Is ds's teacher unreasonable?

[shuz1980]

My ds has just gone into year 5. He's come out of school today saying his english teacher has said he will get detention if he doesn't write quicker. When he writes quick his hand writing is messy then he gets told off for that so he takes his time to ensure it's neat but then gets told off and threatened with detention. He was so upset saying 'Mum, i cant write fast and neat, i just cant do it' i have asked him if he's slow because of talking or getting distracted but he said no he's just taking his time and trying to do his best joined up writing. im going to speak to his teacher in the morning, im quite angry that she thinks he should gets punished for wanting to take his time and have neat work. Aibu?

This could depend. Is this a private school, which you've chosen because it gets good academic results?

I'd be straight in to see the head first thing tomorrow morning to ask why his staff are threatening pupils with detention instead of teaching and supporting them

Or you could, if you were a grown up, talk to the teacher & find out exactly what she said to him, given that kids exaggerate.

I'm sure the head has got better things to do than fend off frothing parents who think they've got a direct line to them......

Has it improved much over the last couple of years.

Just thinking forward to secondary school, if this is an ongoing issue it might be worth teaching him to touch type over the next couple of summers and seeing if he'd be allowed a laptop when he goes as its going to be more of a problem then?

Talk to the teacher because that seems harsh. Also get him a book of handwriting practice worksheets and some tracing paper so he can spend some time on it at home.

I used to get into trouble all the time for my not-fast enough writing. I just COULDN’T write any faster. I used to get told I wouldn’t be able to write enough etc etc. Thankfully never made to stay in over play time.

Over the course of the whole of secondary school, I got much much faster at writing. I did a set of professional exams after university where I wrote 30 pages in 2.5hours. My norm at university was around 10 sides an hour.

I think if you are practicing sentences every night the best thing might be to agree with the teacher that he finishes things off at home rather than at school?

Kids (and adults) need breaks and I don’t think him missing his (however well intentioned) will make him feel better about writing and school and will make him more able to concentrate and try his best in the lesson following .

My DS has had this problem since primary school (now second year at uni).

It took until year 9 for the school to do an assessment of his writing speed, which meant he was entitled to use a laptop for all his exams. The programme he uses has no formatting or spell-check - it’s exactly like writing on a blank sheet of paper.

The provision passed from school to 6th form college, but he was reassessed at uni as the rules are different in HE.

It’s definitely worth pursuing. DS wouldn’t have finished a single exam paper without this provision.

Ive spoken to his teacher this morning who has said she said it without thinking, it was more of an 'empty threat' i wasnt very happy with her and kept calm and said he clearly needs support not punishments or empty threats, and any unfinished work can be sent home and we will complete it and hand it in the following day. She has apologised and hopefully we can all move forward and give my ds the extra support he needs. Thank you to everyone for all your helpful advice