DD’s science teacher AIBU

[Adviceneededalways]

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.

YANBU op. Well done your daughter for sticking up for herself I say.

[quote VeniVidiWeeWee]@Wheresmykimchi

They are a science teacher. The worksheet was about facts versus opinions. And they couldn't be bothered to check the "facts".[/quote]
"couldnt be bothered"

OK

So what do we do about that? Not have her teach peoples kids? discipline her? Or just mindlessly bash teachers for making a clerical error (it's obvious where the mistake has been made) on a worksheet.

Stupid exercise by the teacher

Ridiculous of DD to "complain" - she is not the teacher's equal.

Daft all round.

It isnt a stupid exercise at all. Lots of people (particularly older people) struggle to differentiate between facts and opinions. It's probably why disinformation spreads so easily these days. I think this sort of exercise is absolutely vital.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/23/younger-americans-are-better-than-older-americans-at-telling-factual-news-statements-from-opinions/%3famp=1

@Wheresmykimchi

If I were their line manager I would certainly be having words about fact checking. But any science teacher should have immediately spotted the error. BTW Where is it obvious the mistake has been made, other than not checking facts?

It’s an opinion not a fact obviously.

But it’s not an appropriate example to use to a class of 14 year old kids, unless you intended to unpack and discuss it, which presumably they didn’t.

I think you need to gently point out to your daughter that it is an opinion, but it’s a sensitive topic, and it wasn’t appropriate for the teacher to use it without the opportunity for discussion. If she wants to write that in her letter then fair enough.

[quote Janonomouse]Stupid exercise by the teacher

Ridiculous of DD to "complain" - she is not the teacher's equal.

Daft all round.

It isnt a stupid exercise at all. Lots of people (particularly older people) struggle to differentiate between facts and opinions. It's probably why disinformation spreads so easily these days. I think this sort of exercise is absolutely vital.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/23/younger-americans-are-better-than-older-americans-at-telling-factual-news-statements-from-opinions/%3famp=1[/quote]
I could have worded it better, but putting that (deliberately inflammatory) topic in not in a classroom environment, was not clever.

It's a fact, because 1) It's law and 2) scientifically speaking there's no reason as to why not

An opinion would be that they can't do so in spite of these reasons.

If he's bright enough to teach teenagers, he's bright enough to know what the reaction will be. Seems deliberately inflammatory to me and I'd let your dd complain.

[quote VeniVidiWeeWee]@Wheresmykimchi

If I were their line manager I would certainly be having words about fact checking. But any science teacher should have immediately spotted the error. BTW Where is it obvious the mistake has been made, other than not checking facts?[/quote]
"having words". OK, so a PT - or maybe a DHT, or maybe even a head teacher, depending on this teachers status, should have words about fact checking. Okdoke.

KM instead of miles is the obvious mistake.

I appreciate I'm a dog with a bone here.

But if this was a retail worker who gave the wrong change, or a nurse who made a clerical error, we would be trotting out the compassion and give them a break. But teacher bashing is fair game.

@partyatthepalace - would you encourage a pupil writing a letter to a teacher to complain about the lesson? are you really condoning that?

@TaraR2020

It's a fact, because 1) It's law and 2) scientifically speaking there's no reason as to why not

An opinion would be that they can't do so in spite of these reasons.

If he's bright enough to teach teenagers, he's bright enough to know what the reaction will be. Seems deliberately inflammatory to me and I'd let your dd complain.

She.

It's not a fact, at all.

SHOULD makes it an opinion.

If you'd allow a child to make a complaint about a teacher on a lesson (which is ...odd) then at least have your facts. (Ironic).

Poor use of English doesn't change the facts. You could argue that it was in a basic English lesson maybe.

People should never be discouraged from standing up against discriminatory language or behaviour.

@chillied

It's a real shame and I think she should complain.

Does the phrase 'Boys should be able to work in any area they choose' look baffling. Yes it does.

This

@TaraR2020

Poor use of English doesn't change the facts. You could argue that it was in a basic English lesson maybe.

People should never be discouraged from standing up against discriminatory language or behaviour.

I dont know why you are talking about basic use of English? What's that got to do with anything?

No, DD can have an opinion. But she absolutely can't be encouraged to write a letter of complaint.

It's a fact, because 1) It's law and 2) scientifically speaking there's no reason as to why not
It is not a fact. Even if it's the law in the UK, it is not a universal law worldwide.

