To think this was a bit tactless of the teacher

[callherwillow]

The teacher in question referred to friends daughter (Year 4) as 'bonny'. I realise that there are areas of the country where this is just a compliment without any other connotations but here it essentially means 'fat.'

The friends DD was a few minutes late due to helping set up the assembly and upon entering had gone to sit with her friends and was stopped by the teacher who tried to steer her to the year 6s and when she politely explained she was in year 4 the teacher commented (in a whole school assembly where the children could all hear her) 'well, you are a very bonny girl for year 4, aren't you?'

Not the teachers finest hour, I don't think?

Perhaps the other teacher is a mumsnetter and has decided to start using Bobby in the correct more commonly used way?

bonny even. Stupid autocorrect.

'I'm not entirely sure what you expected to happen on this thread'

Well, Ego, I expected a comment like that :)

Because you always get them, for having the tenacity to post.

If you are really interested I'll PM you but I really don't think you're that bothered, are you?

Bonny means pretty in a healthy looking way to me. So a slight tan, ruddy cheeks and sparkle in the eyes. And yes, probably quite tall. But not fat where I come from. Rather the opposite.

Fool

It wouldn't be used as an insult, per se.

It is used, generally, instead of fat when to say an outright 'fat' would be considered rude or inappropriate.

YANBU OP (& I have no idea why some posters are struggling with the concept of a local dialect). But... they presumably said it in the heat of the moment (maybe flustered by their mistake?) and probably shouldn't be pulled up on it.

you think she called the kid fat in front of all the other students

why havent you reported her yet? yabu. poor kid

Northerner (S Yorks) here. To me it means you look good due to being in good health, kind of the female equivalent of 'strapping young lad'. I would take her use of bonny as meaning the child looks healthy and strong for her age. Not fat

I think the teacher clearly is the kind of person to call a pupil fat for year 4, as she did, didn't she? :) As I have said, I fully recognise it may be odd if you aren't used to hearing 'bonny' as a synonym for 'fat', but it very definitely is here.

I have repeatedly explained what I think the teacher meant when she said 'bonny.'

I'm not sure why you persist in demanding answers for questions I have repeatedly answered.

Yes, probably, Vashta :) Thank you for your measured post.

Looking at the context of the thread (and that she was being ushered to the older class), the teacher obviously thought she was older because she is bigger. Bonny can mean bigger (not always fat). I think that's what she meant. But I doubt the whole school heard it btw, assembly halls are usually pretty crowded, noisy places unless it was in complete silence).

Well yes, the assembly had started.

I'm not sure why you persist in demanding answers for questions I have repeatedly answered.

why havent you reported her yet?

According to this dictionary, there are 3 definitions:

www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bonny

I think the teacher probably meant she's a tall girl for her age. It's exactly the sort of thing my late nan would've said along with 'buxom lass' but she wouldn't have meant any harm at all.

That 'list' was mentioned the other day and I've seen it at least twice since- it wasn't funny the first time and it won't be funny again when someone questions a teacher.

FGS - it's a nice friendly thing to say. It means pretty, healthy, glowing, well; beautiful in a healthy way rather than an ethereal way.

Sad when every tiny thing a teacher says is analysed and commented on and assumed to be rude, sexist, racist, "inappropriate", unprofessional.

Sorry, but also, were you there? Did your DD friend tell her and she told you? All a bit of an over reaction I think.
God help teachers these days.

Wow how rude. I only ever know Bonny to mean good things but clearly from her comment it means 'large'! Otherwise why 'well, you are a very bonny girl for year 4, aren't you?'"

www.thefreedictionary.com/bonny

I think numbers are 4 and maybe 5 is the relevant one here....

bonny

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
bon·ny also bon·nie (bŏn′ē)
adj. bon·ni·er, bon·ni·est Scots

1. Physically attractive or appealing; pretty.
2. Excellent.

[Probably ultimately from French bon, good, from Latin bonus; see deu- in Indo-European roots.] bon′ni·ly adv. bon′ni·ness n. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. bonny (ˈbɒnɪ) adj, -nier or -niest

1. dialect Scot and Northern English beautiful or handsome: a bonny lass.
2. merry or lively: a bonny family.
3. good or fine: a bonny house.

4. (esp of babies) plump 5. dialect Scot and Northern English considerable; to be reckoned with: cost a bonny penny. adv informal agreeably or well: to speak bonny. [C15: of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old French bon good, from Latin bonus] ˈbonnily adv

Ego, could you just possibly give it a rest, please?

You don't need me to tell you that it is not my place to report the teacher - nor do I want to. I'm just sharing a little bit of annoyance (please note my OP said 'tactless') and am happy really with Vashtas explanation.

Your posts seem to be implying you feel I should not have posted at all. Is that correct?

Dame, on here, if someone posts questioning a teacher, it's par for the course to imply they are a massive twat, while if a teacher posts, it's par for the course to call them a massive twat, it's annoying but hey :)

Ok Ego

You win. I'm off. I was clearly wrong to post. I'm very sorry.

And yes, I was there.

I would consider 'bonny' the female version of 'strapping'

So... Not fat per say, but big. Possibly tall in this context.

Possibly not the best choice of words but I doubt the teacher meant any harm and she is probably kicking herself and worrying over it now!