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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To think this was unfair and unprofessional of my sons teacher?

838 replies

burgundyandgoldleaves · 28/11/2016 15:50

My son is nine and in Year 5.

Over the years my husband has made a bit of a name for himself I daresay and has complained about various things. (I've told him not to.)

Today, DS got into a bit of trouble - nothing hugely major, he was, along with others, somewhere he shouldn't have been at lunch time. There was some rubbish in this room that they weren't responsible for. The teacher came in and started shouting at the boys for leaving the mess. DS tried to tell her they weren't responsible and the teacher shouted at him not to interrupt (fine) and "send your dad in if you're not happy, I don't care!"

AIBU or is the latter part of this statement quite unfair? DS was pretty embarrassed and I'm now trying to work this so he doesn't tell his dad!

OP posts:
TheDowagerCuntess · 30/11/2016 03:51

So how are you going to frame it to the teacher then, Burgundy?

'I know my husband is an over-bearing pain the arse, but please can you not take it out on my DS?'

I can't even begin to imagine having (to have) that conversation so I take my hat off to you.

SuffolkingGrand · 30/11/2016 06:07

Having read the entire thread, my overwhelming impressions are these:

  • your DH comes across as controlling, emotionally abusive and rather manipulative
  • your DS is at risk of picking up on this behaviour and emulating this
  • you seem to be making excuses for both of them (whether you realise this or not) and minimising this
  • in speaking to the school about it you've both demonstrated to school (and to your DS) that you believe the excuses of a gang of kids who have been caught doing something somewhere they shouldn't have over and above the response of the adults running the school and upholding school rules, put there for a very good reason, usually to do with the safety of kids on site. Just because you wanted to 'ask polite questions' doesn't make this any less of an unnecessary PITA for school in the last couple of weeks of a very stressful term.

You're welcome.

burgundyandgoldleaves · 30/11/2016 06:58

You've read the whole thread, and you've managed to completely miss the point.

OP posts:
FuckYouDailyMail · 30/11/2016 08:41

You describe your DH like a stereotype tiger parent, is that what you mean? Knob is an interesting choice of phrase so I can see why other posters are broadening that description into poor behaviour to others as a whole.

MrsDustyBusty · 30/11/2016 08:44

he is the 'this reading isn't pushing my child hard enough, how are you getting my child's levels up, why is my child sitting here, I need information, I need reassurance about my child's learning' knob.

Has he considered homeschooling? He sounds like he'd be an excellent teacher and it would give joy and relief to many if he put his passion to use himself.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 30/11/2016 08:52

Has he considered homeschooling? He sounds like he'd be an excellent teacher and it would give joy and relief to many if he put his passion to use himself.

Grin
derxa · 30/11/2016 09:13

Has he considered homeschooling? He sounds like he'd be an excellent teacher and it would give joy and relief to many if he put his passion to use himself. Grin It would solve a lot of problems at one fell stroke.

Serialweightwatcher · 30/11/2016 10:07

Cannot figure out why people brand someone controlling/overbearing etc etc when they have no clue about them at all - all we know is that he is that way when he is trying to help his child and make sure his education and the way he is treated is acceptable - that's not a bad thing, that's maybe how he expresses his care and love for his child .... people make so many assumptions from a few paragraphs and don't stick to the point in the first place Hmm

ThanksSpanx · 30/11/2016 10:26

Glad you sorted it out OP.

I was one of posters advising against going in but I can kind of see that if I'd chosen someone who is an arse as my husband I'd also be doing what I could to mitigate the negative effects that person might have on my children even if others thought I was missing the point of the problem.

It was a bit unprofessional of the teacher and I doubt she'll do it again.

PterodactylToenails · 30/11/2016 11:17

This reply has been deleted

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user1480517214 · 30/11/2016 14:52

Just wow. I have read through this and have signed up, to say how disgusting I think it is, you and your husband obviously have no respect for teachers and that teacher deserves a medal! No wonder so many teachers are leaving the profession when parents are storming up demanding an explanation because YOUR child was breaking the rules - hmm!

Serialweightwatcher · 30/11/2016 15:07

If you read it properly, her DH has gone in complaining in the past but not because her DS was misbehaving but for other reasons ......... she has said IF her DS was misbehaving in this instance, there will be consequences for him ..... her problem on this occasion is that the teacher apparently said, without prompting "send your dad in if you're not happy" ... that is not on for a teacher to do however wonderful a person they are!! Why don't you read her initial post and read it properly - so many people have made so many assumptions on here out of thin air - unbelievable

Potnoodlewilld0 · 30/11/2016 15:15

user you signed up for this specific thread to come and share your outrage??

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Grin

You need to get out more!

ThanksSpanx · 30/11/2016 15:21

To be fair noodle that's a bit pot/kettle. We all signed up for mumsnet at some stage and all have commented on this thread for one reason or another. I'm not saying you're wrong- we've invested a lot of time on this one and perhaps should all get out more.

burgundyandgoldleaves · 30/11/2016 15:51

I can assure you I have the utmost respect for teachers, but if I am concerned I think it is reasonable to ask a question.