@SionnachRua

I do think it would have been easier for the teacher if it were worded as "girls can work in any area they choose". As we all know, that isn't the case around the world.

Or perhaps to just avoid the can of worms altogether. But hey.

But its not thw case for anyone is it?

I might want to be a movie star isn't going to happen

Brain surgeon same not gonna happen

Astronaut not gonna happen

Solider nope

There are limits for every individual if you think anyone can do anything you're just lying

@shamelessmcshame you think the pupil should complain about a ...statement on a worksheet?

To who?

@Wheresmykimchi

"But if this was a retail worker who gave the wrong change, or a nurse who made a clerical error"

There would be a clear route of complaint. Are teachers not subject to similar routines?

Of course.

If you are seriously telling me you would write a letter of complaint over a mistake.

No. In the case of an overcharge I would have a word at the customer service desk. If that didn't resolve the matter then I would write to HO.

@VeniVidiWeeWee

No. In the case of an overcharge I would have a word at the customer service desk. If that didn't resolve the matter then I would write to HO.

Right.

So DD can 'have a word' with the teacher?

@Wheresmykimchi

I appreciate I'm a dog with a bone here.

But if this was a retail worker who gave the wrong change, or a nurse who made a clerical error, we would be trotting out the compassion and give them a break. But teacher bashing is fair game.

@partyatthepalace - would you encourage a pupil writing a letter to a teacher to complain about the lesson? are you really condoning that?

You are being over-sensitive and thus you are missing the point.

I’m not suggesting teacher bashing, and I doubt many others are. The teenager in question is leaning to argue without rancour, as all functioning adults must. There is nothing wrong with her writing to express her views. No head is going to interpret that as a complaint in the disciplinary sense, and no teacher who wants to encourage debate (as all good teachers should) would be offended by it. It’s quite possible that in response to the teenagers letter, the topic could be debated in school.

Debate and disagreement should not be discouraged, the point is to learn to express your opinions while listening to the opinions of others.

[quote partyatthepalace]@Wheresmykimchi

I appreciate I'm a dog with a bone here.

But if this was a retail worker who gave the wrong change, or a nurse who made a clerical error, we would be trotting out the compassion and give them a break. But teacher bashing is fair game.

@partyatthepalace - would you encourage a pupil writing a letter to a teacher to complain about the lesson? are you really condoning that?

You are being over-sensitive and thus you are missing the point.

I’m not suggesting teacher bashing, and I doubt many others are. The teenager in question is leaning to argue without rancour, as all functioning adults must. There is nothing wrong with her writing to express her views. No head is going to interpret that as a complaint in the disciplinary sense, and no teacher who wants to encourage debate (as all good teachers should) would be offended by it. It’s quite possible that in response to the teenagers letter, the topic could be debated in school.

Debate and disagreement should not be discouraged, the point is to learn to express your opinions while listening to the opinions of others.[/quote]
I don't disagree with your final sentiment. And I'm not over sensitive. But a teenager writing a letter of complaint for it then to debated is preposterous.

I’m not suggesting the complaint be debated, but that the topic could be perfectly reasonably given a wider discussion. Or not.

But my point - which I think you understand perfectly well - is there is nothing wrong with a teenager writing a letter to express her opinion on a lesson. Learning to express yourself, to disagree and debate politely, is an essential life skill, and a fundamental part of education.

And yes, you are being both over sensitive and taking a big cognitive leap to assume that I - or anyone on this thread expressing similar views - is teacher bashing.

It's an opinion. The teacher did nothing wrong. She needs to chill.

There are certain jobs that are actually male only or female only, in any case.

@partyatthepalace

I’m not suggesting the complaint be debated, but that the topic could be perfectly reasonably given a wider discussion. Or not.

But my point - which I think you understand perfectly well - is there is nothing wrong with a teenager writing a letter to express her opinion on a lesson. Learning to express yourself, to disagree and debate politely, is an essential life skill, and a fundamental part of education.

And yes, you are being both over sensitive and taking a big cognitive leap to assume that I - or anyone on this thread expressing similar views - is teacher bashing.

I disagree on all counts , so each to their own.

@NewYearTypicalMe

Is she a chicken? Fowl vs foul 🐓

I think it's more than clear that Op's daughter is more 🦅 than 🐔