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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Complaint re teacher Unprofessional Language

97 replies

thypnochick · 29/11/2010 19:34

Hello folks
My son has recently started in YEAR 3.His teacher calls the class Plinkey Plonkers, Nutters, Lazy Toe Rags, and the boys typical blokes.. Also beautiful children do beautiful work and sloppy sitters do sloppy work!
Son is left handed and not the neatest writer at the moment and was veru upset last term as he didn''t think she likes him ie because doesnt do beautiful work and was refering to himself as a sloppy child.
I had a wrod with his teacher but the language has not stopped and the list of unprofessional language has got worse.
I have asked to speak to deputy head about this. What are your thought please?

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MollieO · 29/11/2010 21:03

I guess I am probably older than most on this thread and don't 'get' the need to be so PC with everything. If ds was called a typical bloke, a sloppy sitter, a nutter, a plinkey plonker, a lazy toe rag I would not take it literally. If ds did then I would explain to him what the teacher's intention was. If he still didn't get it I would have to disown him as not being in anyway related to me.

None of it is sexist behaviour imo. If a child is particularly sensitive or does take things literally (eg asd) then I would explain that to the teacher and expect him/her to take that on board.

Goblinchild · 29/11/2010 21:05

He was upset last term, when he was in Y2?
Was he in her class then?
Is he still as bothered now?

I do think the OP is being fussy, but the teacher needs to know what she thinks and have the chance to adapt her language.

onlyonejimmy · 29/11/2010 21:05

As a teacher I wouldn't use ANY of the terms you describe. Basically I would avoid any labels that generalise the children, even if they were "cutsie" ones. You're supposed to comment on work or behaviour, not label the whole child in that way.
I guess it's one way to be popular as it probably sounds quite funny, but it wouldn't be my way.

onlyonejimmy · 29/11/2010 21:05

usualsuspect · 29/11/2010 21:05

She sounds like a fun teacher to me

MollieO · 29/11/2010 21:08

I would also ask the teacher what I could do to help my ds to improve his handwriting. That appears to be the main reason he is upset. Being left handed doesn't mean poor handwriting with no hope of improvement.

scurryfunge · 29/11/2010 21:09

Now you are being ageist!

You can't really justify the language at all.

pozzled · 29/11/2010 21:11

Try substituting bloke for another word to describe a group of people- 'Typical Christian'? 'Typical Muslim'? 'Typical Indian'? It would be seen as offensive. It is generalising, reinforcing the idea that all men are the same (and different from all women). Ridiculous to talk about 7 year-olds in such a way. And I would bet that it is used in a negative context e.g. they get called a typical bloke if they are untidy, forgetful or whatever.

I do realise that it's probably considered a great joke by most of the class. They probably get on really well with the teacher. But it's still not appropriate IMO.

MollieO · 29/11/2010 21:16

I guess I don't tend to over analyse teacher language. So long as ds enjoys school, is happy to go every day and learns something that is enough for me. I spend my days being very precise with my use of language but it isn't fun and can be pretty tedious. I reckon most 7 yr olds would be asleep at their desks if I attempted teaching!'

Fwiw I remember the lively teachers as my favourite and learnt the most from them. Maybe that is just me but I would always try my best for a teacher that I actually liked, eg my French teacher who was as un-PC as you could get. Contrast my maths teacher who sounded as if she'd swallowed a course of elocution lessons along with her text book and was tedious in the extreme.

HuwEdwards · 29/11/2010 21:20

Think teachers do this in an attempt to get on with the children, to be funny and to speak what they think will be their language.

Think it's a bonus when teachers try this hard.

mrz · 29/11/2010 21:22

pozzled Mon 29-Nov-10 21:11:40

Try substituting bloke for another word to describe a group of people- 'Typical Christian'? 'Typical Muslim'? 'Typical Indian'? [weird]
or you could try substituting "typical boy" which has roughly the same meaning where bringing race and religion into the phrase completely changes the meaning ...

I wonder how many parents when referring to their DS fondly say "he's a typical boy"

scurryfunge · 29/11/2010 21:22

I would be concerned if teacher's driving force was the need to be liked. I want children taught by professionals who understand use of language.

HuwEdwards · 29/11/2010 21:24

ah well.

usualsuspect · 29/11/2010 21:25

I think liking your teachers actually goes a long way to making your school life successful..nothing worse than a miserable teacher

scurryfunge · 29/11/2010 21:26

You can be liked you know and still behave in an appropriate manner.

mrz · 29/11/2010 21:26

or perhaps she's "sugaring" criticism with a bit of light hearted humour that isn't universally appreciated ?

Goblinchild · 29/11/2010 21:27

Well, it's hard to be cheerful when you have to watch everything you do and say all the time whilst juggling a large work load and thirty children.

HuwEdwards · 29/11/2010 21:29

suspect - that's what I believe. Made a HUGE difference to DD's learning 'experience'

scurryfunge · 29/11/2010 21:29

Sexist and inappropriate language is not light hearted humour.

Put this language in the workplace and it would not be tolerated. Why should we be conditioning children to grow up to believe that sexist language is just banter and not harmful?

onlyonejimmy · 29/11/2010 21:34

Many posters are talking about how lively, popular etc the teacher is - but the point is the OPs son isnt happy about it.

MollieO · 29/11/2010 21:35

Why should school be like the workplace?

I am full of admiration for those here who have never ever said that their ds/dd is typical of their sex. As for 'inappropriate language' nothing the OP posted would constitute that imo.

Interesting that the OP hasn't been back.

HuwEdwards · 29/11/2010 21:35

You see I would've found that language jokey, a bit naughty and therefore fun as a kid in school - but you're right wouldn't tolerate it at work. So maybe one doesn't necessarily lead to the other.

usualsuspect · 29/11/2010 21:37

Maybe the ops child doesn't really get the humour? and op should explain about jokes?

Original poster

thypnochick · 29/11/2010 21:50

Thanks for your responses folks as its great to see different perspectives on this.
I agree that she is probably saying in all fun and some of the kids do take it in that way.. But my son thinks typical blokes means your lazy and stupid and she encourages the girls to say it "what are they girls" ....
Plonker with or without the plinkey in front is not something I want my son saying to me, my or his friends..

She has also told the children that they should not do homework on Sundays and that they should love god more than anyone else.. This is a non specific faith school.. Thought and comments welcomed..

OP posts:

pointythings · 29/11/2010 21:55

MY older DD's maths teacher gives his pupils nicknames - they're individual and based on what the child can take. He calls my DD 'Gobby' because she's always ready to speak up with either the answer or a smart comment. She loves it.
Other children have much sweeter nicknames - I think if handled well, it can be a lot of fun, but if a child is genuinely upset then a change of tack is needed.

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