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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this teacher is a bit of a cowbag?

242 replies

SaintLauren · 24/01/2014 21:39

My DD is 5 is they started to learn how to sing "Alouette" in school. My DH is french and does not like this song because of what it's about and my DD can understand the song too.

Today she told her teacher that her dad doesn't like her singing that song because of what it means.

And the teacher replied that - yes that was absolutely fine, do you like the song Ring Around The Rosie.

My DD said yes she loved that song and the teacher replied that it's a song about people dying from the plague.

Aibu to think this makes her a cowbag?

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnish · 25/01/2014 00:14

Couldn't agree with you more make.

And with that I'm off to bed, to no doubt dream about goats, larks and headteachers pissing themselves laughing at complaints against their cowbag staff.

NigellasDealer · 25/01/2014 00:17

tbh saintlauren i think you might have got people's backs up by calling the teacher a 'cowbag' it does sound a bit....I don't know....immature or something.
I think a lot of people tend to forget that teachers are only human, and some little kid coming up and putting her on the spot about a kind of 'infant school classic' song because her daddy doesn't like it, might just have been irritating after a very long day, who knows?
And to be honest a song about plucking a bird is not that bad is it?

makemineapinot · 25/01/2014 00:18

Yup, maybe frere Jaques will wake us all up with the morning bells! Read my post op. That is what the parent did, the parent who believed her child over a trained professional whomever above and beyond, who loves her job and is probably (again) not sleeping because she's so upset at the unfounded accusation levelled against her.

Original poster
SaintLauren · 25/01/2014 00:19

And to be honest a song about plucking a bird is not that bad is it? Have you read the actual lyrics Nigella?

It's subjective, some people will think it's horrible and some it wouldn't bother. Everyone is allowed freedom of speech.

OP posts:
makemineapinot · 25/01/2014 00:20

Whomever us a typo caused by my iPad... Before I get called up on that! Was typing 'who'

Original poster
SaintLauren · 25/01/2014 00:21

headteachers pissing themselves laughing at complaint

Where exactly did I say I was going to make a complaint? Confused

But ok .... just read what you want you want to see.

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 25/01/2014 00:21

Have you read the actual lyrics Nigella
no i just remember it from infant or junior school...something about la tete? a la tete! a la tete!
ahh happy days

Sparkletshirt · 25/01/2014 00:22

You have to wonder about people when you can't stick up for a 5 year old. Or trust a teacher to be, I don't know - bigger than them? They say it takes all sorts.

Original poster
SaintLauren · 25/01/2014 00:25

I don't see the comparison make.

I haven't said a single word to the teacher or anyone in the school and in all likelihood I won't. No-one else is involved, and I haven't spoken to anyone related in the school in any way.

I also quite plainly said that I don't solely believe everything my daughter tells me.

But you've already come out and accused me in an underhand why of being a troll so what does any of this matter?

OP posts:
treadheavily · 25/01/2014 00:26

I think you are being ridiculous. It is a little song. Honestly if this is offensive to you steel yourself for a miserable time through the school years.

Dinosaurporn · 25/01/2014 00:27

Sorry for upsetting you OP, the only reason I checked your name is because I thought I recognised you from another thread.

Nothing creepy intended.

Mind you I still think you sound very angry.

(Shrugs shoulders and leaves the thread)

makemineapinot · 25/01/2014 00:30

By all means stick up for a 5 year old, when you have all the facts. Teachers do - I do, the ones I know do. Just saying... 5year olds very very often misconstrue things and can get the most horrendous attack of the vapours over a heinous crime like someone touching THEIR (school) rubber! If it means enough to you to post here, speak to the teacher, she will probably take a minute to think what on earth you're on about, (would be incredulous at this convo) as op's dd probably mentioned her dad's opinion, may have said why, teacher quite rightly may briefly have said we have British songs/rhymes equally horrific in nature (may have made a mistake about ring a ring being about the plague - don't know historically as I wasn't there!) but dealt with the issue professionally and moved on as teachers do. Op's dd may have told her mum her version and now the teacher is a vow bag with posters recommending complaints to the ht! Ooft!

NigellasDealer · 25/01/2014 00:31

Lark, nice lark,
Lark, I will pluck you.
1.

I will pluck your head. x2
And your head! And your head!
Lark! Lark!
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
2.

I will pluck your beak. x2
And your beak! x2
And your head!
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
3.

