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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

3rd year teacher ripping up my dd's school work.

92 replies

rainbow71 · 14/09/2007 12:45

Several parents at my daughters school have told me that my dd had her work ripped out of her book because she made a mistake in the lay-out requested by her teacher. My dd very upset as she worked hard on this. Having talked to her teacher I was told this was to improve standards and concentration my dd is 7 yrs old. Does anyone else feel this is harsh. My dd cried herself to sleep and does not want to go to school now as scared of making a mistake. This has happened twice now, 2 pages ripped up. .

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

EffiePerine · 14/09/2007 13:13

Agree that this stuff stays with you. Talk to the head, as it doesn't sound like you'll get anywhere with the teacher.

Hulababy · 14/09/2007 13:14

ASk her if she would use this tactic in front of an OFSTED inspector. Bet she wouldn't - she'd be slamed for it. It is so wrong.

ghosty · 14/09/2007 13:14

and speechless ....
If that is their policy they have a big problem rainbow.
I'd go straight to the head if I were you ...

I remember my teacher holding up a project of mine as an example to the class of how not to do a project ...
Have never forgotten it.

ladymac · 14/09/2007 13:15

This early in the term the teacher should still be getting to know all the children and what level they are capable of working at.

If I felt a child had produced a piece of work that was well below what they were capable of I would discuss how they could improve on it for the next time.

orangehead · 14/09/2007 13:17

thats disgusting sounds like a teacher out of the dark ages. i would speak to the teacher and possibly the head. It is unacceptable to treat and 7yr old that way

frogs · 14/09/2007 13:18

Dd1 had a Y2 teacher who did this. I really, really hated it, thought it was incredibly disrespectful of whatever effort the child had made. The same teacher used to take a rubber and rub out children's work as well, which is less violent but still objectionable, imo. The same teacher did once also slap dd1, though obviously she denied it when we complained. Was very well attested by other children though.

Horrid. Not the kind of creative, encouraging atmosphere you're after. I'd be wanting to see the head, or even make a written complaint that he/she will have to respond to in writing, so that you can't be fobbed off.

foxybrown · 14/09/2007 13:19

That is terrible, I can't believe its policy and all teachers in that year do it!

I hope you do take it further, it made me quite angry just hearing about it. Your poor DD.

Sounds like you have handled it really well so far.

KTeePee · 14/09/2007 13:20

Oh God, this reminds me of the one time my dd has ever been really upset by someone - came out crying one afternoon, the teacher came up to me and said that she had thrown dd's work in the bin because she hadn't stopped working on it when the teacher said it was time to finish up.

Dd was 5 at the time and I was so angry - it wasn't like she was a teenager wilfully disobeying the teacher - she had been making a card for her daddy and just wanted to finish it - probably hadn't even heard the teacher saying it was time to stop....dd was still crying her eyes out when we got home.

It was a bit of a difficult situation for me because I was friends with the teacher's sister. I decided to let it go and see if it happened again. I did raise it at parents evening and made it very clear I did not think it was an appropriate form of discipline. Other parents also told the teacher they didn't like their children being threatened with this form of punishment. Luckily it didn't happen again but 5 years later it still makes me cross when I think about it.

Bewilderbeast · 14/09/2007 13:20

It's entirely out of order. I would speak to the head and ask about this 'agreement.' My mother (a teacher) always says that a teacher who really loses her temper is no good, if she was not satisfied with the work she should have crossed through it not ripped it out. I wonder if they are due an ofsted inspection?

EscapeFrom · 14/09/2007 13:21

Revolting way to treart a child.

See the head. Bandy round words like 'ofsted report' and 'expect an apology to my child.'

Because I think she deserves one.

IntergalacticWalrus · 14/09/2007 13:26

UIf this had happened to one of my DSs, I'd be fking fuming, and I would probably do/say somethinmg I'd late5r regreat.

Definitely NOT an acceptable way to improve standards. Her explanation is a load of crap

Go straight to the head

ing.

I thouight this sort of thing had been stopped (It happened to me more than once, it's humiliating)

TheArmadillo · 14/09/2007 13:29

definately go to see the head and tell them you are appalled by this. See what they say.

IF you don't get any luck there you could try the board of governors or ring OFsted and see what they say (I'm sure they would be appalled).

Is a terrible thing to do - to destroy a child's work.

