to think the teacher shouldn't have called DN a bloody stupid twat?

[wetspringday]

DN was working on a compter yesterday and leaned back in his chair (shouldn't have done this) but he knocked over a cup of coffee that went over coursework. The teacher yelled at DN and called him a bloody stupid twat.

DN wasn't bothered and seemed to find it quite funny but I think I'd probably have to say something to the teacher concerned along the lines of it not being acceptable. DN is in Year 10 by the way (15.)

AIBU?

[wetspringday]

Crap is a lot milder than shit though - or is that just in this neck of the woods?

That said, as a general rule of thumb I don't think it's advisable to say something to the pupils you wouldn't have them say to you (although I am guilty of sometimes saying 'shut up' - tends to be to the class rather than an individual though.)

[wetspringday]

yeah, I wouldn't (if it was my son) have complained to the school but rather have said to the teacher that while I appreciated that in all probability the child was a bloody stupid twat would prefer it if such language wasn't used to describe him in his presence!

[IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat]

Thanks for clarifying . I'm a secondary teacher and love working with teenagers, but would have been furious over coursework destruction that was so avoidable.

I sympathise with the teacher's emotions, but they were out of order to use that language to a pupil in that context.

For those questioning why the teacher had a coffee: I (and all my colleagues) have tea and coffee in the classroom. I spend breaks and lunches rushing around like a blue-arsed fly and don't have time to leisurely sit in the staffroom during breaks. Generally I can be trusted not to spill it and it is invariably cold by the time I get to have a sip. Students are allowed water bottles, sixth formers and teachers are allowed hot drinks.

[defineme]

The teacher was stressed-it's that time of year.Coursework is priceless. They probably needed cup of coffee to stay awake because it's that time of year and I'm guessing most posters are allowed a cup of coffee at work..
Your dn shouldn't have been leaning back. A 'bit gormless' with his aunt probably means irritating twat with friends in class.

Twat is not the same as cunt -just as willy is not the same as cock.

It's none of your business and he's 15-more than old enough to cope with that and more than old enough to be focused rather than gormless.

[wetspringday]

Incredible, I've just asked DN and he has assured me the coursework was salvaged "it might have had a bit of a mark on it though," he added I do pity the teacher - poor sod thought he would finally get a hot drink and some marking and then DN decides to sit back in his chair

[ThistleVille]

Sorry, just not acceptable.

[Salmotrutta]

If I had a pound for every time I have said "Shut up"...



In my defence - I was told to "F**k Off" or verbally abused beforeI said "Shut Up"...

[wetspringday]

'Gormless' was intended with affection rather than as a derogatory comment, defineme. He's a pretty nice lad and on course to do well and to be fair if leaning back in his chair is about the length of his crimes in 4 years at secondary school I don't think he's on course for a deliquent future.

[Salmotrutta]

Those saying coffee is allowed in your classroom...

Where do you work?!

Never been sanctioned in any school I've ever worked in!

[HollyBerryBush]

Every class room has a kettle in where I work - on account of no bugger having time for breaks or lunch

[ravenAK]

I have coffee in my classroom.

Officially, we are supposed to use lidded mugs, for H&S reasons. The Head fully recognises that no-one ever has time to neck a coffee at break!

In practice, I use an ordinary mug because I'm awkward like that & don't like it rubber flavoured. If it got spilled I'd acknowledge that I was the twat for leaving it somewhere knockable, though.

[IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat]

Just a state secondary Salmo.

I've been in 4 schools (3 training placements). 2 didn't allow tea/coffee and the other 2 did. I couldn't make it through a triple period without tea!

[Hulababy]

I am in an infant school and though hot drinks are not encouraged we do have lidded cups which we can use in classrooms.

[wetspringday]

Triple period? how long is that? I think I'd need GIN, never mind tea

[ravenAK]

Anyway, thinking about this one, I wouldn't be offended by the sweariness so much as by the use of name-calling.

I'm OK with asking a student if he gives a shit, but not with calling him a little shit, iyswim.

Although I do generally refrain from all swearing in the classroom -I think we can all agree that it isn't appropriate.

With the caveat that, in the last few lessons with year 11, I'll say anything that'll get them to sit up, pay f-ing attention, & hopefully get a few extra marks!

[Startail]

Oh for fucking, cunting, twats sake lighten up.
Teachers are believe it or not human, the world isn't going to end if they respond in a perfectly normal way to something that is going to cause them stress, especially at this time of year.

I doubt my DD would be in the least offended, just sorry for being a twat.

[IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat]

A triple period is 2.5 hours. Just about manageable for sixth form, but due to a timetabling error last year, I ended up with year 8 for a triple period. Plus we were told we couldn't give them a five minute break, or let them out for the toilet! (Needless to say that I ignored the last directive).

A lovely colleague brought tea to our classrooms during this session (and sometimes chocolate too). Lifesaver!

[Picturepuncture]

2.5 hours!! Blimey. With year 8? That's inhumane..

We are allowed tea/coffee in classrooms and most staff choose to use a judicious amount of swearing to shock/ramn a point home (generally with 15+!). That is after all the function of swearing in any language.

I wouldn't use the 'bloody stupid twat' approach however. It's unfortunate that this teacher did, however, no harm done. Also what would having a quiet word with the teacher achieve? Either he knows he shouldn't have said it and is hoping he doesn't get flak for it (won't do it again) or he thinks it's perfectly fine and will think you are also a twat for complaining. It's loose loose for you.

[guidingstar]

Depending on where you are in the UK depends on how bad you think the word twat is. I grew up thinking nothing of the word twat, however now live in an area of the UK where it is seem as a really bad word.

The things that worry me is why did the teacher have a liquid in a classroom? And why did they still have course work on there desk, SQA, AQA and exdell have all requested there sample by now!

[HollyBerryBush]

SQA, AQA and exdell have all requested there sample by now!

No they haven't, the marks had to be in by the 15th, the moderators are still requesting sample lists.

Again, coursework is not exclusive to GCSEs , it applies to BTEC and OCR nationals too and probably other vocational stuff

Y10 will also be doing coursework.

[IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat]

It was torturous, for them and me! (Worried I've outed myself now, as surely no other school in the history of timetabling has ever thought that this would be a good idea).

Sorry for derailing the thread a bit, OP!

[Picturepuncture]

The things that worry me is why did the teacher have a liquid in a classroom?

Gosh how awful. Drinking a hot drink around 15 year olds. I mean no responsible parent would do that would they?

[Salmotrutta]

Yes, well, any State Secondary I've ever worked in (admittedly Scotland, so maybe different) would expect you to be able to endure 2 hours without coffee.

Drinks of any kind in the classroom are frowned on up here. That's what break and lunchtime are for.

[Salmotrutta]

I don't want to state my subject area - but any teacher bringing a cup of anything into a classroom in my subject would be a massive twat.