AIBU to be a bit shocked at this teacher

[Canshopwillshop]

My DS has come home with a list of spellings for English homework. One of them is the word ‘August’ for which the teacher has broken down into a nice memorable ‘All Ugly Girls Use Spot Treatment’! I feel this is totally unacceptable and a terrible message to put across to young kids.

I think it’s completely inappropriate. So many other ways the teacher could have done it. I had terrible acne as a teen and I would have felt like everyone was looking at me in class if this had been said.

I think it's a shit mnemonic. Not an overreaction to object to it.

It suggests a teacher with very limited abilities if this was the only way they could think to teach spellings, too.

I'm having a sense of humour failure about the gay xmen one, too.

Wow, I'd be so upset if I was in his class and read that acronym. I just started getting terrible spots in year 7 and have a chlorine allergy so every time we had school swimming my skin was wrecked. That would have destroyed me and quite a few of my friends. I would complain to the teacher about it if I were you, too easy to dismiss as harmless fun when it isn't.

@kurrikurri - thank you for your support. My 13 yr old DD is struggling with acne at the moment so I do feel v sensitive about this (and the fact that my 11 year old actually needs to learn how to spell August).

I actually found it quite upsetting as my 10 yr old is already going through puberty and finding it very difficult. Her skin is suffering despite us trying different things.
So yeh, it pissed me off that this teacher is letting the other kids know that it's ok to point out spots and that it equal ugliness.

Not acceptable. I'm with you on this, OP.

I' think there are much bigger issues if they can't spell 'August' by YEAR 7 !

@sugarhunnyicedtea - thank you.

Also the ridiculous posts about why Ops son can't spell August. My amazing husband is 45 and can't spell many words due to dyslexia.

While I agree the teacher could have chosen a better mnemonic, has this one actually helped your son remember how to spell August OP?

@GrouchEnd read the full thread 😏

@kurrikurri - great post, and I totally agree with you.

OP, that's really poor on behalf of teacher. Hope your DS has a good year in school.

My son's primary teacher used " never entertain sexy women" for the compass points.
We thought it was very very funny .

I really wouldn't give this too much thought when there is so much else to worry about in the world.

Dreadful example from teacher. I would raise it with them

Well as someone who had spots from an early age and still do at 42 I think it's really crappy !

That can't be nice though for people with spots at that age being told they're ugly, for sure. But wouldn't say it's 'totally unacceptable'. Just a bit insensitive / poor attempt at humour in bad taste. Would maybe raise it quietly / diplomatically with the teacher rather than going in all guns blazing.

It is about sexism. It's one of those tiny sexist drips that we ignore and suddenly there's a bloody great brimming bucketful. Send in a brief unemotional note.

And I will show my age by saying that it's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour..

@grouchend - my you are helpful! I know my DS had issues with his spelling - don’t think I don’t worry about that every day. Also where did I say I am going in all guns blazing?? I have no intention of complaining to the school. Just thought I’d see what people on here thought.

That's awful! I would definitely complain. That's a dreadful message to send

It could have been that the students worked together to come up with the mnemonics and then the teacher typed them up..

No one else got taught the way of remembering the Piaget stages?! (Can't remember the stages - can remember the way of remembering the stages)

Big
Elephants
Can
Always
Upset
Small
Elephants

Is actually the shittest mnemonic as always doesn’t start with the ‘a’ phoneme. Very fucking confusing for ks1 children and those with dyslexia.

We used to use the mnemonic Every indian Goes Hunting Tonight to remember how to spell eight. Not ok though is it?

You’re right and YANBU it’s a stupid way to remember it. The teacher could easily have made a mnemonic up with the kids so they actually had an experience of creating one which may help them remember it better.

I would let school know. I would want my daughter to know that it was stupid.

I really wouldn't give this too much thought when there is so much else to worry about in the world

I think the drip-drip effect of every day sexism coupled with the self-esteem of children is worth worrying about frankly.

I also find that being concerned about the constant creep of insidious sexism doesn't stop me from also being concerned about other things. I'm clever like that.

A Unicorn Grows Up So Tall

Unicorns are popular at the min :)

Zoflorabore - I like your version