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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DD’s science teacher AIBU

740 replies

Adviceneededalways · 21/01/2021 21:46

Dd14 is quite an opinionated teen and has become very sensitive to even a sniff of inequality. I think it’s quite cool that she has strong beliefs but do sometimes have to tell her her to rein it in a bit..

She came down from Google classroom tonight on a fowl mood and announced that she was drafting a complaint letter to her science teacher due to an argument they had over an exercise in class...

The exercise was dividing statements into fact and opinion, ie FACT on average the sun is 150 million miles from the sun. OPINION pineapple taste good on pizza...

The final one was girls should be able to work in any area they choose which I’m sure you have guess the teacher was adamant was opinion and if had been marked down on the sheet as such...

I personally think this is less about being opinion or fact statement and more to do with it being a poor choice of example in a class of predominantly strong minded young girls but DD is very upset and angry at her teacher.

Is she being a bit immature and dramatic or does she have a point...

I’ll include the work sheet in next post.

OP posts:
Yokey · 22/01/2021 19:08

It is absolutely opinion. It's also a great example to show that sorting fact from opinion isn't as straightforward as it seems. Please encourage your daughter to appreciate this valuable lesson.

LolaSmiles · 22/01/2021 19:17

Yokey
You're right.
It especially valuable to learn the difference between:
A) facts
B) opinions that I feel strongly about and consider them fact

Xerochrysum · 22/01/2021 19:19

@YukoandHiro

It's a bad example. Let her write the letter, but make sure she does it in a genuinely persuasive rather than angry way. This is a good learning opportunity about campaigning skills.
I am not so sure, tbh. Are you suggesting she should practice persuading people to take her opinion as a fact because she believes it's true? How can she even persuade the teacher that it's a fact, not an opinion? Campaigning skills like that reminds me of some politicians selling lies.
Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 19:32

@Janonomouse

If the content of the proposed letter was that DD thought that this was an inappropriate example to use, maybe.

But it sounds as though the letter would be arguing that the statement is a fact, which is more akin to writing to a teacher to protest that 2 + 2 = 5.

Again, no.

Pupils writing complaint letter is preposterous

MorganKitten · 22/01/2021 19:43

But it’s not fact, it’s an opinion. There are several places women still can’t work in the same areas as men.

midnightstar66 · 22/01/2021 19:49

The number of people (grown adults) spectacularly missing the point just goes to show exactly why this particular example needed to be used in the first place!

Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 19:49

@MorganKitten

But it’s not fact, it’s an opinion. There are several places women still can’t work in the same areas as men.
Should. Not can't.
Namenic · 22/01/2021 20:35

I think there is a tendency for people to think that fact is superior to opinion.

But it really depends on the question... If the question is whether it is sunny or not - I would prefer an observation (fact) rather than an opinion of someone based on the season we are in. However it tells me nothing about whether I should go for a walk or whether people should be free to walk where-ever and whenever they want (interesting re:coronavirus)

Some scientific discoveries are used in a harmful way - to make weapons etc. Some experiments which gather observations and advance knowledge and help people are unethical and also harm lots of people. Maybe discuss utilitarianism. I think she could gain a lot from thinking and discussing it.

SeasonFinale · 22/01/2021 20:46

@Adviceneededalways

I won’t be telling my daughters she’s wrong, she’s 14 with a strong mind which I love and would never try to put her down make her feel like her opinions were irrelevant. I will however use it a point of conversation and discuss it further with her and there have been some excellent suggestions of how to do so on here so thank you.
Then you are doing her a disservice.
AStudyinPink · 22/01/2021 20:50

Of course it’s an opinion. It can’t be proved or disproved. There is no ‘evidence’ to collate for or against the statement. People come down on opposing sides of the statement based on their thoughts about how the world should look. In other words, it’s an opinion.

And there are too many people on this thread who seem as incapable as a bolshy 14 year old of telling the difference.

AStudyinPink · 22/01/2021 20:52

And if your daughter genuinely has a strong mind, she won’t mind you explaining this reality to her.

SeasonFinale · 22/01/2021 20:55

And herein lies the issue. The OP came here in an attempt to ridicule a teacher and parade how fabulous her daughter was but when it was pointed out that her daughter was in fact incorrect and that it is a matter of opinion she still felt it acceptable for her daughter to write a letter of complaint about the teacher.

