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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my son's yr 4 teacher to be older

268 replies

katedan · 08/09/2011 21:17

I know it is like policeman and a sign I am getting older but WTF she is 22 and this is her first teaching job a class of 35 8/9 yr olds. She seemed so out of her depth and it is only day 2.

I am really worried she will not be able to keep the class interested and the standard of my son's education will suffer.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Feenie · 08/09/2011 21:44

Me too. But it was a bit ewwwwy.

Cleverything · 08/09/2011 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KittyFane · 08/09/2011 21:45

Worra- still a bit... Slimy

KittyFane · 08/09/2011 21:46

I think OP has gone ... :o

FancyForgetting · 08/09/2011 21:46

Young NQT teachers have my sympathy if they encounter even some of the views expressed here - parents assuming they have no experience, are unable to meet standards, unable to ensure discipline, should be teaching another year group and then have leering fathers to look forward to at Parents' Evening.

Our school is quite small, which creates early promotion/enhanced responsibility opportunities for many of the young staff. They are, to a person, enthusiastic, committed and dedicated.

DD(16) is dead-set on teaching is a career, and I know that these fantastic role models are a large factor in that.

Hulababy · 08/09/2011 21:46

Not sure if still the same but when I was studying primary teachers often specialised in eaith infants or junior, so would seem very silly for a ks2 trained nqt to start their teaching career in a ks1 classroom.

Where do secondary school nqts fit in to all this?

southeastastra · 08/09/2011 21:46

wow you can really light a touch paper on here and watch you lot go Grin

maypole1 · 08/09/2011 21:46

To be honest I wouldn't want a 22 year old teaching my high school child but my dd has a 22 tutor she also is a class teacher and she is fantastic

But I do not feel its good to have a 22 year old in a high school and I firmly believe it is the course of a lot of the high jinx between the students and teachers now a days

Oh cousin is a high school teachers and says its always the younger teachers who get in situations with students adding them to Facebook or getting of with the 6 th formers Ect the age gap is not big enough for respect to grow
But primary its fine

Newbabynewmum · 08/09/2011 21:47

YABU ... Obviously. She's qualified. Has to start somewhere. I hope people don't say this about me behind my back.

worraliberty · 08/09/2011 21:49

I don't want to take the thread off on a tangent, but look at the amount of Mums who said on the 'porn/stripper' teacher thread, that they'd enjoy parents evening a lot more.

No-one mentioned they thought it was in bad taste or slimey then.

Chill out, it's just a joke lol

Hulababy · 08/09/2011 21:49

maypole - are you seriously saying that young newly qualified teachers shouldn't be allowed to work in secondary schools?! Where should they start then?

I worked quite professionally and competently at 22y in a secondary school, and I looked VERY young at the time. It really was not a problem AT ALL.

aldiwhore · 08/09/2011 21:49

We've a new hot young male teacher, some of the other mums have suddenly got more glamourous on the school run, some of their behaviour, their fawning over him is rather vomit inducing.

There's nothing wrong with finding a teacher hot... just don't make a tit out of yourself.

southeastastra · 08/09/2011 21:50

i think most people would want their child to be taught by an experienced teacher in these times surely.

year 4 is when parents do start worrying about secondary schools and most of them would want a teacher they have confidence in, it's not too hard to understand is it?

of course most nqt on mumsnet are fantastic but you can't talk for all nqt's can you

Daughteroflilith · 08/09/2011 21:50

I don't understand the emphasis on your DC's age. When you get to secondary school, you might get an NQT! Surely Year 1 or 2 is just as challenging as Year 4? You are dealing with much greater differences in attainment; some children are reading from about three, some haven't even had a book read to them. Some still need help with motor skills and might have toilet accidents. Some are adjusting to being without Mummy all day; some have had a succession of nurseries and childminders and might be confident in a strange situation.

Also, teachers have different skills. Some might be great at thinking up great projects for year 4s on Vikings or Dinosaurs, or introducing them to good children's literature. Some might be better at teaching reading from scratch and being reassuring and motherly to little ones.

Hulababy · 08/09/2011 21:51

Oh - and I know of NO teachers that I have worked with over the years that have had relationships with students. It is still avery unusual thing to occur.

And all staff should be told at the start of their course that you do not become friends, FB or otherwise, with students/children. Have that rule from the off and there is no reason for any imporper relationship there.

Fontsnob · 08/09/2011 21:51

But I do not feel its good to have a 22 year old in a high school and I firmly believe it is the course of a lot of the high jinx between the students and teachers now a days

What the actual fuck? (I've wanted a good reason to say that for ages now)

exoticfruits · 08/09/2011 21:53

Whoever thinks that teaching year 1 & 2 is the easiest has never taught! Give me year 6 any day. Yr 1 &2 are lovely as individuals but very hard work to teach.

I can't believe the ageism on here! I'm not teaching now but I was quite happy to work with 22yr olds and treat them as equals. No one gets experience without starting somewhere.

Fontsnob · 08/09/2011 21:53

i think most people would want their child to be taught by an experienced teacher in these times surely

And again....

What the actual fuck!

in these times???

aldiwhore · 08/09/2011 21:53

souteastastra you could use that argument against all professions and all experiences. I've known some great 'old school' teachers and some shit ones. Experience doesn't make you good, but it can make you better, if you're shit to start with you are not better than a good NQT.

exoticfruits · 08/09/2011 21:54

22 yrs is ancient to a 5 yr old!

KittyFane · 08/09/2011 21:54

Maypole But I do not feel its good to have a 22 year old in a high school and I firmly believe it is the course of a lot of the high jinx between the students and teachers now a days

Depends on the teacher - most young teachers I know ( my school is full of NQTs and under 30's) are super strict and not immature in the way you describe. I started teaching at 23 and was never pally with the students I taught. There will always be an excetion to the rule though- who will then give all young teachers a bad reputation.

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 08/09/2011 21:54

'years 1 and 2 are easier surely, especially to learn how to control a classroom if nothing else'

You don't have extensive experience of teaching this age range, do you? Grin

KittyFane · 08/09/2011 21:54

Exception

balia · 08/09/2011 21:55

"i think most people would want their child to be taught by an experienced teacher in these times surely"

You are right. and the best way to achieve that is not to let young teachers actually teach anyone...erm...hang on...

Badgercub · 08/09/2011 21:55

"year 4 is when parents do start worrying about secondary schools and most of them would want a teacher they have confidence in, it's not too hard to understand is it?"

What ARE you talking about?

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