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AIBU?

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Original poster

For thinking that DS shouldn't be told off for this?

40 replies

Gateaux · 02/12/2009 14:30

DS (7) was told off at school yesterday for making someone cry. Fair enough I thought.
Until I asked exactly what had happened. There are a set of twins in his class, they're very small and cute and to be honest, the teachers favour them hugely because of this. Anyway, one of them had heard DS and his friend talking about dinosaurs and promptly told him they didn't exist.
DS replied "no not now, but they used to. And alligators and Crocodiles still exist and they're like dinosaurs".

After a bit of arguing back and forth, the girl burst into tears and went running to the teacher saying she was scared of alligators and crocodiles. DS was then told off for scaring her!!! What was he supposed to do? tell her they didn't exist and only cute fluffy animals exist in the world?

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 02/12/2009 17:04

I really don't think that any parent could put their hand on their heart and say that they never made a wrong judgement on the spur of the moment! It is a good lesson in life-DS will come across worse. I would just help him make light of it and move on.

Sassybeast · 02/12/2009 17:06

MrsMerryHenry - which is exactly what the TEACHER did so I think you are losing your own argument

Now either the OP approached the teacher or the teacher approached the OP - if it was the latter I suspect that the incident was more serious than the OP would like to think.

piscesmoon · 02/12/2009 17:11

I would save making a fuss for important things. I would just tell DS that the DD was 'a ninny' and avoid her!

Sassybeast · 02/12/2009 17:13

Hullygully - you have such a delicate way with words

Hullygully · 02/12/2009 17:15

It has often been remarked upon. Take no notice of Mrs Merry, she is jealous of my fan.

MrsMerryHenry · 02/12/2009 17:28

Sassy - only if you misconstrue my words .

I think it's clear that by 'responding to the situation' I mean taking the whole situation into consideration - i.e. the girl's oversensitivity. Sometimes my DS cries unnecessarily, e.g. when a child won't do what he wants them to do. Or when a child won't give him a toy that he wants. Bless, he's only 3. But I'm wise enough to see that he's being oversensitive and so I give him cuddles and explain the situation to him, rather than trying to make the child do what he wants. I hope that by doing so, by the time he reaches this girl's age he won't be such a wuss!

If the OP's son had shouted or thumped the girl, that would warrant a telling-off. Unless the OP's missed out such important details, I think it's clear that YOU'RE WRONG AND I'M RIGHT!!!

Sassybeast · 02/12/2009 17:33

MrsMerryHenry - my opinion is obviously more righter than yours co I've got a 7 year old and I know what the little buggers darlings can be really like.

Seriously if the child had been punished/beaten/put in detention for a week I can understand wanting to get the full story from the teacher. But for a telling off - no way.

Now are you selling tickets for this here wrestling match ?

MrsMerryHenry · 02/12/2009 17:39
Morloth · 02/12/2009 17:51

I agree with piscesmoon. I would have helped DS laugh it off with the little girl being a bit silly.

However, knowing DS once he had picked up on her being scared he would have then gone into great detail about the reptiles in question and come up with as many gruesome details as possible. So would be inclined to believe the teacher myself that he had set out deliberately to scare her, that is just my DS though, not the most sensitive soul about.

CarryOnDancing · 02/12/2009 18:29

I am always wary when such an emotive situation arises as it can easily be swayed one way or another. I'm not passing judgement on the teacher, after all its a very difficult job.

I am just trying to think of all possibilities of what the boy could have said. Even if he said crocs exist and they eat little girls, I fail to see a reason for reprimand really.
I think the teacher is as sensitive as the little girl. Not sure it warrants a complaint but think I would have said as much to the teacher.

CarryOnDancing · 02/12/2009 18:32

Haha just realised at the beging of the post I said I wouldn't judge the teacher, then at the end said I'd tell her she was too sensitive- maybe I changed my own mind mid-post?!

Think I'd just go for telling him girls are mardy bums

---thats a joke btw, I couldn't stand a MN roasting right now!

CarryOnDancing · 02/12/2009 18:32

*beginning

Sassybeast · 02/12/2009 20:31

Mrsmerryhenry - 'waahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa'

Me ma will be round in a bit to make YOU cry

cory · 02/12/2009 23:34

I would have laughed it off with ds- but I realise the only reason I would be able to do this is that I have never been 100% committed to upholding teachers' authority. If I had been one of those parents who can never admit to my children that a teacher is wrong, then I wouldn't be in a position to help without confronting the teacher.

jasper · 03/12/2009 00:23

completely trivial . You should not waste a precious second more of your life thinking about it.

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