It was ideal time for her to explain to her daughter the differences between fact and opinion (the purpose of the exercise) so she would be able to adequately differentiate between the 2 in future (exam) questions but she choses not to because even though the DD is not an Instagram pouter it would appear she is still somewhat of a princess.

Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 20:59

@SeasonFinale

And herein lies the issue. The OP came here in an attempt to ridicule a teacher and parade how fabulous her daughter was but when it was pointed out that her daughter was in fact incorrect and that it is a matter of opinion she still felt it acceptable for her daughter to write a letter of complaint about the teacher.

It was ideal time for her to explain to her daughter the differences between fact and opinion (the purpose of the exercise) so she would be able to adequately differentiate between the 2 in future (exam) questions but she choses not to because even though the DD is not an Instagram pouter it would appear she is still somewhat of a princess.

👏👏👏

I'm honestly gobsmacked at how many people encouraged her to write a letter of complaint Grin

FinallyHere · 22/01/2021 21:22

I think there is a tendency for people to think that fact is superior to opinion.

The context here is a stem subject V lesson. I'm really sorry at how C many people don't appear to understand the difference.

Though it goes explain some things that have tended to puzzle me about the hold populist political parties can gain over other people.

toocold54 · 22/01/2021 21:22

This is why I love school because people can have these discussions and learn to listen and respect other people’s opinions but not necessarily agree with them.

Your DD is upset because she hasn’t learnt these skills yet which is why they talk about these difficult subjects so they learn these skills in a safe environment. It’s more difficult doing it from home too.

I’m a science teacher and we discuss lots of touchy subjects - abortions, embryonic stem cells, religion vs evolution, liver transplants for ex alcoholics etc

Original poster
Adviceneededalways · 22/01/2021 21:24

@SeasonFinale have you just taken my absence from MN’s this afternoon and decided to run with your own account of events...

“The OP came here in an attempt to ride the teacher”

Where in any of my post have I ridiculed the teacher, I said in my OP that I though possible the wrong example for a class of opinionated teen girls however later said I understood the science behind it and would encourage daughter to also reflect and rethink.

“Parade how fabulous her daughter was”

What?!! 😳

“It was ideal time for her to explain to her daughter the differences between fact and opinion (the purpose of the exercise) so she would be able to adequately differentiate between the 2 in future (exam) questions but she choses not to because even though the DD is not an Instagram pouter it would appear she is still somewhat of a princess.”

Actual LOL...😂😂

And fiction of the years goes to 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

OP posts:
Original poster
Adviceneededalways · 22/01/2021 21:24

*ridicule

OP posts:
Original poster
Adviceneededalways · 22/01/2021 21:42

Little update

Thanks to all those who have commented (in a helpful and constructive manner) and messaged me today...

My princess of a daughter (😂) and I have had good discussion about this and why she has had a strong reaction to the statement.

We covered privilege, equality, fact and scientific findings not always being what we want to hear and in the end it was her, my “rude”, “cheeky” “princess” (and all the other awful things she has either been called or accused of today) of a daughter who said...

“It’s kinda cool how she has made me think and see the difference between fact and something I’d just like to be fact”

So there you are folks, through discussion, perspective, encouragement and a little time she managed to get there all by herself...

OP posts:
AStudyinPink · 22/01/2021 21:44

Good. Is she going to apologise?

Original poster
Adviceneededalways · 22/01/2021 21:52

@AStudyinPink Nope...

She wasn’t rude to the teacher (I have seen the text from the class) she just said she was surprised at the statement and wasn’t sure she agreed with it being classed as fact and that she wanted to go back and think about it before she wrote it as so...

All perfectly polite and I’m glad she paused to that she was sure before she carried on.

OP posts:
AStudyinPink · 22/01/2021 21:54

All’s well, then. She learned a valuable lesson. Good teacher.

mathanxiety · 22/01/2021 21:55

Ask her to read statements closely before coming to conclusions in future, @Adviceneededalways.

The word 'should' makes a statement an opinion.

Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 21:57

@mathanxiety

Ask her to read statements closely before coming to conclusions in future, *@Adviceneededalways*.

The word 'should' makes a statement an opinion.

Most of MN need the same lesson.
Original poster
Adviceneededalways · 22/01/2021 21:58

@mathanxiety possibly, though I feel like this was meant to be a bigger lesson for her today, so many good lessons learned that I’m kinda glad she stalled and had to take a 2nd look...

OP posts:
Onjnmoeiejducwoapy · 22/01/2021 22:01

Well hopefully the lesson will have made an impact!

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