Am I overreacting?

[Mellie1970]

My DS is 5 and came home very upset from school today because a teacher had "taken" one of his football collectors cards.
Turns out DS had shown his card collectors book to the teacher and teacher was "really surprised" to find one particular card - teach then offered DS 60 (!) cards in return for his one and they ended up swapping but I'm not sure how much DS understood what was going on.
Anyway he was so upset that I took him back to school and had a word with the teacher who swapped back and returned my sons card.
Out of curiosity (why did teacher offer up 60 cards for 1!!) I did some research on the Internet and discovered that DS's card is pretty rare and valuable. I'm pretty sure the teacher knew this and I feel like he took advantage of a young childs naivety.
I'm thinking of raising this incident with the head teacher in morning but am I overreacting (DS got his card back after all) ...... Just doesn't feel right to have teachers initiating swaps with young kids ....

jeez. kind of funny yet alarming simultaneously....

Sounds somewhat strange. I don't think the teacher is keeping to professional boundaries by indulging in this sort of behaviour, whatever the monetary value of the "swap".

I would be very worried if this teacher was teaching my DS !
Male teachers are such a good role model, but this one doesn?t sound like he is.
A grown man playing with trading cards that a 5yr old has. Come on?

I would be in the heads office promptly tomorrow morning.

I agree with every word that MadamDeathstare said.

Thanks everyone - think madamedeathstar's suggestion just to mention it as a concern but not to make a formal complaint is the way to go .... Ressuring for me to hear that I'm right to be concerned and not just being overprotect e mum!!!

what on earth was the teacher thinking? Very inappropriate behaviour IMO.

I think you are right to talk to the head, I'm surprised that any teacher would have felt it was appropriate to swap with any child, let alone one so young.

That's disgusting, IMO you should get the card back and threaten formal complaint if you don't get it back.

Or maybe complain anyway, I really can't believe any teacher would think that was appropriate.

Oh sorry I didn't see that he got the card back. How did he get it back?

'Anyway he was so upset that I took him back to school and had a word with the teacher who swapped back and returned my sons card.'

It is weird and unethical, and I should mention it, in a non-dramatic-fashion to the HT.

Odd that a teacher would happen to have his deck in school! Do they do swapsies in the staff room do you think?

It's just plain weird. End of.

Speak to the head.

All wrong for a grown person to be collecting cards for one thing. Unprofessional for another.

Yes..he practically robbed your child! Weirdo!

Yes, you should mention it, totally inappropriate. The head should then interview the teacher, discuss with the chair of governors (if you're UK) and they should decide if any further action should be taken and then report back to you.

Oops didn't read op very well did I

Thanks for all the comments - I went to the Head first thing this morning to have a quiet word but to be honest I didn't need to say much, he look horrified from the outset!!
Head agreed that the behavior was completely inappropriate (dodgy were his words) and was last seen marching off in the teachers direction with a grim look on his face.... Hopefully that sorts it .. So glad I didn't keep quiet .... thx again all

Was it a male teacher? (I've reread but can't see if you've mentioned it).

Not that it makes any difference to how inappropriate it was, but why would a teacher have 60 cards with them at school?

Did the teacher spot the opportunity for a killing and pop home and get their own cards ? If so then I think its actually a pretty serious offence and I would hope that it can be explained by naivety if a new teacher and dealt with strongly by the head.

a odd thing to happen, funny really but like you I would be annoyed that he took advantage!

Bizzare.

Much easier to not allow any cards in school.

I don't allow ds to take his cards to school - just friends houses and if I were a teacher I would confiscate them........ But then give them back to parent whilst having a word!

Well done for talking to the head - glad he took it seriously.

'All wrong for a grown person to be collecting cards for one thing.'

That's very narrow-minded of you Spinkle, people collect all sorts of things.