It is not showing lack of respect to ask for clarification on something that happened. If doing so equates to being the laughing stock of the staff room, well, whatever really - I'm sure I have been called worse by DH :)

OP posts:
mrscarrotironfoundersson · 30/11/2016 16:02

But OP, if you have 100% respect and are so confident in asking the teacher why start a thread asking AIBU?

Something must have made you doubt this course of action to begin with and something (despite 95% of MN replies) has made you see it through anyway.

If you were just here for a bit of a rant that's ok! What were you hoping to get out of the thread as you seem to have just be defending your position all the way through?

SomersetMaughan · 30/11/2016 16:14

For full (!!) closure OP, please could you clarify whether what the teacher said was prompted or unprompted??
i.e. Did your DS mention DF will come to school during his helpfulness re mess??
Preempting those posters that will say RTFT-I have RTFT! (aaargh).
Your 'meeting with teacher' report is ambiguous-"she agreed it could be interpreted like that."

Please clear it up for those posters like me, who like it simple! TIA

burgundyandgoldleaves · 30/11/2016 16:25

I'm sorry Somerset, I really don't understand your post.

Carrot, likewise, I'm sorry if I ended up feeling differently to the majority of posters here. I often find typing things out makes me mull things over, consider them and reach a conclusion and in this instance, I decided to speak to the teacher - if people feel aggrieved that I didn't take their helpful advice then I'm sorry for that but at the same time I'm not taking responsibility for it: they were under no obligation to post and nor was I obliged to take their advice.

OP posts:
mrscarrotironfoundersson · 30/11/2016 16:39

That's cool OP, you've been very honest about your situation and DH. I hope you've got someone in RL you can talk to though too. It sounds like you're the counterbalance to the chaos.

ThanksSpanx · 30/11/2016 16:41

Really burgundy? it's pretty clear as far as I can see?

She's asking if your son said something to prompt the teacher to say 'send your Dad in if you're not happy'.

Throughout this thread, you'll be aware that many posters had felt it was an odd choice of statement and more typical of a response to a remark such as 'I'll be telling my dad about this'. It was discussed several times and you said you'd be furious if your son had said something to that effect.

burgundyandgoldleaves · 30/11/2016 16:42

Sorry, Thanks, it wasn't to me, hence why I asked.

I believe I have clarified and no, DS did not say he would tell his dad. It would have astonished me if he had because it would have been hugely out of character and also, if he HAD told his dad he'd been in trouble at school, he'd have been in trouble at home as well.

I'm fairly sure I have already said this.

Thank you carrot

OP posts:
demonchilde · 30/11/2016 16:43

OP - I think you have had a really rough time on here, and that there's a lot of unfair comments.

No, the teacher should not have said that to your son, and that would get my back up too. As you said, it's not his fault his Dad's a twat, and her comment was unprofessional and unfair on him. I had a similar Dad, and have had similar comments about his twattishness all my life from various people all my life, including when I was at school.

But I agree with others - the main problem here is your husband, and I can't help wondering whether your (slight) overreaction to her comment is a result of the underreaction you seem to apply to his shitty behaviour ( although I can see why you don't want to confront him as he appears unable to compromise, or more important, CARE that his attitude is causing grief for you and your DS). I mean, there are two people here who have been unreasonable but only one is being confronted, and I'm wondering if some of the anger you should be directing at DH is going to the teacher instead.

You say it's not your fault DH is a prick (a controlling, abusive and bullying one from what you've said). Very true. Then you say it's not your fault you're married to a twat. But actually - yeah, it sort of is. You choose to stay married despite his shitty behaviour and attitude, and whether it's fair or not you, and more importantly your DS WILL become tainted by association. Like it or not, people do judge others because the company they keep and the choices they make. This sort of this will keep cropping up and affecting you and your DS, and if I were you; I'd be having a long think about whether that's the way I'd want to be living my life, and the effect his appalling behaviour will be having on your DS. To him his Dad will be a role model and he is likely to mimic his Dads shitty attitude in the future, and he will then become 'that Dad' one day. Is that what you want for him?

I think maybe there are more problems in your marriage than you're letting on, and that the (rightful) anger you can't project at him is being misdirected.

You say you were separated at one point (and worryingly, his need for control during that time - more abusive behaviour) - if I were you I'd be questioning whether you made the right decision when you decided to reconcile. I think you'd both be better off away from this arsehole and his shitty behaviour. Getting and staying away wouldn't be easy by the sound the of it, but worth it, for both of you. Relationships should be based on mutual respect and compromise, and it sounds like you have scope for neither in your marriage.

slenderisthenight · 30/11/2016 16:45

Throughout this thread, you'll be aware that many posters had felt it was an odd choice of statement and more typical of a response to a remark such as 'I'll be telling my dad about this'.

With respect, that's bollocks. Not that it's been suggested, because it has. But the idea that such a thing is unlikely to have been said. IMO it's extremely likely to have been said on the back of visits from parents, rather than in response to something a child has said.

slenderisthenight · 30/11/2016 16:46

And you're being coy spanx. You were on the thread back when the OP replied to this before and again and again and again

ThanksSpanx · 30/11/2016 16:49

Oh slender I love having a MN stalker- it's never happened before Blush

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