Teacher told a table of children that they have "learning difficulties"

[Donotknowhownottomind]

I worked as a supply TA in a school yesterday and today. Was in a Year 4 class today where the teacher accounted for a particular table's finding something difficult by telling them they have learning difficulties. She said this in front of the whole class. I don't know the class so don't know if they do have learning difficulties or really what she meant. One boy at that table has a hearing impairment and cerebral palsy and is very articulate and bright.

She also told another boy off for not clapping property and told him she didn't want that kind of Arabic "dancing" (instead of clapping) in her class.

I was a bit on both counts and don't see why just because kids are defenceless and have no choice over who their teacher is going to be, they should have to listen to crap .

Report her.
When I was 9 my teacher told the entire class I was disabled, and had learning difficulties, because I was left handed, stupid bitch.

what a horrible cunt of a teacher.
Report her to the head, not the agency.

You're a supply TA.

If you report her most likely outcome is the Head will ignore you and the agency will never give you work again (in any school) as they'll label you as a trouble maker.

The odds of the head listening to you are vanishingly small.

Yes I agree wildstallion. I also think she would tone down her shoutiness and inappropriateness if she were being observed .

There was an HMI inspection while I was there and I didn't think the part of the lesson they saw her teach (or any of the literacy lesson - the instructions were not clear, it was pitched at too high a level, it was sequenced in a messy confusing way, a lot of it was tedious and she didn't give individual children time to answer the questions she asked them directly, talking over them as they went well /erm and were generally gathering their thoughts) was very good so she may be observed more in future because of that. Again I think if observed she would be less inappropriately strict and shouty as well as more politically correct (though who knows as she probably thinks there was nothing wrong with her "learning difficulties" comment). Makes me wonder what rubbish teaching / damaging comments my dc and others have been subjected to which no one ever finds out about .

Would it be weird to send the head an anonymous letter in a couple of weeks ? Yes I know it would be weird.

Emmawoodlouse the teacher in question also came from another country whose educational system is definitely stricter (though does this have to mean going round the classroom in military fashion repeatedly shouting/screeching at people to put the date in the right place (for example) ). Maybe there is also a different ethos with regards to what is appropriate / not appropriate to say to the children in your class.

I don't know, at the very least I think teachers should "do no harm". I was at the same school another day last week and both the teachers I was with then were completely different. Not shouty at all and much kinder/more respectful towards the children.

I think it is a HUGE mistake not to be open about learning difficulties with children.

If a child has learning difficulties, or learning disabilities, for goodness sake, say so to them, don't be all cryptic and coy about it

Sure, privately. Not in front of the class.

No one wants to be singled out as "the stupid one" and whether you like it or not, learning disorders have stigmas.

You wouldn't be happy if your boss discussed your medical issues in front of all your colleagues because "there's no shame in it".

Ideally everyone would be cool with mental disorders/illnesses and medical conditions. But reality is, they're not. It's up to the individual person with that problem if they want it disclosed to everyone or not, not an outside party.

I sympathise OP with your problem about reporting this and it should be reported. I am a translator and once in a blue moon I come across something that is a public scandal and should be released to the media, but unfortunately I would never work again and this is the only job that keeps the family in food.

Feed it back. Use the example of the good teachers to show what you expect and how this teachers approach was so different and worrying.

I think it is a HUGE mistake not to be open about learning difficulties with children.

I couldn't agree more. But there is a huge gulf between carefully planned, age-appropriate honesty with the child in question, and equally carefully planned and appropriate peer awareness, and what is described here.

OP the agency will want to protect their revenue stream. I do think you need to mention this to the head. What he or she does with the information is then not your responsibility, but I do think you should say something. She could really damage the children in her care.

If a child has learning difficulties, or learning disabilities, for goodness sake, say so to them, don't be all cryptic and coy about it

If you announce publicly to a whole group of children that they have learning difficulties, it is in effect an invitation to the rest of the class to laugh at them. By all means tell them individually when it is appropriate that they have dyslexia/autism or whatever, that it is not their fault and does not make them thick or any worse than anyone else, but that is a completely different matter.

Children with learning difficulties know that they struggle they dont need a teacher blurting it out in front of a class fgs I hope you report this teacher

I think it is a HUGE mistake not to be open about learning difficulties with children.

I think it is wrong to define children's learning purely in terms of their difficulties. Yes, some children may have some individual learning needs, but these will include their strengths too.

My DC had a Statement of SEN and progress in the level SEN was not made by continually banging on about any difficulties and my DC did progress, so much so that the difficulties, that were apparent at one time, were overcome and the Statement was no longer needed. We encouraged and played to strengths and treated difficulties as challenges to be overcome.

Whilst not every child will overcome every difficulty, progress should not be ruled out. Needs are rarely static in terms of progression. This is why their learning should not be purely definined in this way.

Defined ^. Typo.