To be angry with teacher about commenting on pupil appearance

[Drizzlydrizzle12]

What do you think about what this teacher said today. He's a supply until Xmas.

Recently when the children line up for assembly he's been saying about them being smart and commenting on their appearance saying they don't look smart enough.

Today he gave a reward point to a girl because she had really shiny shoes. They are that shiny leather material and some of the other children will never have shoes that material so I feel its unfair. They are yr6 so beginning to become aware of their appearance. I just think personally he shouldn't be doing this.

Also what about the children in the class who I know live in difficult circumstances and its not their fault that their uniform is messy. It just places more anxiety to them and points out the gap between the well looked after children and those who aren't. Aibu to be mad at the teacher?

How ridiculous to comment on how shiny a child's shoes are. Patent leather is always going to be shinier anyway.

If the teacher wasn't doing a uniform check in tutor time or assembly he'd be told to do so.

There's nothing wrong with focussing on looking smart. That's what the uniform is for, to create a culture of respect.

Like it or not, appearance matters. He's not commenting on their features, but their items of uniform being worn properly and with pride.

I'd say it's completely fine to comment on 'smart' choices of shoes, hairstyles, watches etc, alongside the set elements like a tie the right length and a shirt tucked in.

@Somaliwildass its ok to comment on what watch a child wears? What new hell is this?

honestly put the news on and get upset about something that actually matters

I know right. You shouldn't be commenting on anything

He shouldn’t be making comments like that to primary age children, they have zero control over their home life.

It’s not like they can go out and buy themselves shiny shoes

For goodness sake its probably not a reward for shiny shoes, its probably just an excuse ti give her a poubt because her mum has phoned to say she is a bit diwn because her pet gerbil has died or some such

I'd say it's completely fine to comment on 'smart' choices of shoes, hairstyles, watches etc

What? Why? A watch is a personal accessory, for one thing, so it's none of the teacher's business if little Johnny has a shiny silver watch with a personalised engraving on the back or if little Sam has a plastic bright orange watch. For another thing, things like this aren't actually a 'choice' for the kids: we're not talking about adults. The child may have had a choice of watch but even that will be within certain parameters, or equally may just have received the watch as a present. The same goes for shoes.

Clearly in the scenario, the teacher is not just saying 'nice watch, Johnny', but also speaking negatively of Sam's watch.

I agree with @curaçao

Have you tried asking him why he's nice to the children @Drizzlydrizzle12?

Or has conversations with them?

These are primary age. As said many children have no control how they look or if their uniform is even clean/fits etc.

OP raise this it needs to stop. It further isolates the children who have difficult home lives. We don't need 'othering' at this age, they'll face that soon enough.

Yes these are primary aged children. Not secondary

At the school where I work, our uniform is non-compulsory and it's made clear to parents that children can wear what they like provided it's comfortable and appropriate for the weather and school activities. Most children opt to wear it but equally we've had children come in wearing joggers and a t-shirt or school uniform and their favourite rainbow striped tights or leggings and a jumper. It takes the pressure off the children who can't or won't wear uniform for whatever reason whether that's sensory issues, money issues, or just plain old don't want to wear it issues.

Our primary school gives free school uniform (super soft, sensory friendly branded polo and jumper) to any kid that doesn't have one, and turns a blind eye to shoes as long as they're sensible and trousers as long as they're dark. It allows any coats, any hair bobbles, nail varnish, jewellery. There are no restrictions on hair style or colour. Kids wear non school uniform on their birthdays.

It also averages a 98% attendance, 4% above the national average, despite 1 in 4 children being on the SEN register.

It's amazing how much more learning can be achieved by happy, settled, supported kids.

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He's commenting on the smartness or otherwise of their uniform. It's a little different to what commenting on their appearance usually means.
Nothing wrong with this.

Well, they're clean and not covered in mud, I suppose?

And have you spoken to your colleague about this matter?

Am I missing something but patent shoes are pretty much the same price as non patent aren’t they? They’re just a style difference not a price difference. So I don’t see how he can be highlighting anyone’s poverty. Maybe he is just trying to point out the positives of nice shiny shoes when trying to look smart.

Are you finding a reason to dislike him because he's a supply teacher?

I'm a supply teacher and do comment on things like whether their shirts are tucked in, their ties (if worn) are straight and whether their faces and hands are clean because as most pp said, and being a teacher yourself you should know, a lot of schools want their student to look smart. There's nothing wrong with saying, "X, your shirt is tucked in and you look smart, well done. Y, can you straighten up your tie please - it's wonky." Even primary aged children from poorer areas can still manage that, surely.

In Year 6 it's good practice for Year 7 and the move to secondary.

Our local secondary feeder is known well locally for it's welfare and pastoral support and provisions provided to assist with this. They have funding for those struggling to purchase uniform, toiletries, provide free breakfast etc

However they are also fairly strict on presentation and shoes must be clean, hair must be tidy, uniform must fit...
Encouraged to tuck in shirts, fasten ties correctly and so on as they arrive. Staff actually do welcome them at the doors on a morning with a good morning, how are you, tuck shirt in please, fasten blazer etc...
Usually Head of Year, Pastoral Lead and Attendance Lead plus one or two subject tutors present. They also make sure all have bottled water for in class during the day and check on those who look unwell, are unusually quiet/untidy etc

By doing this all students are equal, have access to support for uniform, welfare, lunches etc
All wear the same so no problems with being singled out for not having the most up to date shoes, trainers etc

That class got of lightly imo the last supply teacher ds had called the children idiots and dickheads under his breath.Hes no longer at that school unsurprisingly.

off

I presume your ds told you that 😬. Why would he be still at the school, if he was a supply teacher?

It was a reward point not wads of cash. I am a TA and give out lots of reward points every day. Teachers give even more than me.
Absolutely fine to give out a reward point for smart uniform. Kids can also get them for being polite, concentrating well, good work, being kind, being helpful - absolutely anything. Kids will hardly be scarred for life if they see someone getting a reward point for something.
It’s very usual to give reward points for things you want to encourage. Wearing the uniform smartly really isn’t income dependent. Just tucking in shirts, pulling up socks, buttoning cardis, straightening collars, not tying jumpers round their waists.
We have so much unclaimed, unnamed and donated second hand uniform. It’s great quality and looks brand new (it’s pretty much made of plastic and indestructible). We offer it free to parents but they don’t want it. I reiterate- it’s very very good condition and looks new. It’s cheap as chips.
I am a TA (low wages) and all my kids uniforms were from the school’s second hand sales. I could still pass it down to my younger kids and it looked great at the end of its use.
Kids in Year 6 are absolutely old enough to keep their shoes clean by themselves, they don’t need to be polished but just clean and mud free.

What do they do with reward points? They're hardly Green Shield stamps, are they?