To think that on the whole...

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

schools have the best interests of children at heart and teachers are intelligent and reasonable people who genuinely do their very best for all their pupils?
Because it hasn't felt like that on Mumsnet for the past couple of weeks.
There has been a flood of posts from people who are outraged, disgusted, appalled and furious by one aspect or another of their children's education.
You would swear they were sending their children off to be educated by the childcatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
I always though parents and schools were meant to be a partnership and, frankly, I am gobsmacked by the suspicion, mistrust and downright hostility towards school displayed in some of the posts I've been reading lately.
I can't imagine how the teachers on here must feel at times.

My DDs is lovely too and not a robot in sight.

I am especially delighted that the choir is currently learning "What shall we do with the grumpy teacher?"

I love my kids schools. I am especially in love with our secodary school which is blardy wonderful. Some of my best friends are teachers . However, sometimes they do get it wrong and that is what mumsnet is for. We vent, people calm us down and the teachers never need to hear about it.

We have a disney princess this year. I think she was shipped in from the disney animatronics department.

Morris, I'm not moaning but describing. I love my life and don't complain about it to anyone else. But the teachers at my kids school have such a moaning culture I now avoid eye contact so that I don't get chosen for the latest episode of complaints. I really can't understand why people stay in jobs they don't like. And would any teachers please explain to me what is it that makes teaching so terrible. At least with kids you can ask them to be quiet and sit down. It can't be as bad as being a psychiatric nurse, for example. I'm not one, but know a few, and their lot seems very hard.

I agree. Sometimes teachers get cranky and tired--we all do. But most of them are in the job because they want to do the best they can for our children.

Most of them are in the job because it fits round their own kids.

True, Minty. It's not the venting when they get it wrong I object to, that is, as you say, the point of MN. It's the posts where it's clear the school couldn't do right in the poster's eyes if it were entirely staffed by saints and ministering angels.
Riven at your MIL. She sounds a charmer.

Yeah Riven she sounds like a Scary MIL to have

Well, my dss have been very miserable due to their school (not that I knew) but now I am no longer paying they are very very happy.

I think I was standing behind the sort of person you are talking about the other day. She was shouting at the school secretary because her daughter had lost her recorder again. Like it was her fault, poor woman. Apparently this parent was disgusted that they could let it happen

fruitshoots I'm glad they are happy now

I have actually once had a really shite experience regarding one of my dc's school

really bad, as in definitely-breaking-the-Disability-Discrimination-Act, bad as in would-have-sued-if-this-person-had-not-retired, bad as in have-brought-it-up-several-times-on-MN-and-never-had-a-dissenting-voice

and in fairness, it went on for several years, causing a lot of trouble (including physical risk) to dd

but that was ONE experience, involving one member of staff and lasting a couple of years, out of a combined total of 13 years which my dcs have spent at school

I am NOT going to let that colour my interpretation of everything that has gone before and after

on the contrary, I am far more likely to appreciate anyone who is doing their best for my dcs

I you LadyGP!

I do agree that there have been a lot of ranty posts about teachers and schools recently but suspect that that is the school year beginning.

MN seems to be a bit ranty atm. As you say, no one is "a bit cross" anymore

We are so delighted with our school, I am always raving about it.

allotmentmum - you have no idea at all.

hullygully - that is one of the most ridiculous generalisations I have ever heard.

londone - I agree I've no idea, that's why I asked someone to explain.

We have a breakfast club on Friday mornings, which starts at 7.45 We were a little early (miracle!) this morning, so I made DS wait with me rather than barging in. There were already a few cars in the staff car park. In the 5 minutes we waited, we saw one teacher putting sports equipment out, and 2 more teachers went in.
DS said "gosh, do the teachers always arrive so early?"
Most teachers and other staff work very hard, and do the best they can.

Is it? I'm flattered.

snort hully you are on top form this evening

I totally agree.

Hate how people moan about schools and the NHS, when quizzed further you often find they have in fact, just got poor understanding and unreasonable expectations. Oh and are often going off a "well my sister's mate's best friend's brother said xyz".

Not that some people don't have genuinely awful experiences.

even if you have had a genuinely awful experience (which we could claim to have had) I think you have to tell yourself that you are not really helping your children by letting that colour your attitude towards every teacher they come into contact with in the future

Getting back to Mme Lindt's point about people being shouty--why do so many posters want to hit/kick/punch people? I suppose it's a variation on wanting to 'report' people, which also comes up a lot here, but the impression you could gain from being on MN is that many mothers are very angry.

Oh yes abra - I dislike that too! It would never occur to me to want to hit anyone, ever! I'm always a bit that people feel that way.