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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to put a note in dds homework pointing out the teachers errors

236 replies

brook1 · 13/12/2009 20:30

My dd did some comprehension homework last week and brought it home on Friday after it had been marked by the teacher (or possibly ta).

One of the answers my daughter put to her question was "they would have been fed to the sharcks".

The teacher has crossed out fed and replaced it with feed and has crossed out the "c" from "sharcks" and replaced it with an "e" so it now reads "they would have been feed to the shareks".

We are not allowed to speak to the teachers in the mornings about any issues unless they are urgent so we have to make an appointment. I didnt think it was worthy of wasting an appointment but I do feel like it needs pointing out.

DH thinks I will look stroppy if I put a note in.

AIBU.

OP posts:
CristinaTheAstonishing · 13/12/2009 21:34

brook1 - not being petty, but could you add some apostrophes to your text?

CristinaTheAstonishing · 13/12/2009 21:35

Sorry, that sounds harsh in writing, but difficult to wait till an MN meet-up to tell you in person.

Original poster
brook1 · 13/12/2009 21:36

LOL cristina, I am not being paid to post on here though am I. And I am not teaching anyone else to either.

OP posts:
CristinaTheAstonishing · 13/12/2009 21:39

Even more difficult then when it's your professionalism that gets called into question. I have some sympathy with you but it sounds too much like a confusion/scatterbrainedness, I mean no-one would use the "corrected" version of the phrase.

corriefan · 13/12/2009 21:40

I do supply on and off but not at the moment. I'm hoping to get out of teaching and am currently doing research into dyslexia.
The mistake spelt "shareks" in the initial post- "sharkes" in your latest post is less bizarre and could possibly indicate poor spelling- which was it?
I'll ask again, what do you think it will achieve? If it's not simply to say "Aaaah you did that wrong" what is the note for?
Do you think people with dyslexia should be allowed to teach?
What, in your view, is the most important thing about your child's education?

Goblinchild · 13/12/2009 21:48

I am usually a good speller, and confident with grammar.
When I make mistakes, the children point them out. If it's something ordinary such as missing off a dot for the i on my board, I change it. If it's a more interesting one, sometimes when I get interrupted mid-flow, they usually get a house point.
My TA and I check each other's work to make sure that reports, homework and such are flawless before being sent out.
So if I make a mistake, I like to know about it.

SleighBelleDameSansMerci · 13/12/2009 21:49

I guess I'm in for some interesting times when my DD starts primary school.

I really do think that correct usage, punctuation and spelling is not an unreasonable expectation from someone marking a child's work and/or teaching the subject.

Not sure about a note but I would speak to the teacher about this. I think the earlier suggestion saying that the changes were confusing was a good one.

SleighBelleDameSansMerci · 13/12/2009 21:51

Goblinchild - thank you. You have restored my confidence!

Original poster
brook1 · 13/12/2009 21:54

Corriefan - it was my typo 2nd time round, it was altered by the teacher to "shareks".

I dont really know what to say about people with dyslexia teaching children. It would be such a shame to discriminate against them if they were good teachers, however, there is an obvious problem if they cannot read/correct a childs homework correctly so not sure.

Spelling is important. However, should this stop someone from being a teacher? I dont know. There are lots of other important aspects to being a teacher so its a difficult question.

You asked me what I think it will achieve by pointing it out to the teacher, well, nothing really I suppose. I was a bit annoyed about it and as I said earlier, I am re-thinking whether or not to do it.

OP posts:
corriefan · 13/12/2009 21:58

A child correcting spelling is productive and aids their learning. I've often deliberately made mistakes too, so they can feel excited about correcting them and knowing more than the teacher.
I would find it irritating if a parent pointed something minor out, though, but it is not something that has happened to me.

corriefan · 13/12/2009 22:03

Actually I want to add that I've always got on with parents well and if they had pointed something out I probably would have just laughed and said "It had been a long day" or something.

brook1- maybe you are taking it a bit personally about your dd? Like maybe you feel upset that she was corrected when it wasn't necessary (in one case)? Do you worry that she's be badly affected by what happened self-esteem wise?
It really sounds like a hassled teacher's balls-up at the end of a long term.

ravenAK · 13/12/2009 22:05

Does 'e' mean 'extra letter' maybe?

I'd be tempted to write a note saying 'I'm a bit confused - it looks like you've corrected "sharcks" to "shareks" - do you use a marking key & if so can I have a copy? No prob if it was a mistake!'

Marking can be fairly soul destroying, & mistakes get made - if it's just a slip, I wouldn't worry. I'd be a bit concerned if any education professional actually thought that 'feed' & 'shareks' were correct mind you.

SE13Mummy · 13/12/2009 22:05

I wouldn't mind having it pointed out to me at all - if nothing else it shows that it was worth me taking the time to mark it as it has been looked at since!

