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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU Teacher plays "Boo the child"!!

140 replies

BubbleBath365 · 30/03/2023 17:58

Looking for some straight-talk please. Name change here, as post possibly outing.

My child is a 10-year-old in year 6.
Her class teacher has form for being rude and has a weird sense of humour. DD happens to be in the top class for maths, where they are pushed to work hard.

Today the teacher invented a game where at the end of the class, she picked on different children to call out answers to the maths questions set. If you had not completed a question (this may be either because you did not know how to do it or because you were slow), she told the whole class to boo the child, which they did with great gusto.
2 children got booed - DD and another child, who shrugged it off. DD is a gentle, mild-mannered and well-behaved child who really tries hard at maths, as she knows she needs to work at it. DD came home in tears, but did not cry in class (of this I am glad) - she was completely thrown as she had never been booed at.

Teacher is aware that DD lacks confidence in maths and has said so to us at the term-end meeting with parents - 3 weeks ago. Why would she pick on her to answer the question?
She has humiliated DD (and others) in class before (I am speaking of academic achievement - not bad behaviour) - so there is a pattern here.

I am furious. How can this be the right way to 'teach' a child? Is this a normal 'game' to play in class?
I plan to complain to the school - to me this looks like bullying.
I have spoken to the teacher on previous occasions, but she is very convinced her 'teaching methods' are fine.

Sorry about the long post - any advice appreciated.

YANBU - go and speak to the school. This is not the right way to teach a child.
YABU - shrug and let go

OP posts:
fairgame84 · 30/03/2023 18:00

Thats not ok, it's publicly shaming a child for not knowing the answer. I would complain.

BubbleBath365 · 30/03/2023 18:12

Thanks fairgame84. It makes me so very angry that this has happened. A broken system indeed.

OP posts:
IamSarah · 30/03/2023 18:13

YANBU that is really not okay.

Ludo19 · 30/03/2023 18:14

This type of humiliation was common place when children got the belt....I thought times had changed??

STARCATCHER22 · 30/03/2023 18:15

I’m a teacher in Year 6.

I am horrified that your child’s teacher thinks this is okay. The classroom should be a place where children feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them.

100% this is not okay. You should speak to the Head/Deputy Head teacher.

Hope your DD is okay

AnotherCountryMummy · 30/03/2023 18:15

YANBU! That's absolutely horrendous and has angered and upset me. I'm sorry it happened.

twoshedsjackson · 30/03/2023 18:15

I am dumbfounded by the actions of this teacher. It seems so obviously counterproductive as to defy all reason.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 30/03/2023 18:15

Wow, someone gets their kicks out of humiliating young DC WTF?!

Sortyourlifeout · 30/03/2023 18:17

I would be making a formal complaint!

TrashyPanda · 30/03/2023 18:19

That’s a really nasty thing to do.

IMO it is actually bullying

your poor DD.

booh1276 · 30/03/2023 18:20

She might as well have put her in stocks and thrown tomato’s at her.

it’s disgusting. If it was my child Inwould be furious and would deffo complain.

good luck

Cotton55 · 30/03/2023 18:23

I am a teacher myself (Ireland) and couldn't imagine any of my colleagues behaving in this horrific manner. My own son has dyslexia and would be slow to finish written work. I would be livid if he was booed for not having the answer to a question. There is no excuse for this awful behaviour. I'm so sorry for your daughter and would definitely complain to the principal/ headteacher.

Freespiritwannabe · 30/03/2023 18:25

How awful!! I support teachers but this one can piss off.

LoveQuinnOhDearyMe · 30/03/2023 18:26

WTF? No way is that a normal thing to do! How horrible, you’re poor DD.

Straight to teacher tomorrow and make it clear you’ll be taking it higher. Can you get the word of any other child via their parents just to back you up?

UncomfortableSofa · 30/03/2023 18:26

Make sure you boo the teacher loudly at the next parent teacher meeting. Bring your husband and all children and you can all join in.

What an absolute b*tch to do that to children.

Weallgottachangesometime · 30/03/2023 18:27

No that doesn’t sound ok to me.
I get that she might be trying to be funny or alternative but she’s clearly missing the mark if she is upsetting xhildren.

avocadotofu · 30/03/2023 18:28

I'm a primary teacher and that's awful! I would definitely say something!

Seashor · 30/03/2023 18:29

This reply has been deleted

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embod · 30/03/2023 18:30

This is not on under any circumstances. Go to the Deputy/Head and raise it as an issue.

WonderingWanda · 30/03/2023 18:34

That's appalling.

Waydown · 30/03/2023 18:42

I had a teacher (45 years ago) who used to pull faces at children who got things wrong and it wasn't OK then.

maddy68 · 30/03/2023 18:48

I'm a teacher. That's awful.

You need to go and firstly check on the accuracy of the events and complain

Soproudoflionesses · 30/03/2023 18:49

That is shocking op.
Your poor daughter

BubbleBath365 · 30/03/2023 18:54

Thank you everyone who took the time to reply, for your words of support.
I plan to go in to see the head teacher tomorrow.

I was undecided about this initially as the whole class unanimously appear to adore the teacher, most parents included and they all say she is 'cool'. But when I have spoken to some parents individually, they agree the teacher's methods can be bizarre - but everyone seems to brush it off. So I have told myself in the past that I am overreacting.
Another similar incident was when the children were asked to paint a portrait of their mother for mothers day. One kid's drawing of his mother was held up to the class and slowly ripped in two, and the teacher had a grin on her face (the drawing-ripping was a joke, of course). No reason given other than 'it was not good enough'. DD did not find it funny but most of the children found it hilarious. I am not sure how the child who's painting was ripped-up took it.

@Seashor No, not a troll post. I get no pleasure in putting teachers down - DD has had some truly wonderful ones in the past. Go and find another poster to harass - I am already angry enough.

OP posts:
Puppers · 30/03/2023 18:54

I wouldn't bother going to the teacher over this. I'd be straight to the head. It's inappropriate and has the potential to affect the way your child feels about school and education for years to come.

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