To expect my sons teacher to get his name right?

[ohmyohmy123]

My son has had the same teacher for 2 consecutive years - and she still spells his name wrong. It's not just spelt incorrectly - it's a different name. He gets quite upset about it. I have pointed out the mistake multiple times but had his school report and it's typed wrong again on it.

It's not a hard name either.

He's only got another few weeks of her, should I just let it go or do I send her another email?

Previous comment for @longsigh

My DS is spelt correctly at school however my MIL insists on spelling it wrong (he's now 7) and she still does it!

@Maireas

I do work in a school. A state secondary. Click on Sims/bromcom, whatever your system, click your group code, the list comes up with all the names on Enter data and comments. Just done it for yr7. Not hilarious at all.

We have to use a set proforma so can't do that.

@ohmyohmy123 sorry to derail the thread- it's not good that the teacher doesn't get his name right and you should mention it.

This absolutely astounds me. Even when I was a student teacher I would have all my kids names down within the space of a couple of days. Just pure laziness.

My eldest DD has a name that's not common but a very recognisable name and there's only one way to spell it, her pre school teacher used to spell both her first name and her last name incorrectly (surname gets misspelt a lot tbh) wound me right up and I did email the school about it. She's now in the adjoining school and it doesn't happen anymore thankfully!

@WhenSheWasBad

Is say let it go in secondary school. Teachers have hundreds of kids names to remember and it is really tricky.

I have two utterly wonder girls in one of my classes and I still get them mixed up. They always get an apology and luckily for me are very forgiving.

I teach hundreds of pupils per week and of course I occasionally get the odd names muddled up in class. I currently have a new pupil who I keep calling his brother’s name, he’s his spitting image!

However I’d be mortified if I send anything home with the wrong name and if a parent raised it even once I’d be bending over backwards to never do it again.

To suggest this is something that should be excused is extremely unprofessional of you.

@Maireas

I do work in a school. A state secondary. Click on Sims/bromcom, whatever your system, click your group code, the list comes up with all the names on Enter data and comments. Just done it for yr7. Not hilarious at all.

Ah I see. Secondary and primary schools often have very different systems. I have to create and populate all the reports myself. In previous years I was also expected to print, photocopy and put them in envelopes, as well as file the copy.

You're right @HowManyToes, and that's exactly why it's so bad. I teach a lot of classes, and sometimes call a student by the name of someone in the previous class if they're in the same seat. All of us, (particularly in the secondary sector) have probably got a name wrong on the odd occasion, but to do it for 2 years? Write it incorrectly on reports? That's beyond an error.

@EastWestWhosBest that's a bit much!
However, I'm sure you're not typing in the wrong names!

[quote Maireas]@EastWestWhosBest that's a bit much!
However, I'm sure you're not typing in the wrong names![/quote]
Fairly ordinary in primary schools.

Well, @EastWestWhosBest, I hope you get enough p&p time, although I suspect not.

2 years!

Very poor.
Very unprofessional.
Completely unacceptable.

I absolutely wouldn't accept the report and I would bevtelling the head teacher how unprofessional it was.

Very basic.

@Maireas

Well, *@EastWestWhosBest*, I hope you get enough p&p time, although I suspect not.

2 hours a week! That’s plenty…..

When my daughter was in primary, she had a substitute teacher for a couple of days. My daughter has a shortened name and this teacher insisted on calling her the longer version. When my daughter corrected her, telling her that that was not her name, the teacher told her she didn't like her name and would only call her by the longer version! Needless to say, after an angry call to the school, an apology was made and the correct name used from then on.

@EastWestWhosBest I bet you sit around having cups of tea!

Is it a funky spelling of a normal name? I've seen this happen when there is a haydyn rather or a Lillie ?

It's not ok but I wonder of she's done it on autopilot ?

OP I was you 9 years ago. Correct them! Politely, but ask for the proper report back. Yes, it might annoy them but there is a fighting chance that they will take a little more care with the next cohort of kids.

DD's 1st name isn't uncommon and ought to be easily spelled (5 letters, surname has 6). It was wrong on enough team sheets/newsletters etc to confuse the families who don't necessarily speak English at home to carry on with the "school spelling".

@billy1966

2 years!

Very poor.
Very unprofessional.
Completely unacceptable.

I absolutely wouldn't accept the report and I would bevtelling the head teacher how unprofessional it was.

Very basic.

Totally agree with this! This is disgraceful. Not that hard to get a child’s name right. I would be bringing it up with the Head too.

Is it one of those names that sounds the same but can be written in a variety of ways?

This has reminded me of something a teacher told me years ago when I complimented her on knowing the children's names.
She told me she looked over their files and pictures before school returned as she thought it important to learn them.

What message is that lazy half arsed teacher sending to the OP's son, that she doesn't care enough to learn his name after two years of having him every day?

Really rude and disrespectful and she absolutely deserves to have it pointed out to her and reported to the HT.

@CatsArePeople

Is it one of those names that sounds the same but can be written in a variety of ways?

No..it's a simple name with no other spellings that make sense

I still remember the embarrassment and upset caused by a teacher in my first week at secondary school, who announced to the class "and we have some one here who doesn't even know how to spell her own name" and then made me stand up while she berated me for apparently not being able to spell both my first name and my surname. I hated her from that moment onwards.

@ohmyohmy123

I thought about sending an end of term gift with the wrong name.

I.e. Mrs Summers instead of mrs Somerset for example but that's just petty haha

Better still, get her an end of term gift with his name as she spells it crossed out and his correct name added. Like a mug or a tote bag, with Mark It's MATTHEW

Ah, the crossing out formatting didn't work, but you get the idea.

I've read the posts that have been made since my original one but I can't get my head around why any parent would get a gift for a teacher who for 2 years hasn't bothered to learn the name of my child??? It beggars belief that, even in jest, people are suggesting that getting a gift for this inconsiderate adult would be something they would do.
Save your money for a teacher that gives a damn!