To want action taken against the teacher?

[Shewhojuggles]

My DD is in y6 and yesterday her teacher threw a book at her in front of the whole class and told her that her work isn't good enough. She came home upset.

The teacher has apologised to her and the Head Teacher has too and said it won't happen again. AIBU to want further action taken? She's demeaned DD in front of her peers and broken the trust that a child (and me) should have in the teacher and her duty of care. I'm absolutely livid

Wow. 'Threw' how? Threw it down on the desk? Threw it at her face/chest - what? Did it hit her?

What action could you take? Was she injured?

No - the fact that both the teacher and HT have apologized and added that it won't happen again - means it won't or the teacher will be gone. A terrible thing to happen to your dd and I'm not minimizing it but don't do anything else.

In my day it was hard wooden blackboard rubbers. You'd end up covered in chalk

Just let it go, your dd will get over it. Perhaps she needs to work harder.

You could complain to the governors or ask what action is being taken. But yr 6- do you want to destroy your dad's relationship with the teacher/ school?

YABU. The head has dealt with it - but I would be willing to bet that teacher "retires" or is moved after this term. Poor your DD.

It doesn't sound particularly bad. Was your DD's work bad? Perhaps the teacher thought this was the right way to motivate her. What sort of book was thrown - an exercise book?

Yes, nothing like throwing things at kids to get them to work harder. That'll learn 'em.

YANBU to be angry Shew, sounds like it wouldn't be a bad thing if the teacher took some time away from the classroom, she's clearly overwhelmed.

The teacher and head teacher have apologised.

Don't know what further action you have in mind, but it sounds as if they've already done enough to me.

Sounds as if your daughter needs to pull her socks up. If you focus too much on her teacher's actions, she might lose sight of that.

I'm not sure if any further action can be taken. It depends on how it happened. Throwing a book at her is different to throwing her book on to a desk, although both actions are very unprofessional. You could ask that your daughter is moved to a different class. Awful behaviour by the teacher.

What further action do you feel would be appropriate?

imo, the apology is enough. It would be disproportionate to drum her out of the profession or have her tarred and feathered much as I can understand motherly anger would be baying for that right now

When I was a kid, our teachers would chuck all sorts at us. Blackboard rubbers, chalk, rulers, you name it. And scream like banshees.

Now I am not suggesting we go back to those times! But ducking to avoid a flying blackboard rubber didn't have a lasting effect on most of us so I am just trying to reassure you that your child is unlikely to suffer unduly because she had a book lobbed in her direction and a few harsh words.

In fact, due to the apology, she is likely, with your help, to understand that people get angry and while it's not right, an apology helps. You can help her to see that and also to understand that it is nice to forgive people who apologise to us and to see that we all make mistakes sometimes.

The issue of the standard of her work is a separate matter, I am sure she is doing her best so perhaps when things have calmed a bit, you can find out where the teacher thinks the room for improvement is and how better that can be addressed because clearly yelling and chucking stuff is inappropriate.

The right way to motivate her, Hereward? Would a boss at work throw stuff at her employees to 'motivate' them? If it's not acceptable for an adult, it's not acceptable for a child.

Not sure what you can do though, OP, if head and teacher have apologized.

YABU, I think an apology from the teacher and HT is enough. What do you want to happen, for the teacher to be fired? From what I have heard from teacher friends, teaching is a very stressful profession at the moment, and while this doesn't excuse her behaviour, it may be one of the reasons why she acted inappropriately. It was very unprofessional, but I would let it go now.

The teacher and head has apologized, I think that's ok for now. Not sure what else can be done? You could suggest she be swapped with another teacher for the same lesson taught.
Otoh I'm not condoning it, but kids are no angels as well. In my day if a teacher did this you wouldn't tell you parents because you would get into more trouble. Now parents get too involved and kids take advantage of this. I think let it rest for now.

As others have said they have apologised. Now everyone needs to move on

If the apology seemed sincere and genuinely remorseful I wouldn't take any further action, beyond making it clear to HT that if there is so much as a hint of this happening again you'll be taking action. I would also make sure that your DD is ok remaining in that class. Hopefully the teacher will be making a real effort to win back her trust.

I think you need to think about what you want to achieve rather than how you feel (however valid).

So: decide what outcome what be satisfactory and work from there.

FWIW I would not take it further as long as I felt the apologies were sincere and that my DC could continue with that particular teacher.

Telling her that her work wasn't good enough in front of the class wouldn't bother me at all. Presume it was true and she needs to pull her socks up?

Was the book thrown down onto her desk? Thrown at her face? There is a massive difference.

What more do you want up happen? Would you like the teacher whipped through the streets of Aberdeen?

Agree with Ladyluck. Depends precisely what happened (flinging a book onto the desk different from throwing a book at her head obviously) but maybe the teacher had a bad day and what was supposed to sound disappointed came out as antagonistic.

One way to disempower your child is to intervene when anything remotely off happens. It's really important that they learn to take the rough with the smooth - even at school not everything is always going to be nice and nurturing. Otherwise the real world is a horrible shock and you'll end up with a child who needs you to intervene all the time because bad things must not happen.

And I speak as someone whose DD came home in tears yesterday because a TA had spoken brusquely to her in a way that was uncalled for - I didn't see it but another parent did and was she was so annoyed about it that the other parent went straight out and bought DD a little card to make her feel better! Absolutely no need for any further action unless it happens time and time again.

is there a back story here?

The fact that the teacher and HT apologised should be sufficient. Gives you an opportunity to discuss with your DD about why this happened, why adults sometimes make mistakes and as long as they offer a sincere apology, both parties can learn from the incident. Ask her why she thinks the teacher might have made this mistake, how she should focus on her own behaviour and work harder in future. Focusing your anger on the teacher is not going to be productive long term, and will not send the message that you are working with the school through these peaks and troughs.

this won't be popular.

yes, we all had all sorts chucked at us when we were at school when we played up, slacked off or were just too annoying. This is not approved discipline any more.

BUT teachers are still human and can lose it. I don't see how you can discipline a class without occasional yelling unless they are all little paragons.

it was wrong and so merits a deserved apology, and should not happen again. But I find it hard to believe that it was totally unprovoked, so lessons to be learned on both sides.

Maybe the child cannot cope with the work and needs further help. That would be a reason for further action to be taken.

I had a board marker lobbed at my head in a maths class when I was 15, but the teacher had warned me about five times to stop talking

As others have said above, you have received two apologies and an assurance that it won't happen again. I'm sure the teacher knew how badly she'd behaved the second the words left her mouth so I wouldn't push for anything further.

so, the question is; WAS the work not good enough?

When I was a student nurse there was a surgeon who used to lob things in theatre, mainly surgical instruments. One day he threw a freshly amputated leg at one of the theatre nurses

I do feel for your DD, I had a teacher swear at me about getting another pen from my pencil tin and I wanted to be small enough to crawl under the desks.
An apology has been made. I'm not really sure what further action you expect for your DD? It was an extreme reaction from the teacher and they have (and the head as they should as responsibility for the school sits with them) apologised.
The teacher will no doubt be subject to scrutiny BUT that is a matter for the school.
Year 6 is a tough year. I hope your daughter can move past this (hopefully out of character bevaviour) to make the most of her year.