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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was the teacher wrong to mock accent ? would she be able to do this in UK ?

48 replies

doley · 29/04/2011 20:14

I am braving this forum again Grin here is a bit of background first ...

I am in the US ...have been for 6 years .

My eldest(12) still has (to American ears ) a British accent (whatever that is right?)

In his music class he told the teacher he was unable to see the board ,notes ..song ... as he is waiting on a stronger prescription for his glasses .

VERY ,loudly she repeated what he had said in a very bad British accent(mocking him) ,it was only when a friend in the class pointed out that she had been very rude that she said "sorry"

I suspect she knows this is bad form for a teacher, and has been sending praising notes home with him ( unusual as he is very lazy in music class )

I don't think this would have rolled in the UK ?

So,am I being unreasonable anyway ? I think it was uncalled for .

DS is not bothered ,and this area is especially non-pc ~all kinds of peculiar and old~fashioned things happen all the time ...:)

OP posts:
HappyTune · 30/04/2011 05:56

I agree - very rude and unacceptable. She would never have said the same to an adult and expected them to think she was being considerate. Your son's friend showed courage and loyalty. Too bad his teacher made such a poor decision, but I don't think she'll be repeating that.

Bucharest · 30/04/2011 06:52

YANBU

onceamai · 30/04/2011 07:52

Very rude and unacceptable but regrettably it goes in the UK too.

HeadfirstForHalos · 30/04/2011 07:57

I think it was out of order, but it does sound like she realises this and regrets it, which can only be a good thing.

She has apologised and is making an effort, so move on.

SuchProspects · 30/04/2011 08:22

When I lived abroad as a kid I went to an American (billed itself as "International") school. One of the teachers there told a British kid there was "no such letter as 'zed' in the English language". Grin She was serious about it, but even as a 6 year old I just thought she was a bit of a nutter. Hope your DC is also OK.

That teacher sounds like she isn't very confident in her job. The mocking is very unprofessional, it would be unprofessional to do that to a work colleague, to mock people you have authority over smacks of insecurity. She seems to have at least realised that with the apology after (though pulling him out of another class because of her mistake doesn't seem like an ideal response). But the suddenly sending praising notes home (which, I'm gathering from your post you don't believe are because your DCs have changed their behaviour) seems like she's now very much over compensating.

She really ought to have made a proper apology, ensured there was no lasting negative impact and then just moved on (and never done it again, of course). You might want to try and clear the air with her so that she starts to treat your kids normally again.

PunkPixie · 30/04/2011 08:48

YANBU. A child tells a a teacher he's struggling and she insults his accent instead of helping him? I'd have a word.

Triggles · 30/04/2011 08:54

I grew up in America, and it would not have been acceptable in any of the schools I've ever been to (either my schools or the schools my children attended) so I can't imagine it actually would go over well if a complaint was made. But it sounds like your child isn't upset about it, so I would simply address the teacher at this point. I would think a calm but firm discussion telling her that it's not acceptable and any further incidents will result in a complaint to the principal and the school board, then she will at least know where things stand with you.

sunnydelight · 30/04/2011 09:16

I would like to think she regrets her behaviour, the more uncharitable view is that she though "oh shit, I am going to be in trouble here".

If she hadn't apoligised I would have gone in with all guns blazing but as she did I wouldn't take it further but would make some comment next time you see her making it clear it was not ok.

A teacher said something totally out of order to my DS recently but DS said he wanted to handle it himself. He went up to her and told her it was totaly unacceptable and he got an apology which he was happy with. I was still fuming but had to respect the fact that he was satisfied with the outcome.

sunnydelight · 30/04/2011 09:17

Sorry, loads of typos - it's wine o clock here Blush

RunAwayWife · 30/04/2011 09:17

I think the fact the Teacher is American explains a lot Grin

HandMini · 30/04/2011 09:28

Terrible terrible behaviour by teacher.

I think Speedy's idea is spot on - despite the teacher's apology, I still think I would want to make a point of it to her face next time I saw her. As Speedy suggests it almost doesn't matter what you say (the message will be clear!) but she shouldn't be allowed to get away with this...am I being unreasonable to think she might have done this to other children?

ScousyFogarty · 30/04/2011 12:39

yes, it should not be tolerated. Total misjudgement by teacher.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 30/04/2011 13:28

YANBU. Doesn't matter if your son isn't bothered (but I'm glad he's OK); what if she'd done it to a student who WAS bothered? Unprofessional, inappropriate, insensitive. Complain.

Triggles · 30/04/2011 13:47

Why would you say that, runawaywife? I'm American, and I certainly don't go around mocking other people's accents. I've groused at my own lack of one, but I was assured by a friend that when I obtain my British citizenship soon, that I will automatically be able to speak like everyone on Eastenders. Grin

(and noooooo I don't EVER try to speak with a British accent.... I am NOT Madonna!!! Hmm)

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 30/04/2011 13:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ryoko · 30/04/2011 13:50

She is an arrogant cow who needs a slap, I'd write a letter of complaint to the head of the school.

would she mock a Chinese kid? a African child?, I'm sorry but I couldn't care less what she may have been thru , it does not give her the right to mock someone else simply because they don't talk like she does.

I'm from London, If a teacher mocked the accent of a kid in class here, she/he would be in trouble and rightly so.

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 30/04/2011 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nokissymum · 30/04/2011 13:57

that was a very stupid thing for a teacher to do, and the fact that another student had to point it out to her makes it even worse.

One good thing out of this though, your son must have very nice friends Smile

EveWasFramed72 · 30/04/2011 15:13

I'm American, work in a school in the UK, and there are several students (naughty ones), who regularly mock my accent when I am telling them off; nothing is ever done about it, though I have mentioned it.

Not quite the same, I know, because a teacher should never make fun of a student, but I'm not sure it's worth reporting or whatever. Teachers are human, and make stupid mistakes; address it with her at a conference if you feel the need to, but otherwise, move on.

TheMonster · 30/04/2011 15:23

Eve, my London accent gets mocked in the school I work in up north.

ragged · 30/04/2011 15:34

I agree with EveWasFramed, the teacher has apologised twice if I read the OP's messages right. Move on.

SpeedyGonzalez · 30/04/2011 19:14

Gracious, Eve, that must be infuriating! Grr on your behalf!

SpeedyGonzalez · 30/04/2011 19:16

Glad the teacher has shown genuine regret. And runawaywife, your "Americans" statement is as bad as the behaviour of the teacher in question.

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