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Education

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Original poster

How much shouting you seem acceptable in the classroom?

81 replies

BerryCheesecake · 12/05/2012 08:44

Don't want to out myself so will try and keep details to a minimum.

There is a member of staff at the school I work at who shouts a lot at her class. I know there were chunterings on the playground when the children first started as many of them ( they are 8) were not used to such shouting etc. There are also comments made such as "X is really annoying me today" or "A is always silly, he doesn't know how to be sensible" etc in front of the children. She definitely has the reputation as the 'scary' teacher (she doesn't deny this) but after witnessing it myself I was really shocked. The children just accept it now which is rather :(. We are two form entry and unoffically we have heard children are only put in her class if they can 'handle' the shouting .

I did consider going to the head but they are both on the leadership team and are very good friends. Getting on the wrong side of her would be a nightmare, i wouldnt even dare disagree with her. I like her as a person and we get on well but knowing what goes on in class is a tricky situation. Is it acceptable for children to be shouted at like this? I personally feel its not but my class are tiny and I don't shout (unless in an extreme circumstance). I know She thinks I am too soft but my class are happy and well behaved despite the fact I don't shout at them. I don't think she understands this and says I am too nice to them.

I don't want to upset anyone or cause a problem but my primary concern is the children and some of the little ones heading her way next year will not be able to handle daily shouting. I think it's just been brushed user the carpet. All staff know what goes on in her room and no-one does anything about it so maybe I am over reacting?

Am a bit wary of posting this as I don't know if I've given too much away. If people feel its inappropriate or at all identifiable I will ask MN to remove it.

Thanks for reading if you've got this far.

OP posts:

colettemum3 · 12/05/2012 18:15

Your not in Bucks are you? As 'A' sounds like my son.

Original poster

BerryCheesecake · 12/05/2012 18:17

No not bucks but is comes under the same 'umbrella' of counties if you listen to local radio if you get my drift!

OP posts:

itdoesnthurttohavemanners · 12/05/2012 18:24

The nastiest bully of a teacher I ever had at school NEVER shouted...she was quiet, spoke in a low voice and frankly made lives of many many children hell. To say that this teacher is a bully JUST because she shouts is ridiculous!!!

That might just be her style? My mum was a shouty kind of teacher and was universally loved :) she got the job done...whenever she left a school (she did long term supply) the amount of cards/presents etc she got was incredibly, with comments like 'you might have been the loudest teacher we've ever had but we love you'

Personally, I know lots of rubbish softy softy style teachers..I know which style i would prefer to prep my child for the REAL WORLD!!!!

peanutbutter38 · 12/05/2012 18:36

this sounds like my 9 year old dd's teacher. She's very shouty (I've stood outside her classroom and heard many examples of this) and recently read out a love note my dd had written to someone else in her class, in the assembly. In front of the whole Year Group. My dd was utterly mortified. We had a meeting afterwards and she apologised but in an unconvincing I've-been-made-to-do-this way I really can't bloody wait for her to complete her last day at that school in July. And my youngest dd will not be going there. No way.

Original poster

BerryCheesecake · 12/05/2012 18:42

Peanutbutter, what county are you in?! Surely can't be the same school. although our children leave at 9 too!

If you don't want to say on thread, pm me!

OP posts:

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 18:45

peanut

did you make your dd apologise for doing something wrong?

peanutbutter38 · 12/05/2012 18:50

what do you mean BoneyBack? Do you think that it was right for her teacher to read out a love letter she wrote to a boy in her class, in assembly, in front of the whole year group, naming them both? The fact is, several kids had sent notes like these, and even if you think writing a love letter to a friend is a crime (I don't) they did it in 'golden time' when they can choose whichever activity they prefer. So please tell me what I'd be making my dd apologise for?

Salmotrutta · 12/05/2012 18:50

I agree with KlikKlak - at Secondary you sometimes have to raise the volume a fair bit.

I have covered a couple of very rowdy classes of 12-15 year olds recently for teachers who were out of school.

Their behaviour was not good and as a cover teacher I had no option but to raise the volume to issue instructions and describe tasks etc.

I don't shout at individual pupils about behaviour though - I do the Quiet Chat in the corridor.

Salmotrutta · 12/05/2012 18:52

Oh - and snow trumps a wasp KlikKlak!!

Upstaged by the weather - everytime

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 18:53

peanut now that you have filled in the details nothing, but if she was passing the note in assembly then for not paying attention.

peanutbutter38 · 12/05/2012 18:56

Boneyback, she passed the note in the classroom, during golden time, as did several other girls/boys. And the teacher read her note out including names, (an I love you note) in the assembly, in front of the entire year group. (the teacher admitted this and several parents texted me afterwards to say they'd heard from their kids what had happened etc.)

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 19:01

Peanut, I read your post about the assembley and assumed that it happened there, as I said It made more sense once you filled in the details.

HumphreyCobbler · 12/05/2012 19:05

I don't think shouting is acceptable at all. Raising your voice over some noise to get their attention is different. Being quite loud and enthusiastic is also different. Shouting AT children is an awful way for a teacher to behave.

How much learning can anyone do if there is aggressive shouting going on?

HumphreyCobbler · 12/05/2012 19:05

sorry, meant to say that I am a teacher.

eeden · 12/05/2012 19:07

Anonomous letter to the head - nobody will know it came from you, you can even say you are a parent and your DC has reported excessive shouting (not sure if you have DC in the school you teach at?).

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 19:14

HumphreyCobbler

Its after break a child starts to run the length of the room and is going to jump on the back of another child do you

A/ say "excuse me, please don't do that someone will get hurt."

B/ raise your voice to a level that will be concidered shouting and say"don't even think about it"

A will get children hurt and many parents angry
B will stop children getting hurt but is likely to make one set of parents angry.

you choose.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 12/05/2012 19:20

BoneyBack - that's different from being a non-stop shouter.

I teach science - I very rarely shout, but I do raise my voice to get attention if someone looks like they are about to do something dangerous.

I think because I usually speak normally, it has more impact.

MNHQ

KatMumsnet · 12/05/2012 19:23

Hi, we've moved this into Education. Thanks.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 19:24

Endo

I would hope that all teachers do the same, but perceptions of noise levels varies.

I have many levels of talking from one on one , through classroom, to workshop then playground and louder if required. My workshop voice could be mistaken for shouting and has several occasions.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 12/05/2012 19:25

I like the idea of "workshop voice".

I have "someone is about to set themselves on fire" voice.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 19:41

Another teacher friend calls it

the "Oh my god we are all going to die" voice

she is science as well.

gettinghappy · 12/05/2012 21:39

Really nice to see some lovely teachers on here who obviously understand children and group dynamics and who are clear that shouting is not an appropriate way to 'crowd conttol' ( not a nice analogy btw) and that it is in fact nothing short of bullying........:)

Sunscorch · 12/05/2012 22:22

I have had other staff members come running when I've had to really raise my voice in order to prevent an accident, because it's such an unusual occurrence.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/05/2012 22:47

gettinghappy

crowd control may not be a nice term but sometimes it is wholly appropriate.

Also what would you do when you have a group of 20 - 30 pupils bundling in a corridor if shouting is bullying?

HumphreyCobbler · 13/05/2012 00:12

BoneyBack, I think you know the difference between what you decribe and shouting AT a child. Honestly, I don't think I need to answer your question.

I have taught incredibly challenging children, and had to raise my voice in order to ensure safety. That is not the same as shouting at children.

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