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AIBU?

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Original poster

To complain about this teacher

54 replies

Gbi17704 · 06/03/2018 23:31

Hi,

My son has a supply teacher at the moment who is very shouty and sounds like his methods are from the 60s/70s. The school itself has some lovely teachers who are all very caring.

He has been picking on children since he started a couple of weeks ago, and seems to take great pleasure in making examples of them. My son loves school but he's so upset at the moment. Other parents have found the same.

Today, he took all the boys aside after the girls complained at break and told them that he couldn't swear because he was in a primary school but that they were all the word beginning with b.

Later, he screamed, what the hell do you think you're doing?

Would you complain? I think no matter what it's highly unprofessional and no teacher should be swearing or implying any swear word name calling to a group of children in his care.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Blondielongie · 06/03/2018 23:34

He sounds awful!

SageYourResoluteOracle · 06/03/2018 23:50

I think you need to say exactly what your son has told you, keeping things very factual. If this is happening then it's totally out of order and I would expect the school to take it seriously.

Ssssurvey · 06/03/2018 23:53

Alert the school as they won't know unless someone tells them.

blueskypink · 06/03/2018 23:56

Would you complain?

Most definitely.

Springtrolls · 07/03/2018 00:02

I would complain.

ObiJuanKenobi · 07/03/2018 00:03

Yes I would

Original poster
Gbi17704 · 07/03/2018 00:06

Thank you. I hate complaining and it's not something I do lightly or easily.

Do you think it would be ok to email the head directly? Is that the done thing? I will arrange a meeting if need be, but would rather have it down in black and white so I don't lose track of the facts.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
Kinraddie · 07/03/2018 00:08

How old are the children?

blueskypink · 07/03/2018 00:21

Yes I would email the head. As Sage says, keep it factual - I presume you didn't witness any of this. Children don't always retell things accurately but it sounds like you have a few examples of unpleasant behaviour from this teacher. Sounds like it could be a safeguarding issue.

I would just tell the head you're very concerned because your son has told you of the following incidents .... Ask the head if they could investigate and let you know what steps will be taken to ensure this doesn't happen again.

If the head doesn't deal with it satisfactorily, email the chair of governors.

kinorsam · 07/03/2018 00:28

Yes I would. DD's school had a supply teacher like this once. Another parent was helping in one of the classrooms and overheard the teacher shouting. She went and got the head who stood outside listening for a moment, and then went in and gave the supply teacher their marching orders there and then.

MummySparkle · 07/03/2018 00:30

Please complain! This is coming from a TA that had to work alongside a really shit teacher. The school wouldn't listen to my complaints because there hadn't been any from parents

Catkins0877 · 07/03/2018 00:32

I work in this area.I'd advise not to email or but into writing.It becomes an accusation basically and not a fact which obviously tricky for you.It is crazy behaviour from a supply teacher if it is true.

Talk to your son again.Explain you going in.You need to know exactly what the teacher said.(just to be a hundred percent on incident)

I wouldn't mention other parents personally myself because it would be put to you they should come in or be named.It's just protocol and fairness towards teacher involved(both sides of story need to be heard)I'd be curious to know the teachers qualifications out of interest.It sounds very off and I'd imagine the head would be really upset /annoyed.

ladybirdsarelovely33 · 07/03/2018 00:39

I think it would be better to actually have a word with the teacher himself. This is so that he gets to realise that if he is doing the wrong thing, that he can't get away with it. If he isn't doing the wrong thing, then you get to hear his side.
I say this as a teacher. I had a contract at a school and a couple of children were actually making up things and telling the head. They used words that are not even in my vocabulary to ever say.

Nanny0gg · 07/03/2018 00:52

ladybirdsarelovely33

What exactly would you expect the supply teacher to do? Apologise and completely change his teaching methods?

The OP should go to the head who can deal as they see fit.

Springtrolls · 07/03/2018 01:02

I wouldn’t go to the teacher. It wouldn’t do anything other than alert the person to be a bit more careful

PrincessHairyMclary · 07/03/2018 01:03

There's is a reason some people only do supply work although some are brilliant.
I'm often in classes with supply teachers and I've had to bring up several times with HoD and let the admin team know who book supply that they aren't good fits for our school for xyz reason. They won't know what is going on in the classroom unless you tell them, they may not act on it straight away but they can build up a picture of events and ask them not to be sent to the school in future.

GnotherGnu · 07/03/2018 01:26

Will the other parents back you up? Any complaint would have much more force if they did.

BrendasUmbrella · 07/03/2018 01:31

It was out of order, no question. They're at school not bootcamp.

However I am curious to know how old the kids are, and why the girls complained about the boys. Not "victim blaming", it's still out of order from a teacher, just wondering.

SootyandMathew · 07/03/2018 01:32

What age is your DS and what did the girls complain the boys are doing?

Pengggwn · 07/03/2018 06:24

I would try to write down specific incidents that you think are unacceptable rather than talking about his 'old-fashioned methods' (most teachers read that and hear 'strict' and think 'great'). I wouldn't saying 'picking on' children - that sounds childish. I wouldn't complain about someone shouting unless it was at a level where the kids were scared. Doesn't sound to me like that is the case here. Teachers do shout sometimes. Personally I wouldn't be bothered about Y6 and upwards being told they were behaving like little b----s, for certain behaviours. I think it's unprofessional, but it wouldn't upset me personally if I felt the behaviour warranted more than the usual telling off.

flumpybear · 07/03/2018 06:31

Yep -
Try to get more than one of you parents to complain, perhaps together?

MelonKim · 07/03/2018 06:33

No. Don’t do a joint complaint. It’s not good. Phone the head and ask for a meeting. Bear in mind kids stories Home aren’t accurate. (Although he sounds like a cock)

FrancisCrawford · 07/03/2018 06:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MelonKim · 07/03/2018 06:39

So she has a record for what?

echt · 07/03/2018 06:41

"Picking on" pupils is vague, teachers are accused of this when pointing out where pupil is out of line; be specific about unfairness.

Methods out of the 60s and 70s? Again vague.

"Shouty", might be true but just as often levelled against a teacher who is merely emphatic. More detail needed.

I'm interested in what the girls complained about that warranted a segregated bollocking.

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