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Original poster

is this acceptable?

22 replies

candycane · 07/12/2004 18:01

At my daughters' school all the kids are divided into 4 "houses" and children receive points for good behaviour/HW etc. It's seen as healthy competition for them. However today my 7 yr old came home saying that "her" house had "come last" this week. Apparently the teacher (who is very young and very nice) made everyone in that house stand up and the rest of the class were encouraged to shout "work harder...work harder.." at them. I think this is outrageous! Am I over-reacting?

OP posts:
peskykids · 07/12/2004 18:03

No, you are totally not overreacting. I agree th ehouse thing is quitea good way to learn team skills and about partcipation, but it should NEVER be used in the way you have just described. I have a friend with a daughter at private schoola nd after their sats they were 'encouraged' to work harder by naming the ones who 'should have done better'. Humilation is not the way to encourage children, or indeed adults imo. I'd write a polite letter of complaint in your situation.

pinkmama · 07/12/2004 18:10

god, no you are not overreacting. Humiliation is no way to teach children anything. Agree with a healthy bit of competition, but thats quite cruel

coppertop · 07/12/2004 18:19

I wouldn't be happy with that at all tbh. Why not just praise the house who came first rather than humiliating the ones who came last?

aloha · 07/12/2004 18:25

No it is not acceptable, and no you aren't overreacting! I think it's outrageous. Can you imagine this happening at work say (though I suspect that in some bully culture environments it probably does Sad )
What WAS she thinking of? I'd complain. What did you dd make of it?
Bloody hell, someone has to come 'last', don't they????

SantaFio2 · 07/12/2004 18:27

my goodness, its awful Angry

alilujahcatsg · 07/12/2004 18:37

My school did similar and it was AWFUL, utterly humiliating. IMO its one of the reasons I find it so damn hard to relax or make time for myself.

urgh, shudder. Am having flashback to 1986 swimming gala. Ugh.

jellyhead · 07/12/2004 18:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 07/12/2004 18:40

I'd complain about that

although I am all for competition and having winners and losers I think humiliation is appalling and a bullying tactic which you don't want a teacher showing a class how to do

StuffTheMagicTurkey · 07/12/2004 18:49

I think its bloody disgraceful, school should be ashamed of bullying and taunting young children in this way. I would expect a queue of angry parents at my classroom door the morning after a stunt like that.

Original poster
candycane · 07/12/2004 19:30

Thanks all - glad to know it's not just me being overprotective! However, dd might have exaggerated it i suppose - she is quite sensitive

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Hulababy · 07/12/2004 20:18

That is appalling candycane and so not what house systems are supposed to be used for. When done well a house system wcan be fantastic. This is just abusing a system in a horrid way. Seems it is the teacher at fault big style, not the house system.

SnowmAngeliz · 07/12/2004 20:24

OMG, that is AWFUL!
My dd would be mortified and probably cry! (she's only 3 at the moment but would still think that at 7).
It's awful what some adults will do to kids!

Definately complain!

Caligulights · 07/12/2004 20:51

I'm always amazed when I hear stories like this. Do you think your dd could be exaggerating, or only telling you some of the story? In this day and age, it makes you wonder where this teacher did her training. I can't imagine any teacher I know saying that yes, they practiced this technique at training college. It's just too bizarre, and after checking with other parents and children, if it turns out to be true, I would certainly complain - this teacher needs to know that this technique is wrong, you'll be doing her and all her future pupils a favour if you complain!

Turkeyeater · 07/12/2004 22:59

Before complaining, (to the head) I would ask the teacher to explain the reasoning behind their comments, what they were thinking as they told the rest of the class to verbally abuse the low scoring house . Then inform the head and let him/her take the matter up.

Original poster
candycane · 08/12/2004 14:10

Apparently it has happened before and the children can choose if they want to shout or not. Daughter has begged for us not to speak to teacher Instead she and her friend intend to tell the teacher that they don't like the experience and that they felt upset - SO we'll see what she says to them! I wonder if perhaps it's done in a sort of "jokey" way; as I said she is a very nice teacher but I still don't like the idea of it - will keep you posted!

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Original poster
candycane · 09/12/2004 08:41

Okay - we're sorted! Dd and her friend politely told the teacher that they didn't like the shouting and wanted it to stop. teacher said that it was only being silly but that they won't do it again. Feel very proud of dd for doing this! Obviously if it happens again I will complain big time. Thanks for everyone's comments.

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peskykids · 09/12/2004 13:24

Brilliant - well done on the kids for braving it out. And on you for not barging in angrily (as I might have done!) xxx

Original poster
candycane · 09/12/2004 18:23

lol - thanks peskykids!

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aloha · 09/12/2004 18:24

Good for your dd! What a great little girl.

JoolsTide · 09/12/2004 18:33

out of the mouths of babes .......

well done candycane's dd!

Original poster
candycane · 09/12/2004 21:14

Aah I'm tearful now! You're right - she IS a great little girl; want to wake her up now and tell her again!

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Hulababy · 10/12/2004 09:34

Well done to your DD :)

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