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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is not an acceptable thing to make 6/7 year olds do?

106 replies

Levvylife · 12/06/2013 11:01

Quick canvassing of opinion: teachers making kids do star jumps and say "I'm a wally" when they have made a mistake, is not really on is it? Even if it's supposed to be "light-hearted" but is consistently used as a technique?

OP posts:
princesssmartypantss · 12/06/2013 15:14

this is absolutely unacceptable and if i were you i would be seeing head teacher and if possible taking dh with me. i think if possible though not taking ds? i firmly believe you only get this time once, you want him to have a brilliant school experience and i imagine your headteacher would want the same. great teachers inspire children this sounds far from inspirational.

Original poster
Levvylife · 12/06/2013 16:25

Gawd, the whole situation is just awful. And I really hate conflict but it does need addressing. Sad

OP posts:
wishingchair · 12/06/2013 16:33

It's not conflict. I hate it too. I'd go to the head teacher and ask if he/she is aware of this and if it is school-supported practice. You'll probably find they're horrified!

If they say it is (extremely doubtful), then say "well I have an issue with it ... he hasn't much confidence so the fact her first response was negative was bad enough, but to then humiliate him in front of the class was frankly appalling. I'm struggling to get him to write anything now and I'm sure that can't be your objective".

Make sure you ask what they're going to do about it and explain you've given him permission to not do them in future (which of course is pointless because he wouldn't want to challenge his teacher ... he is only 6!). He's the same age as my DD. She'd be devastated. Bless him x

Heartbrokenmum73 · 12/06/2013 16:43

So you went into school at the end of the day and spoke to teacher/Head, yes, OP?

Lavenderloves · 12/06/2013 16:44

Only a formal complaint is appropriate, she is a bully.

I might accidently mention it all of the other parents.

Original poster
Levvylife · 12/06/2013 16:56

I couldn't do it this afternoon as there was a big school event on but I will go in first thing and get an appointment with the head and I'm going to make DH come too to back me up I think.

OP posts:
Pozzled · 12/06/2013 16:58

Absolutely atrocious. Not just the star jump bit, but as others have said, the total negativity.

As a teacher, I have often been handed bits of 'extra' work done at home. Sometimes the standard is dire- much lower than the child is capable of. However, my first instinct is ALWAYS to praise the effort and motivation- it's brilliant when they want to do extra. If they want more detailed feedback, I might discuss ways that it could be improved, but always in a supportive way. (E.g. 'You know what would make it EVEN better? If you change this verb here, then the tenses will all be consistent.')

This teacher is doing herself no favours whatsoever. I bet she spends her whole time wondering why the children don't seem to makeuch progress.

Trinpy · 12/06/2013 17:13

I remember my head teacher making me stand up in front of the class and tell everyone I was a wally because I answered a question wrong. I was already very shy about answering questions in class and this put me off for life! You should definitely complain. Being humiliated like this can really affect kids confidence.

zipzap · 12/06/2013 17:17

I would suggest that a suitable punishment for her would be to spend an entire assembly (at least 30 minutes worth) doing star jumps and saying I'm a rally in front of the school.

They can keep count and if she averages less than 20 a minute (or whatever is deemed a suitably punishing number) then she needs to do even more.

And meanwhile there can be a nice teacher doing an assembly about not bullying those you are in a position of power over with a bit of counting and averages for good measure. and maybe a bit about CPR in case it's all a bit much for her Grin

Ok so that's not going to happen but thinking about it might make you and your ds feel a bit better at the thought of it!

Oh and yes, teacher is definitely out of order on so many levels!

shewhowines · 12/06/2013 17:35

It's not acceptable, even in class ,but especially not so, for something done at home that he made a real effort for.

unadulterateddad · 12/06/2013 17:37

Agree with crinkle, that is outrageous behavior by the teacher - it has nothing to do with teaching, it's humiliation..

miffybun73 · 12/06/2013 17:40

YANBU, how awful. Poor kids :( I'd be furious.

VeryHappyMama · 12/06/2013 17:47

YANBU your poor son. I hope he is ok and continues with his writing

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 12/06/2013 21:13

Incorrect use of a tense ?! In Year 1?!

Is it a private school or something? DD's a fairly smart Y1 and I wouldn't expect her spelling and grammar to be 100%, and her handwriting is appalling (but so is mine Blush)

fuzzpig · 12/06/2013 21:16

That's disgusting, YANBU at all Angry

princesssmartypantss · 12/06/2013 21:24

Hope you manage to speak to head tomorrow, please don't worry about headteachers reaction, other than to think they will be totally shocked by the teachers behaviour. Hope your ds is ok, such a lovely age and so much opportunity to develop his confidence, the teacher is failing to see how important her role is!

MulberryJane · 12/06/2013 21:32

Why oh why do idiots like this, a) go into teaching in the first place and b) manage to qualify in the first place? Utter, utter stupidity.

As a teacher I am embarrassed for my profession. As 'idealistic' as it might seem a, teacher's motivation should be wanting their students to feel good about themselves and for them to succeed. My teacher training nearly gave me a breakdown because of trying to find so many different strategies to use; in the same way as many of my colleagues, I just wanted to give the students a positive experience in everything I taught them. I still do.

Then we get knobbers that do things like this. This teacher has created the conflict, you must meet with the head teacher and the class teacher. I'm thinking that this may not be the only issue. Any teacher stupid enough to do something like this regularly is probably making other mistakes too. Your poor child.

cosysocks · 12/06/2013 21:34

You know I'm not normally outraged... But this has made me furious!!! Please go speak to the head, it is not on for your son to be humiliated like that.

LiegeAndLief · 12/06/2013 21:54

Oh my god. I have a 6yo in Y2 who likes writing stories at home. His spelling isn't brilliant and he has missed out words and punctuation in his rush to write down his thoughts. If that was his teacher's reaction to his writing that he didn't even do at school I would be utterly furious.

God luck tomorrow.

ShadowStorm · 12/06/2013 22:04

YANBU.

Publically humiliating a child for making a mistake is a terrible way to treat a child.

Sounds like the sort of thing that could destroy a child's confidence or lead to them refusing to try at school for fear of getting things wrong.

Definitely complain.

LondonBus · 12/06/2013 22:08

I am sat her like this. Shock

xylem8 · 12/06/2013 22:24

Maybe get some corroboration before you go in all guns blazing

InLoveWithDavidTennant · 12/06/2013 22:25

Shock holy crap! what a nasty horrid woman.

good luck tomorrow. i hope they take it seriously. i dont have any dc's but i would be so Angry and upset if this happened to my nephew Sad

LindyHemming · 12/06/2013 23:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Elquota · 12/06/2013 23:56

Definitely not acceptable.

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