Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Supply Teacher giggling at name of child in class

257 replies

everythingflies · 09/08/2025 22:48

Is it very unprofessional for a supply teacher to start giggling when taking the register in a class which they have not taught in before, because one of the children's names is "Bourbon"? Supply teacher in question is normally very professional but couldn't help themselves when hearing the name of the child.

OP posts:
SmashFlight · 09/08/2025 23:31

Look it probably is unprofessional but really parents that name their kids that set them up for a lifetime of teasing over the stupid names I see out there are to blame. Same as the "can you spell that" or "how on earth do you pronounce that?!" etc
Some parents don't ever think of the kids or what they will go through when setting them up with ridiculous names or stupid spelling of common names just to be "unique".
My friend worked in family courts years ago and OMG the names of the regulars! Some of them gave us a right laugh.
It's different if it's a last name you don't pick but why burden a kid with a name they'll be laughed at for life by choice... Madness.
So year probably unprofessional but blame the people that lumped it on the poor child. They'll get plenty more laughs going through life than just that so they'll need to get used to it.

ThriveAT · 09/08/2025 23:32

TinyTempest · 09/08/2025 23:02

No, I think they meant complain to the head that the teacher laughed at the child's name in front of the child and the whole class?

Might've been a spontaneous reaction though and there's not much that can be done about that.

Show quote history

Yeah, it was unprofessional but it was probably a spontaneous reaction, so apologies forgiveable mistake. It's not bullying, to whomever suggested this. Bullying is repeated and consistent.

SilverpetalShine · 09/08/2025 23:32

I had an amazing teacher at my school called Mr Daft. I kid you not.

Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 09/08/2025 23:33

PoorUncleBarry · 09/08/2025 23:30

There are far far worse names than Bourbon. My childhood nemesis had the surname Nappi. They surprisingly didn't get much teasing for it but later changed it to Nappey by deed poll.

How is that better??

ExtraOnions · 09/08/2025 23:33

Is the child heir to the throne of France ?

RosesAndHellebores · 09/08/2025 23:36

ThriveAT · 09/08/2025 23:32

Yeah, it was unprofessional but it was probably a spontaneous reaction, so apologies forgiveable mistake. It's not bullying, to whomever suggested this. Bullying is repeated and consistent.

Show quote history

Bullying depends on the perception of the person who experiences the behaviour. It does not depend on repetition.

OudAndRose · 09/08/2025 23:36

Obviously it's not ok from the teacher but I have to admit I also laughed when I read it. wtf.

TattyBluebell · 09/08/2025 23:36

It is totally unprofessional and they shouldn't have done it. I did splurt out a little giggle when I read it though!
I bet loads of you did the same too!

Gymnopediegivesmethewillies · 09/08/2025 23:37

I’ve posted this before but honest to God there was an SEN teacher at my children’s primary school called Mr Shaw Twilley. A couple of dads had to walk out of a parents evening until they could pull themselves together. The kids didn’t find it funny but the parents did.

OudAndRose · 09/08/2025 23:38

Gymnopediegivesmethewillies · 09/08/2025 23:37

I’ve posted this before but honest to God there was an SEN teacher at my children’s primary school called Mr Shaw Twilley. A couple of dads had to walk out of a parents evening until they could pull themselves together. The kids didn’t find it funny but the parents did.

Surely not?? That sounds like something out of the Simpsons!

ThriveAT · 09/08/2025 23:40

RosesAndHellebores · 09/08/2025 23:36

Bullying depends on the perception of the person who experiences the behaviour. It does not depend on repetition.

Show quote history

Look up the definition of bullying. Repetition is in there.

Hottchoc · 09/08/2025 23:40

Oh things brings back memories of one name in particular from when I was a supply teacher.
I didn't laugh but it took some effort!

bluecurtains14 · 09/08/2025 23:40

It is, but that name is child abuse.

soupyspoon · 09/08/2025 23:41

DollopOfFun · 09/08/2025 22:57

Very unprofessional. Really takes the biscuit.

Nice

soupyspoon · 09/08/2025 23:44

steff13 · 09/08/2025 23:20

I thought of alcohol.

And Windsor and Tudor would be odd first names.

Show quote history

Windsor isnt odd, Windsor Davies?

Tudor I like, I would have called any son I had Tudor, it was on my list.

PoorUncleBarry · 09/08/2025 23:45

Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 09/08/2025 23:33

How is that better??

Show quote history

They tell people it's French 😂😂😂

JHound · 09/08/2025 23:46

ElfAndSafetyBored · 09/08/2025 22:55

Bourbon? To be fair, it’s probably helping them build them a thick skin for the rest of their life, they’ll need it.

I’m not condoning it, honest I’m not. But why name a kid after a biscuit?

I assumed it to be the liquor but don’t think it’s that bad.

Gymnopediegivesmethewillies · 09/08/2025 23:46

OudAndRose · 09/08/2025 23:38

Surely not?? That sounds like something out of the Simpsons!

Show quote history

Absolutely true! I asked the Head about it later on and he said he’d gently asked if he’d ever thought of reversing it to Twilley-Shaw but the teacher just seemed baffled as to why he wouldn’t need to. As I said the children didn’t find it funny but I was crying with laughter when I was told - but then I have a pretty juvenile sense of humour!

Lockdownsceptic · 09/08/2025 23:48

ChaliceinWonderland · 09/08/2025 22:55

Com,plain to the head in writing. And the supply agency. I'm a supply teacher this is almost unbelievable.

A bit OTT. Even supply teachers are human.

ScruffyTrouserMindFlip · 09/08/2025 23:50

ElfAndSafetyBored · 09/08/2025 22:55

Bourbon? To be fair, it’s probably helping them build them a thick skin for the rest of their life, they’ll need it.

I’m not condoning it, honest I’m not. But why name a kid after a biscuit?

I agree. I'm imagining them having siblings called "Ginger Snap" or "Party Ring".

Isittimeformynapyet · 09/08/2025 23:51

youalright · 09/08/2025 22:54

Was you in the classroom

Well you clearly wasn't.

ScruffyTrouserMindFlip · 09/08/2025 23:57

I had a supply teacher who used to intentionally pretend to misunderstand my name and pronounce it in a stupid way, every time she took the register - btw, I have a "real" name, which could be found in any baby name book, and which is spelt in the usual name. It was unusual in the 2010s, but actually isn't all that uncommon now.

Anyway, at the time I was irked by it, mainly because her mispronunciation became a nickname for me by my friends. But looking back it was quite funny. The friends I stayed in touch with all these years periodically remember and pretend to be the supply teacher, with a look of faux amazement as she looks at the register, and we have a giggle. I'm sure the child in question will suffer no long term damage.

CluelessAboutBiology · 10/08/2025 00:06

soupyspoon · 09/08/2025 23:41

Nice

Show quote history

Very good

TinyTempest · 10/08/2025 00:07

LemondrizzleShark · 09/08/2025 23:04

Isn’t OP the teacher though? So she is meant to complain about herself?

Show quote history

Oh I don't know now?

I assumed the OP was talking about a supply teacher and she might be a TA or just heard it second hand from her child?

Unlikely to find out anyway as the OP has posted and fucked straight off like so many lately

Theunamedcat · 10/08/2025 00:07

CoconutGrove · 09/08/2025 22:49

Yes it's unprofessional and unfair on the child.

So is naming the child bourbon tbf