Any teachers about? Would you judge a Jayden?

[Shapelle]

Just that please. Thank you.

I'm a teacher and no I wouldn't judge a Jayden (or any other name to be honest!) as each child is an individual and in my experience their behaviour and character etc have nothing to do with their name.

I've taught two Jaydens in the past and both have been lovely, polite, hardworking boys.

When I look at a class list, firstly I look to see if I've taught any siblings in the past, if I've got any known 'difficult' parents (sorry but it is true!) and check I know how to pronounce all of the names (not always the case).

I don't think there's anything wrong with his hair.

Or his name. Is it my cup of tea? No. But any teacher that would judge him for it is an unprofessional twat imo!

I'm a teacher and I don't pre judge children just by looking at names on my class list before I met pupils. Sure occasionally I might think 'oh I like that name' or 'I'm not keen on that name' or 'that's unusual, how do I pronounce' etc etc.
But it doesn't actually affect my opinion of the child. To be honest once you get to know a child and see them everyday whether you like or dislike their name is totally irrelevant!

Wouldn't judge the child's haircut but if a dad had this haircut I would make some judgements.

Anyone who says they have no preconceptions is not being honest with themselves. We all try, I hope, to keep judging to a minimum. You need to be aware of your own potential prejudices to be able to guard against them.
Sometimes stereotypes work as a quick shorthand, sometimes they are unfair and awful.

I worry about people who have no prejudices, nothing at all? A dislike of curly hair based on childhood trauma? An accent that just grates?

OP your Jayden looks lovely. Any unfair thoughts would not get past that hair, he looks charming.

I'm not a teacher but work in a school and want to put my two-penerth in! I think he looks lovely! I'm sure anyone pre-judging on his name would soon change their mind when they meet him as he looks like a little angel with his blonde hair.I love his outfit - that snazzy jacket! He looks really well cared for and if you are bothered about this kind of thing you are probably a pretty good mum tbh. Nowt to worry about there I'm sure.

K-a (Kadasha and no, I didn't make it up).

True, you didn't make it up. But it is made up. And quite racist.

www.snopes.com/racial/language/le-a.asp

I taught a wonderful child in my last school called Jayden, so I think of him whenever I hear the name! He filled my heart with joy. I'm sure your lovely son would too, OP :)

Jayden is a gorgeous name.

I was a nursery nurse and never once.judged a kid by their name xxx

I teach a Jayden and he's alright. Nice lad.

Nah, probably not..would depend on the parents.

Dd has a name that people on mumsnet have said that everyone they've ever known with the name is a bitch. Her teachers seem to like her though as she's well behaved (and not bitchy at all.)

Nah, taught boy and girl Jaydens. All nice kids.

TBH you may find some teachers judge but a good few years at the chalkface and you discover that Georgina, Jessica and Phoebe are just as likely to be nice/not nice as any other kid.

Then you view them all with suspicion

Posted too soon.

Meant to say if it was Will Smith and Jada then absolutely.

Any unfair thoughts would not get past that hair, he looks charming.

Please, tell me what sort of hair would fail to dispel the unfair thoughts? A buzz cut? An Afro? Corn rows?

I'm a teacher. I know of two Jaydens, they're both a bit naughty. But I would not judge a child on their name before I met them. There's quite a few children who have a name people would assume is "naughty" but they turn out to be lovely and hardworking.
So, even if they did think it's a naughty boy's name, as soon as they meet him they'll forget about it!

Seriously. My son's called Jayden, Mumsnet can fuckoff with hating on it. Once one says it, they all follow suit like it's a trend... That's all. I mean at one point one person suggested a wicker heart on a front door was a signal your a swinger, cue massive panic about wicker hearts in windows etc. People can be sheep, that's all. I've met a consultant called Jayden and my very own Jayden is amazing, one of the most lovliest boys you could meet. I've found the MN prejudice over the name doesn't reflect real life in the area i live in, so don't worry OP.

One of my American friends has a Jayden. She is a 16 yo girl.

I would be a bit as to me it's a girls name.

I've taught one Jayden and he wasn't great but that doesn't mean the next Jayden won't be awesome. My main concern when going down the register is a) can I tell if it's a boy or a girl - I once had a male Kelly, that confused me for weeks and b) can I pronounce it?

No teacher worth their salt would judge a three year old. Even when I've had very naughty boys with questionable sense of right and wrong I've learnt to love them and tried to help them develop into kind, caring, confident little people.

I was a reception teacher and only now (later) with my own small children do I realise what a scary thing it is to hand over your most precious baby (in your eyes) to a relative stranger. My advice would be to send him where you are confident he will be loved. Then you won't be panicked about things like his name.

MrsDustyBusty - I do hope that you a) aren't accusing me of lying, or b) accusing me of being in any way racist with your somewhat snide comment.

You have linked to an urban legend about a different name, Le-a, which has never actually been proven and is believed to be racist.

I am referring to an ACTUAL student that I personally taught, who is 100% definitely called K-a, pronounced Kadasha, who is definitely not from Louisiana and is white.

So, with all due respect, you can take that to Snopes.

FWIW every name I mentioned in my original post on this thread is the name of a student I have personally taught.

Not a teacher, but no.

I have a cousin named Jayden. He turns 23 at the end of the month, so well ahead of its popularity (and Jaden Smith!). He's awesome.

I also know a little girl Jaiden and she's the sweetest, most polite and personable girl.

So all of my associations with the name are positive, and I like it as a result.

Children don't choose their names...why would I judge them for something beyond their control?

I am a teacher and one of my favourite students is called Jayden. Whilst Jayden is not to my taste at all I would never judge someone on their name because they didn't choose it.