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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be unimpressed by dd's teacher's explanation to her reception class about the strike tomorrow?

112 replies

littleducks · 29/06/2011 21:05

DD is very good at quoting exactly, usually employed to embarass me! Although I admit the context is often lost.

Apparently dd's teacher told her that her class won't be coming in tomorrow as 'the government is taking away their (teacher's) money and making the work on and on and on'

DD wanted to know what the goverment is and why they were stealing the teachers money at bedtime.

I had told her she had tomorrow off previously, but hadnt gioven any explanantion really just said it was a 'holiday' like I had for the inset day next Mon.

OP posts:
TartyMcFarty · 30/06/2011 08:25

It's much better than yours, OP!

donnie · 30/06/2011 08:28

oh FFS it's only a reception aged child.

It's not a bloody gulag or Stalinism or anything.

Get over yourselves already.

mintymellons · 30/06/2011 08:31

Why shouldn't a reception child know?

DD1 is in reception and knows her teacher is striking because of money.

CurrySpice · 30/06/2011 08:31

My kids (11 and 8) both know what government is. And strike, pension, union etc etc and have done for many years because we often talk about such things, listen to the news together etc. I think it's really important that kids know about politics and understand the basics and can name party leaders and ministers

I think a better explanation would have for 5YOs would have been something like "some teachers don't agree with what mr Cameron and the government is saying about how much we get paid when we retire. We are letting him know we disagree by going on strike"

Rollmops · 30/06/2011 08:36

But the teacher was lying. Nobody is 'taking away her pension'.

Well put, RottenTiming:
"Demonstrates a poor quality of character/lack of aptitude to being a truly good teacher, regardless of whether they support strike action or not."

EightiesChick · 30/06/2011 08:46

Again, not sure why it's bad for the teacher to tell 'half truths', but OK for the OP to want to outright lie and say it's a holiday?

ilovesooty · 30/06/2011 08:47

I think a better explanation would have for 5YOs would have been something like "some teachers don't agree with what mr Cameron and the government is saying about how much we get paid when we retire. We are letting him know we disagree by going on strike"

That sounds fair enough: I'm not sure even that much detail is necessary if anything. I think the teacher's explanation was unnecessarily emotive and biased, but I think the OP should have given a better explanation to her daughter too. In my opinion teachers shouldn't be discussing the strike with their pupils beyond simple necessity - and that applies whichever side of the fence they're on.

wordfactory · 30/06/2011 09:00

I wouldn't mind a teacher discussing the strike, nor giving their own opinion. So long as they made it clear that this was their opinion.

I think the OP's teacher's explanation was crap to be honest both in terms of what this is all about and also in terms of it being her opinion.

worraliberty · 30/06/2011 09:09

The Head at my son's school said a lot of her Teachers..especially the NQTs didn't fully understand a couple of weeks ago, so she got someone in to explain it to them in an unbiased way (not sure who?) so they could make their minds up whether they wanted to strike or not.

Original poster
littleducks · 30/06/2011 09:32

I am a bit surprised that so many people think that I should have given her a better explanation, the school was recently closed as it is a polling station. I said it was a day off/holiday to dd, the school didn't give her any further explanation, although I think that would have been a far better time to introduce the idea of democracy and governments.

I have shielded her from the economic problems, I see that as my job as a mother, she is a child who worries and there is nothing that she can do to help. I worked in a library until the beginning of the year, I didn't explain that the council had to make huge cuts, get rid of loads of staff and possible shut librarires/staff them with volunteers. I didn't explain when dh was made redundant (more than once) I just said he was changing jobs. I don't want her to worry about these thing at only just turned 5.

Oh, and I didnt arrange the fundraising thing. I just thought it would be better for her to worry about something that she is able to change, they are raising money, building wells then getting photos sent to class of the wells.

OP posts:
Original poster
littleducks · 30/06/2011 09:33

And to show how she worries, she cant watch Tinkerbell/Tangled/Tommy Zoom without hiding/getting scared/crying because she worries about the characters....even though she knows it is just pretend.

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 30/06/2011 09:36

Children are not stupid...they are mostly very bright (I think) and understand things very well when explained to them.

Why are parents unable to explain who the Government are and what the strike is about...in simple terms?

itisnearlysummer · 30/06/2011 09:41

If your DD is that sensitive, OP, then why expose her to the terrible suffering of children in Africa! Hmm

Original poster
littleducks · 30/06/2011 09:45

I didn't, I agree afterwards she could raise money to help the cause but I do encourage her generally to give to charity without showing emotive photos

OP posts:
itisnearlysummer · 30/06/2011 09:50

We took DD to her school on polling day precisely so that she did have some understanding about what was happening and politics.

We likened it to when she and her brother 'vote' on what film they want to watch or when she chooses what flavour yoghurt she wants.

itisnearlysummer · 30/06/2011 09:52

But in that case how can she understand what she is raising money for?

Children have great capacity for empathy and also to do what they are told.

She will have no real understanding of giving to charity unless she understands why it is necessary and how her efforts might change things.

itisnearlysummer · 30/06/2011 09:54

I think it's commendable (and am aware that sounds really patronising - sorry) that you are raising your child to be aware of wider issues and to care, but if she doesn't understand what she is doing and why, there is no point.

In reception, lots of learning is used through play and physical learning precisely because just telling them is ineffective.

Original poster
littleducks · 30/06/2011 10:03

I will come back to this later, as kids are waiting to go to Legoland

OP posts:
itisnearlysummer · 30/06/2011 10:08

Ooh it's great. Have a good day!

SlackSally · 30/06/2011 10:21

I told all my (A level) students who asked in as unbiased terms as possible. Every single one was shocked, and didn't think the government would have been allowed to bring about such wholesale changes.

I repeat, I tried to be neutral. I definitely didn't say 'stealing'.

CamperFan · 30/06/2011 10:31

Agree with itsnearlysummer (on the previous point, not Legoland, haven't been yet). And I don't actually think reception is too young to understand the basic concept of government - a school is run on the same concept on a smaller scale. OP, perhaps another child did ask what government was, following the teachers statement, and your DD just didn't mention that bit. Either way, I don't think the teacher's explanation was out of order. Thruaglass, I completely agree that children should be innocent for as long as they possibly can, but I also think questions should be answered honestly as long as the answer is not going to cause upset/harm/emotional problems, etc at a young age.

itisnearlysummer · 30/06/2011 10:34

Most primary schools have a School Council now too, CamperFan, precisely so that children get an understanding of government.

sunshineandshowers · 30/06/2011 10:50

My DS, age 4, knows about david cameron and thew goverment. Its good for them.

worraliberty · 30/06/2011 11:01

I was just going to say that about School Councils.

I think a lot of kids are too shielded and protected from everything these days. It must be quite confusing for them.

I remember seeing the News as a kid...because we only had one TV and it was in the lounge. I often used to ask my Dad why people were fighting in the Middle East/what the IRA meant/what's a Prim Minister...lots of questions really.

It was a normal part of life that actually I didn't take too much notice of. The Catholic school and Church I went to, would have 'CAFOD' collection envelopes and posters with images of starving African children. We weren't shielded from these things and as a result, I think on the whole kids were quite level headed.

Sorry for the tangent Blush

worraliberty · 30/06/2011 11:03

A Prim Minister?!?!

That would be a Minister with their knickers in a twist Blush