AIBU for the teacher not to use the word Numpty

[Susanne9176]

My son who is 6 used the word numpty and I asked him where he had heard this. He said his class teacher is using this word to describe the children when they've done something a bit silly and has called.h and other children that. Am I over reacting or is that just not ok, she is basically calling them stupid and encouraging the kids to name call

Well that certainly answered my question! It's not a word I have ever heard anyone use apart from to insult someone, so really it was a genuine question, which I wanted an answer to before I did get worked up about it! I am perhaps over sensitive, as we have had several recent episodes where our son has been punched in face by another child in class and school haven't told us and son has come home, so now am worrying about what goes on at school.

It's no different to saying silly sausage, like a pp said.

I am not in the UK but I thought numpty was used to describe someone a bit thick, not all there.
Eejit means idiot not good to call a child an idiot.

I really dislike the word 'numpty' because it makes me cringe, like in the way 'lush' and 'choccie' makes me cringe!

Back to the point, I don't think it's meant in a malicious way though, I'd let it go.

Eejit (in my area) does not mean stupid to me. It also means silly and is meant in a lighthearted way. Still very much used in scotland

Grow up

Yes but when you say that fella is a f*cking Eejit, it isn't meant he is a silly sausage it means he is a thick.
In Ireland Eejit means thick or stupid usually used if angry it to describe someone's intelligence.

Eejit is not the same as idiot, surely? Isn’t it dialect for dingbat/silly sausage...that sort of thing?

I guess it depends where you are from, words like eejit, numpty, muppet, halfwit are very much used where I'm from and wouldn't cause offensive, they are all endearing.

I’m Scottish. I’d say here eejit is along the same lines as numpty.

My dad used to (affectionately) call me eejit-heed

I am not in the UK but I thought numpty was used to describe someone a bit thick, not all there
Eejit means idiot not good to call a child an idiot

Numpty is a light hearted word, usually said with affection, As in a bit daft but we still like you, it’s not offensive.

Eejit is more a comedy word.

Are you in Scotland, OP? Are you Scottish?

we have had several recent episodes where our son has been punched in face by another child in class and school haven't told us and son has come home, so now am worrying about what goes on at school.

I’d be concentrating on the face-punching.

Yes it can be used affectionate? Don't be acting the eejit. He is a eejit. Did you see the eejit.
Both can be replaced or meant from eejit to thicko.
I think it a word can be interpreted by 2 meanings one been cruel you shouldn't use it. Obviously people can say which they please. Eejit angers me from my school days, it was rarely used in jest.

Blimey- just clocked the punching in the face. I’d be dealing with that, if I were you.

Term of endearment when someone has been daft.
As is eejit and Muppet

In the real world obvs.

Just to say we have already been into the school to talk about the punching and met with head teacher.

YABVU about the word numpty, and indeed wanting to police people's choice of language. The punch in the face on the other hand is VERY different. You need to address that, and making a fuss about truly silly things like the "numpty" issue will undermine your case. If you complain about nonsense, the major stuff will get lost in the barrage of moaning.

When DD started school her favourite teacher used to call them “silly noodles” if they misbehaved- I really liked it & have adopted it..

My interpretation of numpty is literally just doing something a bit silly rather than someone who is actually stupid. I guess it is better to describe the behaviour rather than the child but since this is quite a mild word I couldn't get worked up about it. I'd agree if she was calling them "stupid".

Please just allow your child to develop some natural resilience. It will help them so much as they grow up and negotiate the world.

In Ireland Eejit means thick or stupid usually used if angry it to describe someone's intelligence

Shush, stop telling the Brits our secret code

I half expected this to be because numpty had some sort of racist or disablist historic origins.

But no... it’s just a lighthearted word.

Given how sensitive some people are today, I dread to think what would happen if another war started...

So your OP is about the word numpty and the punching in the face gets an incidental ‘by the way’ mention a few dozen posts in...

I think you need to sort your priorities

Urgh! Awful title. Makes no sense.