that this report card comment can be misconstrued

[cyclops123]

DD ( 12) got report card that says amongst other things

" Key for DD to succeed will be focusing on implementing healthy sleep
and nutrition."

What impressions do you form of the child and of the parent ?
FYI, DD gets fed properly at home. I can't control what she eats at school.
Also, involved in a nasty divorce.

I’d assume she’s yawning constantly in class and is seen eating a lot of junk food.

Yep seems tired in class and lunch/snacks unhealthy

I would assume there’d be more information further up in the report card that explains. Eg if she falling asleep in class, unable to concentrate, refusing to eat, eating nothing but junk food?

I don't think it can be misconstrued?

For whatever reason, the teacher thinks she needs more sleep and better nutrition.

Eats shit and falls asleep in class

I'd think they have noticed she is lacking in energy, maybe seems unmotivated, and have put it down to lack of sleep and junk food. Have they talked to her about it at school? I would expect them to do this from a Welfare point of view if they are concerned.

Still an unbelievably patronising and overbearing comment to put on a report card.

The school have zero knowledge of how well the child sleeps or what she eats at home. She might yawning because she’s bored to tears, rather than tired.

Also, you can send a kid to bed and still find they can’t sleep. I had serious insomnia when I was that age and there wasn’t one damned thing my parents could do about it. My teachers telling them off wouldn’t have been appropriate in any way.

Gaming or on his phone all night so tired during the day ?

You might be feeding him properly but is his other parent ? Some parents buy takeaways rather than cook food.

Yes, falling asleep in class.
But there is no mention that the nutrition is related to may be junk food eaten in class seen by the teacher.
It just says nutrition.

I’d have hoped that if a teacher had concerns of this kind that you’d have already been spoken to about them to be honest.

Is she eating at school? Need for proper nutrition could be eating disorder concerns ?

The teacher isn’t a doctor and doesn’t know what the kid’s medical or nutritional issues, if any, are.

That she’s tired in class and snacking.

If falling asleep in class is an issue then that should be raised with the parents. It's not appropriate for the teacher to assume the underlying problem or solution.

Why are you being so cagey?

She is on the internet and I disable to wifi and I informed the school about the whole situation.

Its a statement made without any context of the internet issue. Do you think it will be discriminate against her if she needs apply to another school ? For me, I find it suggests that I don't feed her properly and will be used against me by ex. She does not live with ex.

It also says sleep.
If your child is falling asleep in school you really need to be working to address the issues rather than fixating on teacher wording. You’re missing the wood for the trees.

Not sure how it can be misconstrued - clearly saying the child isn't getting enough sleep and eats crap.

Does she need to sleep more and eat better?

How is she going on the internet?

Is she underweight, pale? They might just be connecting tiredness with lack of nutrition.

Possibly she has said something to the teacher? I'd probably ask for a short appointment to discuss.

Could it be they are putting this on all reports ?

At 12 and at secondary school I wouldn't expect teachers to be regularly seeing the kids eating.

The teacher could just be linking sleep and nutrition to possible reasons that she is falling asleep in class, if DD isn’t eating breakfast, this could be the reason for being tired mid morning, and if she’s not eating lunch much it could affect the afternoon. The same with not sleeping properly.
I’d assume the teacher doesn’t know what is happening at home and just giving some advice of what might help.

Gosh, I'd be devastated to read this about my child. While grateful the teacher had taken the time to identify this and comment. Parents can get super defensive but it's better to say something than not.

I would take it to mean that they've noticed issues with your DD, like she's sluggish or yawning/nodding off in class, looks exhausted or mentions going to bed really late, and that they've noticed she is overweight or see her snacking on junk a lot. Clearly both aspects are having a detrimental impact on her for a teacher to notice. Although the fact you're having to ask here suggests you might not be the best person to act.

sorry, I should say the bit about being miscontrued is the nutrition. it could be miscontrued that DD doesnt get fed properly at home, but in fact it is her not eating properly at school and junk food etc.