How would you feel if a year 4 teacher wrote this comment on your child s work

[Beetroot]

' Some interesting facts but lacks any imagination'

lol at over sensitive

she is not my pfb
I just htink ANY is a crap thing to say

It's one word open to interpretation, I cant understand giving it so much power (or getting this bothered about it, anyway).
Was your dc very upset about that one word?

dd is a confident and happy child who ususlaly does really well. So no, I could stop her being worried.

However, another child might have been gutted

The word canot be misinterpreted. It is one word full of power imo

yes I wouldnt like that if someone said that about my DS. It just sums up their whole personality in a negative way. And with some children they could read that and be hurt. Criticism is useful and some things might lack imagination and can be pointed out. But to sum a child up like that is too much.

I've felt that DD's teacher has been negative and sarcastic, in the comments she has wrote on her 11 plus practice papers. After the 3rd one I wrote a comment in the same vein as hers. Funnily enough the comments are a lot more constructive now .

this same teacher said to another child that obviously at her state school they had much lower expectations than at this private school

Oi, Beetroot. I have posted for you in Chat.

where? what?

Well the comment by the teacher to the other child says it all doesnt it!!
Obviously a sour old bag who isn't very good at her job, and certainly has no professionalism!!

Message withdrawn

Blimey, findtheriver, that's a bit of an insanely sweeping statement!
It does sound a bit harsh, but maybe she was feeling grumpy? Agree it's the 'any' that is unfair.

Beetroot

she is constanlylike this tbh

not the end of the world but not a brilliant way to inspire

if it is any consolation I got "lacks imagination" for one years English report, the next year I won the English Language prize for the best o-level (that dates me ) - which involved writing stories and not much else!

Ds1 has had similar comments and I always point them out to him because 90% of the time I've said teh same to him before he's handed it in.

He is terrible at putting any effort into homework, alway saying its too hard, to long, too thsi too that. It drives me mad because if his teacher had given him teh same work to do at school he'd make every effort to get it perfect and he would do it without any trouble at all.....

I like comments to say what the teacher really believes rather than couch it any 'positive' terms personally. I really can't be doing with this whole 'kids are so fragile' concept that makes school reports laughable.

That is how we improve by being told it's adequate but not really good enough

That said if the work does show imagination then maybe the teacher could clarify why she believes none is shown

MsDemeanor - I don't agree! I think for a teacher in a private school (and a pretty mediocre, uninspiring teacher at that!) to make a sweeping negative comment about a child's previous state school is very unprofessional! The teacher may never have set foot in a state school. (Let's hope!)

surely it should be "some interesting facts, next time try to be more imaginative" or words to that affect. I thought they had to write learning objectives these days?

Definitely should be a comment on how the work could have been improved/achieved a higher grade, rather than being so negative

Twig - I am sorry but I don't agree that a comment like

lacks ANY imagination is truthful or helpful

then you should speak to teacher and ask her why she feels it lacks any imagination I suppose

I'm sure you're right, I'm sure the teacher is totally wrong .. but I thought your question was would you mind about the comment and to be honest, if I felt it was true, then no I wouldn't and would far prefer straight-forward to positive spin IF THAT WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING

I guess, one would assume that no piece of work lacks ANY imagination.

Therefore, not a brilliant or constructive comment

well I don't even know what the work is .. but it IS possible to just spew facts as homework with no thought, structure or imagination I'd have thought

okay twig of course