My DD is in Reception and a few weeks in to her school career the teacher had set up a table with whiteboards including the word 'dinasours'... the first day I noticed it I let it go but the next day I corrected it - she caught me in the act and asked if she'd also used the wrong spelling the day before. When I replied that she had she thanked me for pointing it out before the headteacher had seen it!

Personally I would always prefer that a parent/pupil pointed my spelling mistakes out to me so that I could make amends than stored it up to use against me at a later date!

corriefan · 13/12/2009 22:12

Hmmm...Maybe my research into dyslexia has made me hyper-sensitive to some people's feelings about being corrected.

OrmIrian · 13/12/2009 22:13

Yes you will look stroppy. DOn't be a smartarse.

MaryNeedsAFeckingDonkey · 13/12/2009 22:13

How old is your DD and why can't she speak to the teacher about it herself? Wouldn't encouraging her to be independent and ask (politely) for an explanation for something she doesn't understand be more helpful than - albeit not necessarily intentionally - embarassing and annoying the teacher, who may have made a simple mistake after correcting lots of jotters?

As the P of a teacher, I am constantly astonished by the number of parents who feel they have to immediately intervene and speak to teachers on their children's behalf rather than encouraging their kids to address issues for themselves. (Not necessarily blaming the OP here, just making an observation BTW.)

If it's a consistent problem and the child doesn't get any helpful feedback then it's something to query. And if it's a TA marking work, that shouldn't be happening - so don't accept it as an excuse. FWIW my P says he would see the funny side if one of his kids brought that to him and pointed out his errors. He'd be the first to admit that his own work is not flawless.

OrmIrian · 13/12/2009 22:15

Imagine you have been in school since 8.30am, you have had a full day's teaching and possibly a staff meeting. And gone home to feed kids and put them to bed. And then started marking 30 essays. I think the odd mistakes is allowable.

MaryNeedsAFeckingDonkey · 13/12/2009 22:15

Should that have been "children's behalves"? See....none of us are perfect and I'm paid to write for a profession!

JaneiteMightBite · 13/12/2009 22:17

Agree with Orm. I can spell but sometimes, after looking at incorrect spellings when marking, I can forget HOW to spell. And sometimes I make mistakes - especially if I'm marking late at night after a long day.

Whispers - or if I'm on here whilst marking!

applepudding · 13/12/2009 22:21

I wouldn't actually write a note to the teacher, but I would have to re-correct the work in my child's book so that it did read correctly (and yes I have done this myself).

Vallhala · 13/12/2009 22:23

I had a wonderful school life but still itch to pull teachers on their mistakes. I admit to having to correct DDs arrogant, domineering delightful English master recently when he said that Durham was in Northumberland.

Its a good thing you're not a Geography master, Mr Andrews

Original poster
brook1 · 13/12/2009 22:24

Honestly, I am not on some kind of witch hunt, trust me. I just feel a bit annoyed that my dd tried so hard to do her homework and it has come back with incorrect corrections.

I actually really like the teacher and am almost certain she hasnt marked it. I know for a fact that some ta's mark certain things and I am pretty sure the ta has marked this.

I know everyone makes mistakes, and I understand the circumstances which the teacher could be tired at the end of a long day etc etc but I still think its annoying. Ultimately, its their job. We all have tiring days and we all make mistakes but I just think this looks sloppy.

OP posts:
CarmelitaMiggs · 13/12/2009 22:25

It's not unreasonable to point out mistakes, esp if the teacher seems to make them quite often. We're all on the same side, aren't we?
If you do it with a light touch it shouldn't be an issue.
My dd had a fab teacher whose spelling/punctuation* was a bit lacking, so I used to ring the error (in red) and stick a jolly screamer by it, and in turn she'd send back the homework/letter with a Post-It attached saying, 'Congratulations! You spotted the deliberate mistake!'
Or it might have been 'diliberate'
Quite possibly she thought me anally retentive (or worse), but I can live with that

*y2, just when they were learning about possessive apostrophes etc

Original poster
brook1 · 13/12/2009 22:31

The teacher puts apostrophys (sp??) where they should have been and is quite picky with the spelling and things so why shouldnt we be picky if she's done it wrong.

I have actually told my dd that the teacher has corrected it wrong and have showed dd what it should be like. She is only 7 and is too shy to mention this to the teacher.

If dd does her homework wrong am I ok to say to the teacher that she has had a long day and has come home, had tea, had to play with her ds and then done homework just before bed so that justifies the mistakes. I dont think so. So why is it ok for a teacher to have had a long day, put children to bed and be marking late at night so that justifies errors?

OP posts:
JaneiteMightBite · 13/12/2009 22:34

apostrophes

I didn't say it justified errors - I said it may EXPLAIN errors. People in glass houses....

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