Rude teacher

[camelephantpink]

This morning I dropped my daughter off at school. She goes to breakfast club and so is there early. I was also there with my young son. My daughter is 7 and very eager to please. Her teacher came out of the door as we were coming in and she flounced past without making any eye contact with my daughter and without saying 'hello' or 'good morning'. She saw us but actually made an effort not to acknowledge us. I asked my daughter why she hadn't said hello and she said 'mum that is what she is like'. I mentioned it to my husband and he says that she regularly does it to him when he drops her off. We can both forgive her for ignoring us (although it takes no time to smile really) but on reflection, I think its really mean to ignore your 7 year old pupil. Am I over reacting?

Think of trying to focus on your Christmas shopping, planning and stressful relatives whilst simultaneously fending off Chuggers as you jog down the high street.
Not me mind. I am a fat, jolly teacher with a permanent half smile and a cheery greeting for one and all. Even in the supermarket.

I generally go out of my way to be lovely to my children's teachers as I want to have a good relationship with them but I accept that not every parent is the same.

You sound pretty up yourself if I’m honest, OP.

That's really rude. I've bumped into my dc teachers in places like the supermarket etc and they always say hello at least

I’m fucking knackered this week, have been screwed over by the school finance department and my grandmother has died. I can assure you that I have smiled at each and every one of my pupils and parents. I have also made an effort to showan interest in everything they’ve said to me no matter how trivial. This woman is rude and there’s no excusing it.
In your position I would be saying a loud and cheery passive aggressive ‘Good Morning Miss Stroppycow’ every time you see her.

I expect people I know to acknowledge me - teachers who can’t raise a smile towards a pupil outside of school are not showing good social skills and I would find that disappointing.
Dd met an ex teacher outside her old school, teacher was smoking - teacher blanked dd but nodded at me, her manners were poor and dd and I talked about her ex teacher’s poor behaviour and how people in authority are not always good role models - it’s not all bad - it’s good for kids to know not all adults behave well.

Thank you very much camelelephantpink you have made my night. I have been teaching in the same school for 14 years so now the big thing is saying hello to the tall strapping boys that see me around that I taught when they were tiny little things!

cantkeepawayforever,

I do completely understand what you say as I taught for many years myself. So I don’t need to walk in anyone’s shoes. You can master the art of saying good morning politely and keep moving. Most parents know they need to request a convenient time slot or appointment to address a problem. Or you can always politely - say sorry I can’t stop now can we talk later. There’s no excuse for bad manners.

but if a kid arrives before the lesson is due to start, I do get a frisson of 'oh fuck off, I've still got five minutes'

Seriously ? You need to go and hide somewhere then so the children don't dare smile and say hello.

You sound pretty up yourself if I’m honest, OP

I'm all ears FamilyofAliens.

How exactly does this make me 'up' myself....?

Jesus, just get over it, who knows what has happened this week? We had a child die so the whole school has been in shock.

Some people are shit at being friendly
Get over it. It’s about the last things on the list of things that are going to fuck up your kids
FYI
you’re on the top of that list no matter how great you are!!

Respect works both ways. I'm a TA and some of the parents we deal with are down right rude, aggressive and unpleasant at times.

It was only this morning I took a phone call from a parent who was verbally abusive towards me. I've had colleagues (including the head teacher) who have been told to "fuck off" by parents. One father thought it was acceptable to tell a female colleague he was going to "kick the shit out of her," if she ddin't deal with the situation to his satisfaction.

This culture of, complain, go to the head, report to the govourners/Ofsted is so venomous and unpleasant.

There is no doubt that the teacher was rude and from your daughter's comment this may be common. What we don't know is why. Maybe she is just not very nice. Maybe she is ill, stressed, tired, has a sick child, cares for an elderly parent, has depression or anxiety. Maybe if you knew you would forgive the rudeness or maybe it wouldn't excuse it. As you don't know it would be best to explain to your daughter that it probably isn't personal. Next time you see the teacher, be a good role model and say hello. Even if you are ignored you will know you are setting a good example.

How exactly does this make me 'up' myself....?

You have to read the part of your post I’ve quoted as well as my comment on it.

But did she actually see you? i know you think she did, but isn't it possible that she 'flounced' past without noticing you were there? I just know how totally preoccupied I am this week with all the zillion things I need to get done, and feel it's very possible she didn't look in the right direction at the right time. If you are sure it was a deliberate snub, then that was rude and unkind of her.

donquixotedelamancha - you are very scary.

A cheery “good morning” would suffice. I’m a teacher and the amount of colleagues who do this to each other is unbelievable.

You seem way too invested in everyone being nice to your perfect darling child!
Sure it’s nicd if they are but as I said before, it’s not going to fuck her up. It’s part of life.

Jesus. Talk about precious.

I try not to make eye contact with anyone before the bell goes in case I have to deal with something that will mean I am late for class or assembly etc.
If there is a dire emergency then yes I engage but if I am trying to sort out my room or photocopy or discuss something with a colleague I don't.
That said we rarely have parents in the school unless invited.

Sounds like she's in the wrong job. I can't imagine any teachers at DS's school being so unfriendly.

I must say, I’m shocked by the amount of people on here that think this teachers behaviour is understandable.

I have the utmost respect for the teachers who have educated my children, but if any of them purposely ignored me, it would definitely change the way I feel about them.
It’s never ok not to acknowledge a child/parent as a teacher. It’s incredibly rude. It destroys the relationship, and makes future interactions difficult. I’m trusting teachers to look after my children, and to be showing them how to behave respectfully towards others.

However busy you are, you can smile and say good morning.
If everyone was nicer to each other, then we wouldn’t have so many problems in the world.