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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you find this wierd? (odd teacher)

72 replies

SugarHoneyIcedTea · 03/03/2009 09:57

DD is currently learning about the origins of Bonfire night, Guy Falkes etc.

So the teacher had them act out 'that night'. DD got the part of the person who received the tip off and the teacher told her to go out of the classroom and down the coridoor at a specific point.

She did this and apparantly, as she wandered down the coridoor, the store room door opened and the teacher grabbed her and dragged her inside!!

She said he had a cloak over his head and he whispered about the plot and then pushed her back out into the coridoor again.

I know it was probably just the case of an over-enthusiastic teacher but does anyone else find this a bit OTT?

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 03/03/2009 09:59

That is a bit scary for a child.
I don't think there is anything sinister about it, just ill judged.

nickytwotimes · 03/03/2009 09:59

Very ill judged, actually.

100yearsofsolitude · 03/03/2009 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lizzylou · 03/03/2009 10:00

Very strange!
Why are they doing the origins of Bonfire night in March???

Original poster
SugarHoneyIcedTea · 03/03/2009 10:02

She didn't mention anything sinister other than dragging her into the closet (quite roughly by the sound of it) but if she was the kind of kid to make stuff up, he could be in a lot of trouble.

They're learning about all British traditions, celebrations and festivals apparantly.

OP posts:
TiggyR · 03/03/2009 10:03

Er, not really, so long as it was not done in a truly sinister or suspect way. I think we are in danger of becoming so paranoid about what we expose them to that our children will grow up very safe, admittedly, but with brains like polystyrene, the emotional responses of a earthworm and the 'fight or flight' mechanisms of a turnip.

nickytwotimes · 03/03/2009 10:04

Yes, he is potentially putting himself in a vulnerable position.

Stretch · 03/03/2009 10:05

How old is she? If 4/5 then yes, too much and I would be a little mad, but at 8/9 I'm sure she'd be fine!

Stretch · 03/03/2009 10:08

I meant her being scared, not the teacher being innappropriate (or not)!

100yearsofsolitude · 03/03/2009 10:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mayorquimby · 03/03/2009 10:09

depends on the age.
that actually sounds kind of fun for a kid.

Original poster
SugarHoneyIcedTea · 03/03/2009 10:09

she's 9.

Don't get wrong, she wasn't bothered by it other than saying "he frightened me to death at first!" and he is a good teacher. Just when she told me it...I raised an eyebrow I must admit.

OP posts:
wotzy · 03/03/2009 10:13

If he the teacher got another child to do inform her of the plot and no him trying to act it out, I would see no problem. If the teacher is expecting the children to 'act it out', then he should just have the children all take part, with his overseeing it.

Other things make this odd. Odd time of year to play a seasonal event. Having a grown up drag a child inside a store room for any reason. Being in a store room with an person covered with a cloak over their head.

How is your dd?

Jux · 03/03/2009 10:13

Brilliant! a teacher who gets into their role so much is worth their weight in gold. DD would have loved it (she's 9) - yes she'd have been just like yours, but would never forget it and would have got into the whole thing much much more, and had a great time. Love it.

I'll send my dd to your school then. Hers is seriously letting us down atm.

wotzy · 03/03/2009 10:18

The idea of teachers taking part is a good one, when there are lots of others around who can all share the joke. I'm glad she is OK and see the funny side too.

I would imagine most children would feel intimidated by this situation, which makes it odd for a teacher, someone in authority over that child, to do.

womblingfree · 03/03/2009 17:45

Assuming he has taught the kids the story and you DD had some idea of how the message was passed on, I'm inclined to agree with Jux, although I can completely understand why you're a bit about it too.

Leo9 · 03/03/2009 18:16

Odd position for the teacher to put himself in. Would have been far more appropriate to get another child to do the grabbing.

In fact, far more appropriate to simply act out a play in which all the children are equal and knowing participants rather than spring surprises on them.

I agree with wotzy that this was an odd thing to do. I'm not one for seeing odd things at every turn and am very laid back but actually, this was very ill judged

piscesmoon · 03/03/2009 18:22

I think it was a risky position for the teacher to put himself in and you would have to know the children really well but DD will always remember it!

Tamarto · 03/03/2009 18:23

I bet she remembers that forever, why is it so it wouldn't have been as fun had they known what was going to happen.

Tamarto · 03/03/2009 18:25

"I would imagine most children would feel intimidated by this situation"

Really? I'd say the opposite most children i know who are that age would have thought it was great.

Leo9 · 03/03/2009 18:28

Male teacher roughly grabs 9 yr old female pupil into cupboard........I mean, he is asking for trouble. Even if his motives are 100% good which lets assume they are, if a child had been upset or a parent had been VERY touchy on this subject, how could the Headteacher have backed up and supported him?! It would be pretty indefensible, really.

Tamarto · 03/03/2009 18:33

Would reaction have been the same had it been a boy he dragged in the cupboard? Or a female teacher? I agree with tiggyrs post.

londonone · 03/03/2009 18:36

Sounds like a teacher who is confident in his relationship with the children and is trying to make his lessons fun, exciting and memorable. The OPs daughter WASN'T distressed and I would imagine the the teacher used his knowledge of the children to choose a child who he thought would cope well with the experience, by all accounts he made a good choice. Why not trust his professional judgement.

To say his actions are indefensible is preposterous IMO.

Smithagain · 03/03/2009 18:36

At age 9 I'd say it was a great way of bringing the story to life. And he probably chose a child who he thought could handle it.

DD1's class had a Victorian day where the teacher pretended to beat a naughty boy with a cane - quite convincingly apparently (she was actually hitting the shelf behind him - and the child she picked is pretty robust, so I reckon she knew he wouldn't be scared). They talked about nothing else for a few day and I'm sure it helped them remember that lesson!

Leo9 · 03/03/2009 18:37

I still think it was an odd and inappropriate thing to do and any headteacher WOULD find it impossible to defend! Just my humble opinion!

Also, the OP obviously feels somewhat concerned otherwise wouldn't have posted.