachers. And when I say 'works', I mean it is part of their whole strategy for making sure their pupils have the best learning environment.

I would tuff up about it, I really would.

If your son is still upset in a week's time and he's a good kid, then have a quiet word with the teacher and ask him to go easy on your son.

I'd ask the teacher for the other side of the story.

even if he wasn't doing the 'excessive fidgeting on purpose', you can bet your bottom dollar someone was...

ds might have been the next one that moved (unintentionally) after a 'the next one to move will feel the wrath of my ...'

i'll bet there were a few who were trying out the new teacher to see what they could get away with. the teacher won't have been able to identify which side of the line ds was sitting on so early in the term. if he's not a trouble maker, he won't get shouted at once the first few lessons are out of the way...

When my child has come home and said a teacher at secondary blew his/her top (and one of my dds has had the in-the-face-shouting), I say 'what was going on? what were you doing? make sure you behave'

And she is a good kid.

Do teachers never raise their voices in private schools?

no idea lol, but it's easier to crowd-control fewer children, surely?

Fewer, definitely fewer

oh I see, yes nick, fewer children better.

No of course they don't, pointydog. And the children are a constant pleasure and delight.

Obviously none of us know what actually happened but if a teacher carried out this policy for more than a few minutes things would get out of hand.

Doesn't sound like the whole story.

Do you mean the Shouting-In-The-Face policy?

I think it's worth asking for an appointment with this teacher. Ask him for feedback about your son, let him explain what has been going on it class but then tell him that your son does not usually misbehave and now feels very anxious about going to class. That might get the teacher thinking a bit.