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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have gently told her she was wrong

196 replies

Calyrical · 08/06/2017 16:28

Awkward one: about politics (sorry) but only indirectly.

An inexperienced teacher in my department announced brightly at lunch she had told some year 8s the party she was voting for and that's the one 'they should also vote for.' She listed the reasons she had given them.

I interjected and quite nicely but also firmly told her that she was wrong to have done so. I said it was unlikely anyone would complain but if they did her actions would be difficult to justify as we are in an influential position.

However I got quite a lot of grumbling and muttered 'well it's true!' remarks from other departmental members. Hmm

I'm 99% sure I was NOT BU.

But I will leave it to MN to decide.

OP posts:
PinkSquash · 08/06/2017 16:30

YANBU. Personal opinions on things like this should be left out of schools, explain about the various parties etc but it was wrong to say that anyone should vote for x.

RoganJosh · 08/06/2017 16:32

Depends who it was really. Wink

whateveryousay · 08/06/2017 16:32

My DS (Y10) was told who his History teacher was planning to vote for today, snd why she thought everyone 'sensible' woukd vote for the same. Clearly I'm not 'sensible' then 😡 I'm thinking of complaining, but probably won't.

hambo · 08/06/2017 16:32

Yanbu

honeysucklejasmine · 08/06/2017 16:32

Pretty pointless telling year 8s who to vote for.

blankface · 08/06/2017 16:33

She was wrong by telling them they ought to agree with her political stance IMO.

Better if she's simplified the manifestos of the 3 main parties and told the children a little bit about each one, in an unbiased way.

QuiteLikely5 · 08/06/2017 16:34

I can't see how what she did was wrong? Since when was it immoral or illegal to offer an opinion on politics ????????

NoArmaniNoPunani · 08/06/2017 16:35

Yeah, depends who it was. A teacher voting for Tories wouldn't be very sensible really.

rainbowpie · 08/06/2017 16:35

YANBU and she was out of order.

GretchenFranklin · 08/06/2017 16:36

I think a few teachers have expressed political views at DSs school.

I can't say it has bothered me though that may be because they tally with his/my own thoughts.

Not sure I'd care if they didn't tbh.

Original poster
Calyrical · 08/06/2017 16:36

No, it doesn't depend who it was at all.

Quite, because as a teacher you are in an influential role.

OP posts:
x2boys · 08/06/2017 16:37

well of course its wrong first of all they cant vote for another 5 yrs and secondly when they can vote its up to them tto decide who they vote for ,explain to them they should have all the information so they can make an informed decision but telling people who they should vote for is a big no ,no.

GreeboIsACutePussPuss · 08/06/2017 16:38

YANBU, fine for her to say I am voting for x, but not ok to tell them that's who they should vote for.

Faithless12 · 08/06/2017 16:39

YANBU
I agree with you wholeheartedly, I've had students ask me who I'd vote for and I've refused to answer. I don't think anyone needs to know who I vote for and it's something people should come to themselves. I've known teachers who got upset and had arguments with children after the referendum result Hmm

RichardSimmons · 08/06/2017 16:39

YANBU to think she was wrong, but YABU to have publicly taken her to task about it. You could have privately spoken to her later, or honestly just let it lie. It's not like she directly harmed any students, and unless you're the Head it's not your job to police your colleagues.

x2boys · 08/06/2017 16:39

but of course here on mumsnet its only wrong if its tories....

Swissgemma · 08/06/2017 16:39

I remember a general election when I was 8. I, influenced by family politics, made rosettes and badges. I was allowed to hand these out as they accorded with the teacher/school political slant. One of the boys did the same in break time for another party. The teacher ripped up the signs and said "we don't support that here" - I knew at the time that was wrong - and it is still wrong 30 years later. Biased politics has no place in the classroom.

Original poster
Calyrical · 08/06/2017 16:40

I'm not the Head but I am HOD. However, I take your point about speaking privately to her. I did think it would possibly make it more serious than it needed to be, however, and thought a gentle word would be more appropriate.

OP posts:
AnnetteCurtains · 08/06/2017 16:41

I think she was wrong to say that too and I'd be surprised if nobody complained

GretchenFranklin · 08/06/2017 16:41

x2boys perhaps.

His English master said '...just as long as no one votes for that woman...'

SandyDenny · 08/06/2017 16:43

My dcs have told me in the past that their teachers have said who they are voting for. I don't know if they said why but as part of a conversation on the subject I don't have too much of an issue with it.

I don't suppose anyone's going to be swayed in 5 or more years time when they come to vote.

Original poster
Calyrical · 08/06/2017 16:43

It's a stronghold of a particular party Annette which is the party she was supporting. However, my concern was with the action rather the parties it purported to support.

OP posts:
LordBeefCurtain · 08/06/2017 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PonderLand · 08/06/2017 16:44

Yanbu, I've been tempted to gently ask the patients on my ward to vote labour when they complain but thought better of it Grin

nokidshere · 08/06/2017 16:45

"I interjected and quite nicely but also firmly told her that she was wrong to have done so. I said it was unlikely anyone would complain but if they did her actions would be difficult to justify as we are in an influential position"

Nicely, gently, firmly - all sounds a bit patronising to me Confused

I'd have just laughed and said "omg you'll have the parents baying for blood saying stuff like that".

6th formers with first time vote - not a good idea to "tell" them

Yr 8s who can't vote for years meh...