to expect the teacher to praise my ds a little bit at parents evening

[witchwithallthetrimmings]

I was really looking for her to say that he is a lovely bright happy boy that is showing signs of genius but did expect a little more than "he is doing fine". She did not say anything negative and told me that he is engaged with all the thing he is given to do but never once gave the impression that she actually liked him and he is lovely

No you are not. I'm a secondary school teacher and there is something to like about every child, even the ones who have driven me to distraction (and tears, although only in private). I always bear in mind that the terror in my class is someone's little darling, and quite rightly so.

Can't believe what I've been reading - what some teachers say to parents!!!!
In lower school my DS was in the gifted & talented group all the way through. Now in middle school, he's been streamed into the top for numeracy, science & ICT. So I was hoping for a positive start at parents evening.

However, having been told by other parents that my DS's Yr 5 teacher was "really good", he was actually nothing but negative at parents evening.

The only message he put across (with DS there) was that DS was lacking in focus and he had seen other boys like him do badly in middle school and badly in upper school. When probed for a positive comment, to cheer my now very depressed 9 year old up, he said "you need to challenge him more". Nothing about the school challenging him, I noticed! The teacher also sat back, arms folded, throughout the 3 minutes we had with him. Not impressed.

" teachers should not let their personal feelings about a child (whether like or dislike) get in the way of their teaching

I totally agree blueshoes, I have taught many children I haven't really liked, but neither they, their parents or other members of staff have known that. I also keep in my mind that however I feel about a child, I double check to make sure I'm always fair and equal in my treatment of them all.

Teachers should like all the children they teach?
Some of them are quite unkind, selfish and unpleasant little individuals. Usually not their fault and they can be supported to grow and improve and learn to be nicer people. Teaching is a job, my words and actions should always be professional but my thoughts are my own.