I was helping out DS's class this morning, I didn't witness it but

[josben]

DS got upset because a boy in his class was being aggressive and nasty to him... This was witnessed by a student TA and she dealt with it. Now I feel bad cos I didn't step in and say something to this boy or another teacher... I just thought it would be best to stay out of it - but now i'm not so sure. This boy is one of the 'challenging children' and IMHO a bit of a bully, what would you have done?

you did the right thing, its not a good idea to get involved when its your own child, let someone impartial deal with it.

I would definitely let the staff deal with it.

I help out in my dd's class and I don't get involved when this kind of thing happens - whether to my dd or to other children. I'm not their teacher and I have no authority. Dd knows I'm not there as Mummy, and she knows she has to deal with things in the way she normally does. It's hard but you have to detach yourself from the situation, let the teachers do their job and deal with it.

I agree with spacecadet, coppertop and WigWamBam - you did the right thing.

i agree with them all

Yep, you're right - it's just horrid seeing anyone being mean to your child....

agree with spacecadet

If it's going to upset you to see it, could you ask about helping out in a different class where you don't have any emotional attachment?

Agree you did the right thing, always best to let someone impartial deal with it but as a teacher who has dealt with some very difficult children not always best to say nothing. I had a severely aggressive child who nearly drove me to a mental breakdown even the local behavioural unit did not know what to do with her (6yrs old). I would have loved a parent to voice their concerns diplomatically to the head as this would have helped me to reinforce how bad the situation was. Not all head teachers are supportive and some (few) deliberately bury their heads in the sand. My parents were lovely and didn't want to cause me any trouble by complaining but I honestly wish a few had!!

Def did the right thing. I'm not sure I could help out in DD class for that reason. In fact in her Pre-school you are automatically allocated one of the other Pre-school classes if you want to volunteer/work