Original poster

rainbow71 · 14/09/2007 13:30

They've just had a very good ofsted report, I doubt if they shared this policy with the inspector though. My dd was also put on step 1 in other words given a telling off, then step 2 is supposed to be a harsher telling off then step 3 is having to go and work in another classroom. My dd did not know what she had done wrong and kept coming up with different possibilites to try and explain why her teacher had acted this way. I told her, her teacher's behaviour was completely out of order and nothing she did could have warranted this behaviour. I also made sure that she was there while I explained this to the daughter whilst saying that If my dd had behaved badly or deliberately messed around I would back the teacher up 100% but was not happy with this form of discipline.

OP posts:

Budababe · 14/09/2007 13:32

Obviously other parents disagree with it as well if they told you about it. You mentioned that it was parents you didn't know?

I would do a letter to the head asking if it is school policy and point out that neither you nor the parents who brought it to your attention are happy about it and you would like a response detailing how they are going to deal with the issue and what will happen in the future. If you can get other parents onside so much the better.

ElenyaTuesday · 14/09/2007 13:36

This happened to my nephew when he was in reception - terrible thing to do to a child. The child ended up being physically sick on numerous occasions because he was so terrified of making a mistake. After several parents complained the teacher was moved to teach Y6 (presumably on the basis that they were tougher?)!

Please do complain to the Head - your poor dd - she's only 7, poor mite.

Original poster

rainbow71 · 14/09/2007 14:12

Thank you all for your advice, I'm going to speak to the Headmistress hopefully this will stop it happening again to my dd or anyone else. I was just concerned about her being picked on by the teacher because of my complaint. fingers crossed this won't happen. At least my dd knows that I will always defend her when she's been ill treated.

OP posts:

hanaflower · 14/09/2007 14:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HonoriaGlossop · 14/09/2007 14:19

So glad you're going to speak to the head, Rainbow. I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to have your daughter be an easy target, but DO complain; it would be wrong to let her get away with this kind of stuff just in case she got nasty when she knew it had been raised!

I'm totally in shock at this being done.

Please do update this thread and let us know their response. And good luck!

mytwopenceworth · 14/09/2007 14:21

This is public humiliation and is totally unacceptable.

When are ofstead next due - because they ask for parental input - I'd be pointing this out to the school.

I can imagine how you feel - I'd EXPLODE if a teacher humiliated my child!

foxybrown · 14/09/2007 14:34

Is it right to discipline a child for their school work though? If a child is consistently getting something wrong, chances are they haven't grasped it and it needs re-explaining or showing. Telling them off isn't going to achieve this is it?

Possibly I'm being naive here.

The public humilation is bang out of order whatever the case.

orangehead · 14/09/2007 14:39

if not happy with heads response u can complain to ofsted, or at least threaten 2.

snowleopard · 14/09/2007 14:41

What a stupid, stupid teacher. Doesn't she know that she is supposed to teach, ie help children learn what mistakes they have made and help them do better with encouragement and by imparting information? And that, besides being obviously cruel and plain unacceptable, no amount of frightening humiliation can "improve standards" if the child doesn't understand what they've done wrong?

Oh I would be so furious - I would ask her if, since in your opinion she is so obviously mistaken about her methods, it's OK if you rip up all her paperwork in front of her colleagues.

Then I would a) go to the headteacher, b) contect ofsted and ask them about it, and present the school with their response.

I don't believe for a second that they've all agreed to it - she may just have said that because she's on the back foot and trying to wriggle out of it.

I have heard that angry parents are a problem for teachers - but hearing about this I can see why. God I am absolutely fuming on your behalf and your DD's. I went to primary in the 70s, before today's less violent and more understanding methods came in (generally speaking!) - but I never saw humiliation like this.

Feel the same about KTeePee's DD as well - how awful!

prettybird · 14/09/2007 14:42

Since your teacher has said that this is an agreed policy for Y3 and up, it is perfectly appropriate for you to go to the head teacher to discuss this policy. You could also ask if this is soemthing that the OFSTED inpsectors apporved of when they gave the school a good report.

How recent was the OFSTED report? Are the still to do the follow up report on actions? (not sure about the English system, but the Scottish HMI usually has a follow up). If so, you could always try to contact OFSTED with your comments.

fireflyfairy2 · 14/09/2007 14:45

I'm sitting here with a lump in my throat!

How dare she take it upon herself to wreck the confidence of some very vulnerable children

I am glad you are going to see the head teacher. I hope she can see you asap & get this situation under control.

If I'm honest, I wouldn't be happy with my children being at a school where tearing up their work is regular practice.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 14/09/2007 14:49

I'm as appalled as all others that a teacher did that to your DD. She wouldn't have done that to an adult, just explained again what she expected.

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