I will pluck your eyes. x2
And your eyes! x
And your beak! x2
And your head! x2
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
4.

I will pluck your neck. x2
And your neck! x2
And your eyes! x2
And your beak! x2
And your head! x2
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
5.

I will pluck your wings. x2
And your wings! x2
And your neck! x2
And your eyes! x2
And your beak! x2
And your head! x2
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
6.

I will pluck your legs. x2
And your legs! x2
And your wings! x2
And your neck! x2
And your eyes! x2
And your beak! x2
And your head! x2
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
7.

I will pluck your tail. x2
And your tail! x2
And your legs! x2
And your wings! x2
And your neck! x2
And your eyes! x2
And your beak! x2
And your head! x2
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
8.

I will pluck your back. x2
And your back! x2
And your tail! x2
And your legs! x2
And your wings! x2
And your neck! x2
And your eyes! x2
And your beak! x2
And your head! x2
Lark! x2
O-o-o-oh
Refrain
Refrain
Little skylark, lovely little skylark,
Little skylark, I'll pluck your feathers off.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 25/01/2014 00:32

Blimey, people are so narky when someone dares to criticise a teacher!

YANBU, Lauren - the context and the way she said it is irrelevant, you don't go about telling a 5 yr old that her favourite nursery rhyme is about my plague!

Original poster
SaintLauren · 25/01/2014 00:32

Upsetting me? Confused ....... Believing me to be very angry?? Confused

You seem to have a lot of knowledge about a stranger on an internet forum.

I wouldn't let anyone on an internet forum have any effect on my mood. It's odd that you think you personally would have such an effect on me as to upset me.

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 25/01/2014 00:32

interestingly it seems to be a French Canadian song - is that why your husband doesn't like it?

MoominsYonisAreScary · 25/01/2014 00:34

Op hasnt said it is offensive to her, her 5 year old dd diesnt like the song because she understands what it is about.

I dont know the translation but the point is your daughter doesnt like it, the teacher should have talked to her about it. Yes lots of nurseru rhymes are about not very nice things (or not) but the difference is a 5 year old wouldnt understand that unless it was explained to them

makemineapinot · 25/01/2014 00:34

Btw op, I gave you examples of how parents can go ott!

Merel · 25/01/2014 00:36

Maybe she just said something thought provoking in the hope that your child would analyse and think independently about song meanings. I agree that the lyrics in Alouette are far more graphic than Ring a Ring a Rosies. What does your daughter make of it?

aderynlas · 25/01/2014 00:38

My children love gruesome songs and stories. Its a shame your little girl was upset op but maybe the teacher was just trying to explain.

Original poster
SaintLauren · 25/01/2014 00:39

Bit of an odd thing to say Nigella Confused my DH doesn't have an issue with Candians .... we have been to Canada numerous times and absolutely love the country.

The only thing to hate about Canada is that it produced Justin Bieber.

make I don't know what you want from me, it's pointless repeating myself. I never said I was making a complaint and I never said "my daughter is an angel who has never told a lie in her life". What else do you want me to say?

I also don't understand why someone who keep contributing to a thread if they thought the OP was a troll. I have been on many threads where I have thought the OP was a troll - I either report it or just ignore that thread.

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 25/01/2014 00:39

oh i just imagined how for example an English person might say 'ooh bloody American song' you know?

Original poster
SaintLauren · 25/01/2014 00:43

What does your daughter make of it?

She didn't like it, don't get me wrong it didn't make her cry or upset her to that point but she spoke to her dad about it and he said he didn't like that song either and if she didn't want to sing it then she didn't have too.

Like I said before she can be quite shy and quiet so I think it would have taken her a lot to say to a teacher that she didn't like singing it.

OP posts:
Sparkletshirt · 25/01/2014 00:47

Maybe people would like you to be upset, because you sound like you have a very nice life? Not that I'd be cynical enough to say that of course....

doh!

madwomanintheatt1c · 25/01/2014 00:49

Ha ha ha ha.

So your dd came home singing Alouette, and your dh told her it was horrible and about savaging dead birds.

Your dd went to school, with her newfound knowledge about the song, and asked her teacher.

And the teacher did EXACTLY what your dh did, and ruined another song for her, that she had no idea about.

Gee, if it hadn't been for your dh and the teacher, your dd could still be singing both songs happily.

Bwahahahaha ha.