To feel unreasonably irritated by this?

[Hecketyheck]

DS (age 10) wanted to start a newspaper at school. I thought it was a good initiative, told him to go to school and find some people to work with, make an appointment to see an appropriate member of staff and crack on.

He has done this. About 5 of them have worked at lunch times in the ICT suite to do it. I'm not sure how much staff involvement there has been but it doesn't really matter, it's the end of the year, busy blah blah blah I get it. They have called it something fairly catchy - think "Redditch Round-up" or the like.

However, I was emailing a member of staff today about a group we are both involved with regarding the school and mentioned it. Her only response was that they will have to change the name because the "Redditch Round-up" is what they call the end of year social for staff. I said I was sure that it would bear two outings (i.e. neither would have to change their name) and that no-one, staff or parents knew anything about the staff social. She is adamant they change the name! That as far as I'm aware is the only staff involvement. I have emailed the head and said it is petty and sad and could they be offered some encouragement rather than just criticism. I emailed back the other member of staff and said "well you'll have to take that up with them" and left it at that.

I'm not "furious" or "raging" or anything like that but I'm deeply irritated.

WIBU to email the head and to send such a curt response to the other teacher?

I don't expect gushing praise for everything but her response just sounds snippy and I don't get why its such a big deal.

Unleeessss...she edits the teachers round up...

The teachers round up is not a physical thing - it's what they call their end of year social outing...why that needs a name I have no idea!

And I don't expect gushing praise - I haven't done anything

And apologies for the missing apostrophe - teachers' round-up that should say.

Why does it matter? What a weirdo (the staff member that is)

I would have done the same thing. How petty. They should be encouraging them.

So she's concerned that people might confuse a pupils newspaper with the staff social???

Weirdo

If nobody knew the staff social was even named (wtf?) before this, I really can't see why it's an issue. It's petty and silly imo.

Well done your DS for making the newspaper happen, I'd expect the teachers to be pleased with his (and his friends') imagination!

Nobody cares about the staff social except the staff, and one sounds like she cares a bit too much!

If it's a teachers' year end piss up and it not being written about and handed round the school for all to read about, im fairly sure the teacher needs to take a step back. Seems a bit ridiculous to think the two activities are in competition with each other really!!

Shes told you the name will have to change
You argued back with her.
You then went tittle tattling back to the HT

Yes, the two could get confused, you only need a new or supply member of staff to be asked something about the pupil version and inadvertently start discussing the staff version.

So instead of the Redditch Round Up, it'll have to be the Redditch Recorder. if it's not an issue, why escalate it into one?

So petty on the part of the teacher.

I think some people end up so institutionalised that they lose sight of how the world actually operates.

Your DS sounds fab.

I mostly am on your side but think emailing the head was unreasonable on your part.

School reports, collating assessments, interviewing and arranging next years staff. Yeh Im sure the HT will love to hear from you about the name of the newspaper!

I am wondering whether the teachers “Redditch Roundup” has another connotation more to do with what they get up to?

Yes, I can only think that they must get up to no good at the end of year social, which makes it an inappropriate name for the school paper!

Many things share the same branding:
Apple (iPods) and Apple (Beatles music recording label)
Polo (car), Polo (mint), Polo (clothing etc.)
There are loads more but they are the ones that jump out at me.

For a teacher to come back with "They'll have to change the name", it seems very strange. Why can't they share the name of their newsletters???
"Redditch Roundup - Pupils Edition" and "Redditch Roundup - Teachers Edition" or something???

I think you were very petty to email the head and get involved in this. The teacher simply pointed out the name was already in use, it’s no biggie to change the name of the paper surely. You do seem to have helicoptered in a touch!

Yes I think the teacher was petty but also I think it's not worth complaining about. Why not just change the name? Easily done.

It does sound like someone is doing belt and braces on safeguarding. The teacher possibly doesn't want there to be ANY opportunity for miscommunication in the future between their proclivities at the end of year and the student newspaper. I can well imagine a confused governor/parent/teacher landing in hot water as a result. "We're collecting pictures for the Redditch round-up..." Is that a photo of a group of y5's litter picking or Mrs Goff flashing Mr Taylor? I would want to ensure there could be no confusion from the off.

@Oliversmum you have me there - the only roundup I know is weed killer or what sheep dogs do.

OK, seeming consensus is that I was an arse to mail the HT. I'll take that on the chin.

@Bezalelle - thank you, he is often fab (although has his moments of being a total idiot as is par for the course for 10-year-olds as I understand it - thus I try to encourage the fab part and discourage the idiot part).

Oliversmum you have me there - the only roundup I know is weed killer or what sheep dogs do

Now you have me imagining all sorts involving teachers, weed killer and “doggy activities”

Teacher sounds weird.
Head doesn't care, don't make them change the name. Weird teacher will have to change the name of the social FB group or whatever, or learn to cope.

Bit sad no- one at school is encouraging the kids more! A group of 10 year olds spending their free time developing their writing, IT, teamwork and organisational skills is brilliant!