Where the U stands for 'Unrealistic'?

[flutterworc]

DS is 4, nearly 5 and is two weeks into school. For the second time in those two weeks, his teacher has called us in to tell us about one of his misdeeds. Last time it was not sitting nicely in assembly for 30 mins. Today DH got taken to see a chair they he'd drawn on during Phonics, then had said sorry and cleaned. So nothing to actually see. Are my standards too unreasonably low in terms of his behaviour? Or are teacher's too unreasonably high for a 4yo? He's quite a stubborn soul, but listens well to instructions, is quite empathic and likes to please, so wondering if my perception is skewed...

Expecting to sit still in assembly seems a lot to ask (ds school don't even take reception children into assembly for the first half term)

Not drawing on chairs is a very reasonable expectation

My then 4 year old drew on her teacher's chair after a visit to the Picasso museum in Barcelona. Teacher was initially cross but once DD explained why she'd wanted to make her a "beautiful chair" she gave her a cuddle, explained why drawing on chairs wasn't allowed and sent her back to play.

I was mortified when she told me, but the teacher clearly realised what a 4 year old wouldn't inherently know right from wrong.

They called you in for these things? Is she a new teacher? How ridiculous.

He shouldn't be drawing on chairs, surely?

Sorry, should have clarified - absolutely he shouldn't have drawn on the chair. He knows better and has never done anything like that at home. But I would have anticipated it being dealt with in class as a minor issue, rather than taking his Dad in to look at what was now a clean chair? Hence my 'unrealistic' enquiry. Sorry!

Very much not a new teacher - fully old school - maybe mid/late 50s? Very much an old fashioned primary school teacher.

My DS's HT called on me in the playground to tell me he'd been in trouble for drawing on the floor in his reception room. She'd walked in as he was cleaning it up and when he didn't put his hand up and say me to her question of 'who did this' she kept him in her room during lunch time play. He's v shy but got into trouble for not talking to an adult when asked a question. It still rankles on me. He was barely 4 and scared stiff of the teachers still. Sometimes their expectations so early on are so high.

Obviously he shouldn't have drawn on a chair, but to call a parent in for that is frankly ridiculous and an issue that should have been dealt with in school. Perhaps mentioned in passing but nothing more.

As for the not sitting nicely in assembly - she clearly knows nothing about little ones. I don't particularly agree with long, boring assemblies anyways as even I'm bored by them as a fully grown adult, but in my school, Reception or infant children sit for a morning hymn or story and are allowed to leave before the longer assembly addressing whatever issues there are rakes place for the juniors.

I'd be worried about her capacity as a teacher of little ones. If she's worrying about a child not sitting still in assembly, to the extent of calling a parent in, she clearly has problems.

Anyway*