To think there is no excuse for a teacher to be nasty to a child?

[WorriedWatcher]

Name changing regular as too many people know my usual name and this could have repercussions if someone knew who I was!

Want to be careful about how I say this. Basically, the things I am going to mention below are definitely happening as I work in the school and have witnessed a lot of them first hand.

I don't feel the teacher in question is treating the children very well and am not sure what I can do about it. In terms of context, the lady is the deputy head and very pally with the head (both there 15+years) so in terms of me reporting it, the head 'is aware' of the situation but hasn't actually done anything about it!

Children in question are 7 and 8:

-shouted at everyday

• most of the class are terrified of her, she is very irrational and can shout at one child for something and help a second child for the same thing
• if a child asks her a question about the work, they will often be shouted at because she has already told them X number of times
• a child will ask a question and because they weren't deemed to have been listening during the whole class teaching the teacher refused to help them

-picking on certain individuals e.g. Questioning whether a child should even be allowed to be part of a show (in a nasty way mocking her Infront of the rest of the class)

• rubbishing a child's work to another member of staff because nothing X does is ever any good etc

There are loads of other examples but I just want to know if this is acceptable for 7 and 8 year olds and I am just too soft or if I should push for the head to do more.

Because it's in the OP. Sorry.

I agree with the previous poster who said that you absolutely should not discuss this on social media - it's not professional and doesn't achieve anything. You already know what you should do. If the head is a non-starter then speak to the deputy and CP officer who will have to address it. Put it in writing and keep a record. If necessary escalate to the LA.

Been on a safer recruitment course in the last few days. This is abuse, and this teacher is a risk to children. Abuse isn't just physical or sexual, as you know. I'd contact the safeguarding team of your LEA. If the school/other staff/head are aware of this teacher's "methods" and haven't acted, they are a risk too. Good luck.

Two of your examples don't sound too bad though- is a teacher really supposed to just smile sweetly and explain something again if a child has been told something several times already and wasn't listening, or to offer extra help to a child who wasn't listening to the lesson? How will they learn to listen if there are no repercussions?

Jessie that teacher sounds like a bully, using intimidation to scare little children. What if the child dident understand the teacher! This sounds like back in the day, where children were labelled thick or stupid by similar teachers if they found the work hard or had SN. Picking on and excluding children from shows, and mocking them, rubbishing a child's work to staff, with the view that nothing that tge child does is any good . This type of approach has no place in modern teaching, hell tes this teacher should be pulled up in it. I am sure Ofstead would be very interested.

We had this when ds was in Y3 - it was the catalyst that sped up his transfer to the indy sector. The woman was also the deputy and there were lots of rumours that if you complained it got worse for your child. She was an evil, vile liar. I did complain to the head and put it in writing and said I had heard all the rumours and if things got worse for my child I would take matters beyond the school. The head was actually very supportive because the woman had been a problem for years but no-one had made a formal complaint. Because nothing happened to my child there were two more formal complaints the next year and two more the year after that. At that point she was taken away from teaching and put on a development project. She retired shortly afterwards. It was very very hard and very very stressful but I wasn't going to stand aside and see her get away with it year after year. She used to have a two/three targets every year and make their lives an absolute misery - and it was always the bright, popular children whom I suspect she felt needed taking down a peg or two. All the staff knew and nothing had been done for years. It is a terrible thing to see your own child so downheartened they cry themselves to sleep. Never in trouble before or since being taught by that evil cowbag.

Oh, and the school went from strength to strength once her power was diluted. I found out much later that the previous head had left because of her.

This is typical of 'old school' teachers and particularly menopausal ones!
The trouble is each of the individual things could be justified under certain circumastances so I don't think you'll get anywhere.
I thoink shouting/ refusing to help a child who doesn't know what to do because they weren't listening, threatening to exclude naughty child from show etc aren't actually that bad and certainly not disciplinary offences.

pixiepotter but when it's sustained and when a child is crying itself to sleep and doesn't want to go to school any more it is bullying.

this reminds me of primary school teacher we had.
she wasn't my teacher but she had a horrid reputation of being a cow.
when the head announced in assembly that she was leaving, the entire hall erupted with 'yeses' and cheers

Pixie.. Without sounding judgemental and sarcastic, I find your remark 'particularly the menopausal ones' quite offensive. You can be menopausal without being a terrible teacher. They were probably horrible before they reached that age. Please don't take offence but I am very menopausal at the moment and don't think it turned me into a bully. Just asked my boss and she was aghast at what you said.

Pixie it's how these are allowed to stay and the problem keeps on and on. Parents need to make a formal complaint to OFSTEAD and LEA, if their child is being affected by this teacher. Op needs to take tge matter further too. It's not acceptable that children are being terrified and do not want to go to school because of these rescuers behaviour. It can be very damaging to the child in the long term.

Teachers doh

The only time that anything seems to happen with cases of abuse is when it's caught on audio/video.

marylou it's just my experience!

and I don't think there aren't grounds for complaint, I have come across teachers like this that have been horrible bullies to the younger NQTs as well, I just don't think realistically you will get anywhere with complaining.

Pixi that is exactly the type of attitude which keeps bullies in their job. Of course op should make a complaint, it could go either or, but at least she has done it, if enough parents complain something has to be done.