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Original poster

New teacher is a nightmare

14 replies

HoneyFlowers · 08/09/2022 09:09

My daughter has just started year 4 and the new teacher is a nightmare. She never smiles. She shouts at the kids and grits her teeth. She's is super strict. My child always loved going to school and coming out with big smile on her face. Now she leaves school totally deflated and doesn't want to go in. First time we have had an issue like this. Is this just the first week storm and will get better?

OP posts:

mrsdshe · 08/09/2022 11:12

Oww bless her. You may wait little bit then speak to other parents to learn what other kids feel about it. İf they are all feeling the same - contact to school and let them know about this matter. Its hard to see your child like that every single day. Its also hard for your daughter. İf she is unhappy she can not improve. Wish you all the best. 🌸

GettingOrganisedNow · 08/09/2022 11:20

We went through this last year. Quite a few kids who'd previously loved school were coming out crying and not wanting to go in in the morning (not sleeping, vomiting with anxiety etc). It settled down after a week or so, as far as I remember. I think it was partly that the previous teacher had been absolutely lovely, so it was a bit of a shock, and also it was a big step up in terms of the amount of work vs play. Possibly the teacher started out harsh just to make her mark, I don't know.

Anyway, a few parents complained, and I think the principal had words with the teacher and with the kids, and it all settled down quite quickly. They ended up having an ok year; most of them didn't really warm to the teacher, but they were happy enough.

Absolutely have a word with the school and let them know what's going on, but at the same time, don't stress too much about it, give it a few days and see what happens. If it's still an issue in another week, talk to school again, and obviously if the teacher is really crossing a line (nasty comments, threatening the kids with excessive punishments etc), report that and keep a record of it.

Skiphopbump · 08/09/2022 11:22

Some teachers are a bit like this at the start of the year to set expectations, give it a couple of weeks and they may warm up a bit.

BestTeacherMug · 08/09/2022 11:29

We had this issue at school. DS's new yr3 teacher was an ogre who punished the children for walking too loudly, breathing too loudly (not a joke), eating carrots and apples too loudly and yawning. She kept them in at playtime as punishment.

One day, I heard the way she spoke to DS and I spoke to the headteacher straight away. She was sacked shortly after due to many complaints from the parents.

It was awkward complaining about a fellow teacher and colleague. But I felt uncomfortable leaving him in her care...

Hopefully it settles down, but don't be afraid to talk about it as I'm sure other parents will have the same worries x

Some teachers are best suited to younger kids and some are best suited to older kids. :) x

Original poster

HoneyFlowers · 08/09/2022 11:37

Thanks for your replies, I am very grateful for them. I am hoping it'll all calm down in a week or two. Just a bit worrying, I had some awful teachers at school which really knocked me sideways for rest of my life.

OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 08/09/2022 17:58

My DDs attended a school with a boot camp teacher. We held our collective breaths that DDs didn’t get her! They didn’t but other DCs were unhappy. The Shouter just shouted! Everyone could hear her! The well behaved vast majority were either sick of it or reluctant to go to school and complaints ensued. She did leave but is now a Head. I would like to think her teaching skills were in fact good but she needed to change the way she spoke to DCs.

TheLoupGarou · 08/09/2022 18:03

Commiserations. Dc3 has shouty cross teacher this year for P3 (year 2) I am a veteran of her classes as both older DC's had her but I had forgotten how strict she was. I think she did warm up a bit as the year went on. DD not impressed.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 08/09/2022 18:09

There is a school of thought in teaching which is summed up by the phrase 'dont smile til Christmas'. It does work well (at least, it does in secondary) the basic gist is you can always ease down with discipline/ strictness but you can't go up - the kids feel betrayed if you do and react badly. She might be doing a version of this, start harsh, get them all in line, ease off. I don't think there's much you can do but keep an eye on it. If you do decide to raise it in a few weeks if nothing has changed, you'll need to frame your complaints in terms of concern about your child's happiness at school - any "the teacher is too mean, she doesn't smile" won't get you far.

SeemsSoUnfair · 08/09/2022 18:10

ds had one too. I don't think it is that unusual around this age as more is expected and less tolerated.

As others have said, within a few weeks, either ds got used to it or the teacher was setting expectations and it settled down.

Hillsidehigh · 08/09/2022 18:14

BestTeacherMug · 08/09/2022 11:29

One day, I heard the way she spoke to DS and I spoke to the headteacher straight away. She was sacked shortly after due to many complaints from the parents.

It was awkward complaining about a fellow teacher and colleague. But I felt uncomfortable leaving him in her care...

Hopefully it settles down, but don't be afraid to talk about it as I'm sure other parents will have the same worries x

Some teachers are best suited to younger kids and some are best suited to older kids. :) x

It doesn’t work like that

TizerorFizz · 08/09/2022 23:32

@Hillsidehigh
What doesn’t work like what? Being got rid of? Teacher might have been supply. Children working quietly and purposefully is important but shouting just says the teacher is not much better then the children. Few children respect a shouter.

Craftybodger · 08/09/2022 23:42

Can you give it a bit more time? Monitor what’s going on and ask other parents if they are getting the same feedback.

My DD had a similar issue, also in Y4, with 1 half of a job share. ‘The Dragon’ ended up giving out sweets as bribery, the children hated her. The only teacher I’ve ever complained about, many other parents did too. Her contract was not renewed.

Original poster

HoneyFlowers · 15/09/2022 09:06

Well it's been just over a week now. It feels like a month. Things definitely not getting better.

My daughter is now refusing to go to school. At hometime she comes out so frustrated from the teacher's behaviour she takes it all out on me. It takes two hours at least to regulate again. It's now making our home life hell on earth.

The teacher even has rules how many seconds they are allowed to drink from their water bottle. My daughter says they are all terrified and just sit in silence. They get put on the orange behaviour zone for very microscopic things.

The teacher shouts out kids names to answer questions before they've had a chance to read the actual question.

I am giving it until end of month and then will issue feedback about behaviour and well being.

Thanks for supportive replies x

OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 15/09/2022 18:51

I would write to the head and ask them to monitor the class. Also ask why there are suddenly so many rules. Most primary schools don’t go to these lengths. I would suggest the head doesn’t have a clue. So start contacting other parents for a united front and read your behaviour policy and discipline strategies. Then you have ammunition. Sounds like a horrible experience to me., I don’t know where these military type teachers are coming from!

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