to be shocked that I heard the teacher shouting this to a primary age child?

[CrapBag]

I was in the school the other day. A class were having PE, I don't know what age group. It was a male teacher with a particularly loud shouty voice. From the shouting I established that a boy had cut in the line (they were lining up to leave the hall). The teacher really shouted at this boy about cutting in and how rude it was etc etc, really going for it. Then we heard "YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BULLY" shouted to this lad.

I know I don't know this child, he may be a bully. I don't know the context other than he cut in line at the end of PE but I was quite horrifed really to hear a teacher shout, and I do mean shout as in bellow, at this lad and call him this.

I must admit I am a fan of labelling the behaviour rather than the child. I am by no means a perfect parent but if DS is playing up, I will always tell him that what he is doing is naughty etc, not that he is naughty.

I wouldn't have been at all happy had this been my DC. I know it wasn't as mine is in reception and this was an older class.

Should I be shocked? Am I just being too precious at my first born being at school now?

[Dominodonkey]

I understand your argument flow I just don't agree with it for every case. As someone said up thread since we don't really know the full circumstance we were really debating whether teachers should shou at children and also what they should shout. I am of the opinion that actually some badly behaved children do need the short sharp shock of being harshly shouted at. I know many people on this thread disagree with me.

[Dominodonkey]

When there is bullying I am not interested in the feelings of the bully only the bullied and they were probably happy that their tormentor was receiving a dressing down.

[flow4]

I definitely do. Think about it personally. Have you ever had someone shout in your face? How did it make you feel? Did it make you recognise the error of your ways, or did it make you angry? Did it change your behaviour for the better? If you were shouted at by someone literally twice your size, would you feel afraid? Would you feel dis-empowered? And would you then be tempted to take these bad feelings out on someone else?

I don't think there has been a human being in the whole of history of the world who was shouted at, even if they were being a total dck, and became less of a dck as a result...

[hmc]

I have read some of this thread, but after a bit felt like sticking a gun to my own temple and so had to stop...

Huge leap by some posters - massive- to assume that the child in question was a bully. What do we know - he cut in line - hardly incontrovertible proof of bullying. No, teachers should not bellow at their pupils (and op said that the teacher really bellowed) and yes i would be concerned on overhearing this little exchange

[Dominodonkey]

Actually I have. I went through a bitchy phase at primary and my teacher shouted at me very harshly saying I would have no friends I I behaves that way. It was exactly what I needed. I felt crap and it showed me how the girl I had been mean
To had felt. It does work for some kids.

[flow4]

Ah well, I guess you're right that it works for some kids then.
Not for anyone I know though :(

[Kalisi]

I think this thread took quite an unfortunate turn in the wrong direction when the London riots were mentioned which was just silly. Ofcourse the issue was going to be magnified from then on and accusing any opposition of frothing at the mouth and jumping up and down is just more proof that the point has been lost here. It is the debate equivilent of patting on the head and saying 'calm down dear' which is frankly pretty patronising and unfortunately the point where the moral highground was lost.

Anyway now the hysteria has died down,I do think we're going in circles here. Nobody wants the teacher hung out to dry, everyone seems to agree that schools need to be firm with discipline especially when bullying is involved and we all seem to realise that the teacher may have been pushed to the end of his tether. However, the question is whether his responce to the childs action was unreasonable, to which I think it was at worst cruel and at best counter-productive. At this point I guess we have to agree to disagree.

Now if I could just control this steam coming out my ears I'll be on my merry way

[MoRaw]

Hehehe. Very predictable Kalisi. .

I would repeat my point about the London Riots but I fear you may take a turn for the worse (with all that foaming) so I will take it that you appreciate my point stands. In any case, I have wasted far too much time responding to you and Ineedmoresleep so in my book, you are dismissed! Run along now and have a lovely day!

Dominodonkey I know what you mean and I like that you are able to use yourself as evidence.

[Kalisi]

Yes I'm considering the fact that you might actually be my Grandfather faints at the tightness of my twisted knickers