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?

‘Yes I was there. I work in the school/class.’

I find this more worrying than your original post!

The other thing I always think with threads like this is, it's not lik he punished the kids with messy shoes - he just rewarded a girl with shiny ones.

As staff in schools most of us give credits for all kinds of different things during the school day. Sometimes, this might include something not all kids could achieve - like a good answer in a subject (not all kids hace good understanding of that topic); speaking aloud in class (some kids lack confidence to do this); 100% attendance last week (some kids were poorly or had a bereavement); giving out the books (it only took 2 kids to give out the books, etc etc).

If we created a system where it was literally only permissible to award credits for things every single child had the chance to do, it would be enormously complex, and we would hardly be giving out any credits......

Surely as long as lots of credits are given for different things during the day, and everyone has the chance to be rewarded for SOMETHING, it's ok?

Maybe shiny shoes girl struggles with other things, but the one thing she is really great at is taking care of her apartment so is always neat and tidy.....

You think other children should allow themselves to be treated badly by someone and have nothing to say about, or be friends with someone who - whatever her challenges - treats them like crap? I certainly don't!

If you’ve got time to start moaning threads on MN, you’ve got time to learn how to use your iron

How does one iron shoes to make them shiny? Please do tell 😂

Why would I lie. They did

It sounds like a class who does not respect their teacher then and you, as the teaching assistant, should be working to ensure they do because nothing that you have said about him worries me at all. Having been the long term supply teacher in a class where the TA felt able to overrule and override me, in front of the children, I know how difficult that is and how it not only affects the quality of the teaching but also the work of the children.

This was not the case

Just to update.....

I went to a member of SLT today because he said something else repeatedly to a child in the class which is unrelated to appearance and it was not ok and the child looked upset.
So I went to them and told them plus about the uniform thing and they agreed and said I had done the right thing as it really was not ok

Really? Without even waiting to hear his side of the story? That is not an example of good or effective management 🤔
Not a good place to work at all. Imagine how easy it would be for someone with a grudge to do the same to you?

They obviously will hear his side. But I've said my piece. The children are witnesses and I'm not lying. What he said today was not nice