Teacher snapped at DD

[Mybumlooksbig]

DD in year 6 at school, she is very quiet and shy.
Her regular class teacher is on maternity leave so the class have had a replacement now since Christmas time. No problems until Friday-
My daughter was struggling to fill in some of her work during a lesson, the teacher noticed she was struggling, came to see what the problem was and said to her in an aggressive tone- "Are you thick or something!?"

DD is devastated beyond words.
I have emailed the head teacher and haven't had a response yet (incident happened on Fri so unsure if emails are monitored over the weekend)

I have been absolutely bubbling with rage since DD returned home from school on Fri.

Never ever been in such a position.. will the head take it seriously?
Aibu to want this teacher dismissed from the school immediately and not to teach my daughter on Monday?

My tummy is in knots over what to do tomorrow.

Paper trail.

“It is very difficult to fill teaching positions at the moment and I expect the head is already well aware that she’s had to recruit from the dregs of the pool.”

how very rude. There are many reasons why someone is looking for a job.

Teachers don’t, as a rule, make comments like this. You’re right to be horrified.
I wouldn’t have emailed and waited for a response. In this situation, I’d have rung the head or asked to see her face to face.

If that’s the words the teacher used then that’s disgusting and I’d expect the HT to take action.

I would be prepared for the HT to investigate and look for witnesses etc though because as a teacher myself the things I’ve been accused of saying have been interesting to say the least! Sometimes by children misremembering or getting wrong end of the stick. Twice by children outright lying. Also worked in a school where a “nice” child accused the HT of showing him porn on a computer. Didn’t happen, turned out he was pissed off with the HT for refusing to to let him skip the dinner queue and made up a lie that snowballed. It was the last child anyone would have ever thought would tell a lie like that.

Moral of the story - some teachers lose their head and say things they shouldn’t. Sometimes wires genuinely get crossed in conversation. Sometimes kids lie. Be certain what happened before pursuing this

Times have definitely changed! Our teachers did the same with blackboard rubbers, we had the cane and slipper or a good slap in the face as well as the insults. Hard as nails they were but we all did ok.

They'll be no update now til Monday . I doubt a head will reply over the weekend and the office staff certainly won't.

Which was yesterday?

Hope it's sorted now OP.

Update.

Head spoke to the teacher in question and the teacher arranged to see me after school to discuss what happened- teacher says she went to see what the problem was when she spotted DD was struggling with the work but didn't use the words my dd said. Although she admits she can't remember the exact words she used but she said "Thick" isn't a word she would use esp to a pupil.

DD seems happy with the outcome and no problems since.

Realise I may have over reacted initially..

Good outcome.
You did overreact, but you've recognised that. I hope your daughter gets the support she needs.

Interesting that although the teacher is denying what DD said they said.... DD is happy with the outcome.

I thought that to

Yep. OP, all children lie/exaggerate/misunderstand. Don't jeopardise a teacher's livelihood on a whim.

Well done OP. You are never ‘that’ parent to be worried about something. It might have turned out differently and then a teacher might have continued to bully other children. Luckily this sounds like a good teacher. My D.C. had a year 6 teacher a couple of years ago who used a shame stick. He would point it at children who hadn’t done perfect homework and say ‘shame on you.’ The children hated it. Eventually one of the parents complained and he was stopped from doing it but one boy went on to have some pretty horrible mental health issues and the parent put it down to being in this teacher’s class. You just never know and best always to be polite but ask the difficult questions.

If it did happen as your DD said it's not likely to happen again so that good. There have been teachers in the news for bullying kids so it clearly does happen and I wonder how many kids were dismissed before it came to that. Your child knows you listened and cared.

There's a thread on this every now and again and you always get those posters who tell the op that if their child said x happened then they are probably exaggerating/ lying/mishearing/ misremembering and probably a complete little shit to boot and or needs to get a thicker skin.

Teacher says she didn't say that and obviously she would never lie cos she's and adult and a teacher and adults and teachers never lie, bully or abuse do they.

I think sometimes us parents forget just how tough teaching is today.

No you've not overreacted. You can't talk to a child like that.

Teaching is hard but there's no need to take it out on a child by calling her thick. You develop a relationship with each child. If you make her feel stupid do you think she's going to want to learn?

The tea vet said she didn't call her thick..

@SugarQills and teachers don't lie to cover their own backsides?

Haven’t RTFT so may have been mentioned already but “are you thick or something” sounds quite a bit like “are you stuck on something”.
Possible DD could have misheard?

@SalviaOfficinalis thick/stick, stuck/thuck...

Mishearing is perfectly plausible. In a busy classroom I sometimes can't hear a child standing right next to me!

If the teacher did say it and lie why is the child happy with outcome? Maybe she realises she might have misheard. If I wad 100% sure my teacher called me thick in class there is no way I would be ok with my teacher telling my mum that she didn't say that!

If a teacher spoke to my child like that I would be in there first thing Monday morning and I would be having a firm word with said teacher! That's your child you are there advocate do not let her bully your child.. some of these replies are laughable quite frankly.

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