Isolating children at school

[GreenGodess]

We have just discovered that for the whole of Yr 3 our son has been sitting on a table by himself as his teacher deams him uncontrolable!!! We went from having a lovely happy child scoring all Level 3 in SAT's and a pleasure to teach in Yr 2 to uncontrolable in 3 months!

I am devastated because I thikn what has happened is this teacher has been unable to engage him and feel so sad that he has sat alone all year. I am a very open minded mum and know he is far from perfect but he is not naughty just talkative and if he was engaged in the lessons I am sure he would have less of a need to chat. She told me he asks to many questions which she finds difficult to control!

I just think this is completely unaccectable way to disciplin a child - am i over reacting?

for your DS.

How did you find out about it? I would have expected the teacher to have called me in for a word a long time ago.

How did you find out? Did the teacher tell you this?

Of course it's unnacceptable if his problems were not discussed with you and a suitable solution found.

Not a word all year it was Open day today and I went in to discover him sitting at the desk on his own.

So gutted as he is really quite a good boy well liked by his class mates and other parents so I can't understand what has gone wrong in school no other teacher has ever said anything negative and nothing was mentioned in parents evening just that he is bright acheiving well and is an interactive member of the group. Now I know I have realised he has been quite flat the last couple of months feel so guilty for not seeing something was wrong

I think it is a personality clash which is always a possibility with teachers/ pupils but so shocked by how it has been managed seems so cruel

I can't believe that she has let things go this far without calling you in for a chat and that nothing was mentioned at the parents evening.

I would go and see the headteacher.

I agree with cory about going to see headteacher.

I can only imagine how gutted you must have felt walking in and seeing your DS on his own and finding out he had for nearly a year.

Even if it is a personality clash surely the teacher should still deal with it in a professional way and have called you in to discuss any problems.

If your ds had been really upset about it he would have told you about it wouldn't he? If he's only been different the last couple of months then the isolation isn't wholly to blame.

Are you sure it's every single lesson? Possibly only when he's got an opportunity to distract others. Remember you only saw a snapshot. You should definitely talk to the teacher as you found it upsetting. Does your ds? If he is actually working and letting others work it may be a good thing.

Everyone who says it's unacceptable - some alternatives?

When you say you saw him sitting on his own at Open Day, did you ask the teacher then? Did she say he has been sitting on his own for a year or did your ds tell you?

I think if you haven't spoken to the teacher about this yet, then you should have a talk with her first and find out the details.

A personality clash is no excuse for isolating a child, and if is this the case then she has been unprofessional and unkind.

outrageous to sit him on his own for the whole of the year. An afternoon,yes, or even a day or two if not getting anywhere with any other means.

He will play up now, as he will know something is wrong.. Its dreadful for his self esteeem anyway, and will not get anywhere.

Been there myself (not for the whole year but a few weeks before I found out), and he was soon back on a table with others I can tell you!!

I feel very sorry for your DS, what on earth does the teacher feel she will get out of this segregation. It soon progresses into the others not wanting to be with him. Stamp on it, and quick!

speak to teacher about it to double check your facts and see what she has to say for herself. then go and see head if you aren't satisfied with what teacher says. If he has been alone for the whole year, then that's pretty unacceptable.

Do double check with teacher - chd do tend to over egg the pudding sometimes!
As a Yr2 & Yr3 teacher, it is necessary sometimes to ask chd to sit apart, but not for a whole year - it shows very bad classroom management.
When a chd is too talkative it often puts off quieter chd from sharing their views or working to the best of their ability and these are things that teachers performance is assessed on by senior management.So teacher may be taking an easy route to making sure they reach the targets they've been set.
I have had very bright chd who work "too fast" and end up telling evryone the answers, making other chd rely on them. Also had bright chd who don't reach their full potential because they are too busy chatting and need their own space to realise their abilities.
IMO you need to find out from teacher when your chd is isolated and why. What about group work? Can she/he provided extension work if your son finishes quickly and then distracts others (teacher should already be in the lesson planning)
Hope this helps put a professionals view across.

Thank you all I have made an appointment to see the Head as I don't think much will be acheived by seeing the teacher at this point in the year. I have since found out he is not the only child 2 other bright boys with personality also sitting alone! Seems to be her strategy for dealing with them rather than pushing them.