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Original poster

DS1 (yr3) told he made an idiotic comment

33 replies

UlyseesSpirits · 03/10/2005 20:00

DS1 made a comment to his teacher that the equator lines etc.. looked like a road to him and she said "what an idiotic comment". He's only 7 fgs! She also called him selfish the other week when he asked for another book. This is the norm with her apparently

I'm helping out on the school trip soon and will have to bite my tongue that day but if it carries on I'm going to have to talk to her.

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charliebat · 03/10/2005 20:01

I wonder what she will come up with while the parents are about?

tegan · 03/10/2005 20:07

DD1 IS IN YR3 AND I HAVE MADE SURE I POP IN AND SEE HER TEACHER ONCE A WEEK TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. IF I WAS YOU I WOULD GO IN AND ASK WHY SHE IS TAKING THIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS YOU'RE DS

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 03/10/2005 20:24

Yes I think I will have a word with her if anything else is reported back. I bet she'll deny saying the "idiotic comment" though.

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tegan · 03/10/2005 20:29

When you speak to her try to say the same things to her as she said to you're son. Then she might realise how hurtful little comments can be to a child

Caligula · 03/10/2005 20:29

I would write her a note asking her what the context was for using the word "idiotic".

I can't imagine a teacher using that word in an educational context, only in a behavioural one.

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 03/10/2005 20:32

DS1 is so well behaved though it's unreal. He's only ever been 'naughty' once at school and that was in year 1 but only he noticed Not saying he's an angel at home but I'd be surprised if he's been misbehaving there. This teacher is known to be very old fashioned and strict and I don't know of a child in her class who likes her. I don't pass comment though to the kids but a lot of my friends children are in the same class so I hear it.

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Caligula · 03/10/2005 20:37

But calling a child idiotic in the context of a lesson, for him making a contribution, isn't just old-fashioned, it's unprofessional. I just can't understand how any teacher who works in a normal state school, would use such a term to a 7 year old! It's just bizarre.

I'd definitely enquire further though - it may be that there's been some kind of misunderstanding, but tbh I think if she's using words like idiotic to de-motivate children as young as seven, then you've spotted a training need!

Posey · 03/10/2005 20:40

I would keep a serious eye on it. Its only a few weeks into the school year and if that type of comment continues then she'll end up with a class who have no confidence and won't dare answer a question for fear of being made to look a fool.
(I know, I've been there and it took me years to speak up in class if I wasn't absolutely sure of the answer.)

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 03/10/2005 20:42

yes I was very shocked. Poor ds1 came out of school looking so sad that day I feel a bit guilty for not pulling her about it. DS1 said not to say anything though as it'll make it worse. He loved his other classes but really doesn't like her. A friend of mine is a teaching assistant at that school so I think I'll mention it to her and see what she thinks?

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Flowertop · 03/10/2005 22:08

My DS1 told me that when he didn't understand his numeracy his teacher (yr 2) told him that she had explained to him more than once and he should by now understand (as the rest of the class did). I only learnt this from him telling me how much he hates school and me telling him that if he doesn't understand he must ASK the teacher for help until he does understand. Some teachers eh!! Should be ashamed!

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 10:04

Awww your poor son flowertop my friend's ds used to get embarassed when in YR2 as this teacher who is now my DS1s teacher (she's changed years)insisted on reading out how many spellings children got right and he has dyslexia

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allboysclub · 04/10/2005 11:03

It makes me so cross when I hear about confidence undermining comments given to such young children. I also remember not being able to volunteer answers as I had been embarrassed by a teacher in class.

DS1, who admittedly has mild ADHD and tends to be fidgety and impulsive (I am not blind!), was having a bad day whilst in Y1. His teacher asked the class to "put your hands up all those who are fed up with J". I was told this by 3 different parents, whose children had repeated the comment at home, and all were horrified that he was humiliated in this way. My son hadn't mentioned it though, so I can only assume that this was fairly normal behaviour for her.

Also, on another occaision, when a pot of pencils were knocked over, and she shouted "J" at the top of voice, she turned round to realise DS1 was not even in class that day. What was worse, it was the teacher who told me . Rather worrying IYAM.

I did laugh, though, when I was asked to explain to DS1 why he should not be plaiting the hair of the girl in front during story time!

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 11:08

Blimey allboysclub, I'm too at the way your son has been treated, especially the 'put your hands up' comment. How very childish of her.

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jabberwocky · 04/10/2005 11:13

OMG, this makes me want to homeschool ds. It's amazing that educators can't see what they are doing to children with comments like this. Or is it that they are so burnt out/incompetent that they just don't care?

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 11:15

Funnily enough she's called Miss Burns and is rather orange in colour (fake tan methinks?)

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allboysclub · 04/10/2005 11:15

Luckily he is not at that school anymore (in Y6 now). She was very young, only just finished her PGCE. She had had no previous experience of ADHD children, but then nor had I, and I know they are very demanding. I think she learnt a great deal during that year, and she ended up saying she was sorry to see him go (we moved).

Funny how things turn out.

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 11:15

Eeek I'm getting a bit bitchy there..miaow

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jabberwocky · 04/10/2005 11:16

You're allowed

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 11:17

Glad to hear your boy's ok now allboys At least she learnt from her experience... this teacher is an old orange crow!!

Oops, claws in

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Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 11:17

Don't encourage me jabber

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marthamoo · 04/10/2005 11:22

Ds1's Year 4 teacher's response to one of the boys in her class crying the other week (he's an obnoxious child, but that's irrelevant) was to mime rubbing her eyes and say "oh boo hoo hoo!" in a sarcastic voice - so that the rest of the class would laugh at him. Nice.

jabberwocky · 04/10/2005 11:25

Get it all out!

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 04/10/2005 11:26

jabber

marthamoo. What is it with these people???

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Caligula · 04/10/2005 11:50

What the hell are they teaching them at teacher training college?

I thought all this was a thing of the past?

Original poster

UlyseesSpirits · 05/10/2005 14:14

I know caligula, it's very

It's school trip day tomorrow so I'll be giving her the evil eye

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