Should the teacher be saying this to 5/6 year olds?

[ThisIsMyUsername02123]

Hello.

Just a quick one, really. My 5 year old never used to say this to anyone considering it's never really said in the home - "use your common sense!"

I asked him, "who says that?," to which he responds "[Teacher's name]."

Do you think that a Year 1 primary school teacher should say things like that to 5/6 year olds, considering how rude and abrupt it is to say something like it? Personally, I find it quite ridiculous considering the fact that not even DS15's Year 10 secondary school teachers say things like that.

Cheers.

Just asking............when teachers plan their lessons, break duties etc. are we also expected to write a script? I am now asked to pre-plan my questions but individual interactions with pupils cannot be planned. I said 'crap' last week in a lesson, just waiting for that one to be picked up on FB.

I encourage my children to develop common sense, by telling them to use it. Muddy hands, lunch time... coats/appropriate clothing etc.

I can't spoon feed them, and don't expect anyone else to do the same, otherwise we could end up with teenagers that can't make toast and adults who think they are owed something.

i really can't believe that something so minor has become such a big thing in your world, Particularly if you work in school with children (as alleged)

Next time you see the teacher you should say to her:

"My son mimics you in the house, the other day he said "use your common sense".......and see what she says.

It may well have been a one-off throw away comment??...

I feel sorry for a lot of teachers these days. In my day we still got the belt and you were scared to tell your parents that the teacher gave you the belt in case you got a cuff round the ear from your parents as well (for giving your teacher cause to belt you...LOL!!). Nowadays, teachers only need to look at the Little Darlings the wrong way and the parents are marching up to the school for a showdown with the Head!!

I don’t see a problem with it, as long as the teacher actually explains to their 5 year old students what common sense actually is. Once explained it’s an expression which can be easily understood and actually beneficial for children to learn.

Yabu

*I encourage my children to develop common sense, by telling them to use it. Muddy hands, lunch time... coats/appropriate clothing etc.

I can't spoon feed them, and don't expect anyone else to do the same, otherwise we could end up with teenagers that can't make toast and adults who think they are owed something.

i really can't believe that something so minor has become such a big thing in your world, Particularly if you work in school with children (as alleged)*

THIS! ^^ This is a sensible post!

Have you ever asked him when she says it? I can imagine it is in exasperating circumstances e.g. A child is trying to take their socks off before their shoes for the 10th PE lesson in a row.

I'm desperate to know at which university you can study medicine and achieve a PGCE.
Working at a school would have really helped with my wrap around care before I went on 8-8.

Please let me know.

I despair. The other day a poster was offended that the phrase “verbal diarrhoea” had been used to their child, now being told to use common sense is also unacceptable.

FFS!

The main argument from the minority that agree with these posters is that they wouldn’t speak to an adult that way - whyever not? It isn’t rude. I say both phrases not infrequently. Telling someone to use common sense is just reminding them in a pretty gentle way to stop and think about what they are saying or doing. No drama, nothing spiteful, just sensible advice that will help in life.

This post is hilarious.

How could me asking about an issue between my child and I possibly make her life any more difficult than it is?

I sincerely hope you do not teach anyone English. Are you not aware that prepositions take the accusative case?

You should have said "...between my child and me..."

For that matter you should also have said "... my asking.." not "...me asking...".

Where did this idea that you should talk to children the same way you talk to adults come from? You wouldn't say 'Eat your greens' to another adult. Or 'Be quiet while I'm talking'. Because adults aren't children and you use a different register. Parents and teachers are in authority over children. It's good that they learn that from an early age. I think children like to know that someone's in control, too.

And there's no need for a Socratic dialogue at the checkout when your dc has picked up a packet of sweets from the display. Just tell them to put it back. I had 5 minutes of performance parenting the other day, with 'What are sweets made of? And what will happen to your teeth if you eat those? and 'what will the dentist say?' And the child still wouldn't put them back.

'Use your common sense' is a positive way of saying 'Don't ask silly questions'.

Is there anything teacher ARE allowed to say to children these days? I'm surprised they're still allowed to breathe tbh...

Doesn’t sound rude or abrupt to me.

Lol at moist
This thread has cheered me up after David Attenborough making me sad about whales

Common sense is all about thinking for yourself or working out a simple solution to something you probably already know the answer to. What is wrong in encouraging this? I think this would particularly apply to a class of 30 - 5 year olds asking 'why' all the time. Poor teachers can't do anything right these days - I actually despair.

'Use your common sense' is a positive way of saying 'Don't ask silly questions'.
It's not positive and the question may not be a silly one to a young child.
A child knows that what s/he thinks might not be what an adult thinks and that makes them unsure. They need an answer or at least guidance not a putdown.

Another vote for RebeccaWrongDaily. Sound individual!

It is empowering for a child to be encouraged to make decisions for themselves. By telling my daughter to use her common sense I am making her realise that she has judgement and can trust it. I think it is lovely that a teacher would have that view of children and urge any parent offended by it to realise what they are doing by 'protecting' their child from it.

It's pretty much in short supply these days so the younger they gain some the better! Maybe you can encourage finding it at home.

I don't think it's rude at all.

However, I don't think that all 5/6 yr old children truly understand what common sense is so without them really understanding it, how are they supposed to use it?

My youngest dc is 6 and in year 2. When explaining new words/concepts to her I always try and use an example to explain it to her. It helps to put it into context.

As for the teacher, I don't believe that he/she is doing anything wrong.
So many children ( including my own ) lack skills that are so basic but can work their way around an iPad with their eyes closed!

I personally would like schools to include general life skills in teaching such as budgeting/hygiene/cooking etc.

Not all children have families that demonstrate normal skills, some don't care, others don't know how to.

Apologies for going off on a tangent.
Common sense is very important and as a mum to 2 dc, one of whom has AS, this is a subject important to me as I wish my ds had more common sense and part of that is to stop mollycoddling him and let him make mistakes along the way.

Moussemoose

Ffs use your common sense.

Why dont you ffs.

make sensible decisions...
what do you think...
use your noggin...
show some common sense...
have a think about what would be a good thing to do...
Oh come on... (if the question's really daft) making them/letting them think for themselves means i get less muummmm, muuummmmmmmmm stupid questions.

Whoever said there's no such thing as a stupid question never met a child was an idiot.

I don't think it can be said in a 'nice' way. It's dismissive, condescending and basically saying 'don't be so thick'. Would you say it to a colleague who was your superior? Or a customer if you worked in customer service? I doubt it. Therefore it's only for those you think are beneath you and that's what it sounds like. Teachers have the authority, sure, but they shouldn't talk down to children. YANBU.