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Primary education

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Original poster

Should I or shouldn't I?

16 replies

lovingmy2 · 03/02/2011 21:25

Go in and see the classteacher. DS (Year 1) came home tonight and said he'd been kept in along with the whole class for 10 minutes because some of the children in his class had been messing. He then asked why he had to stay in and it wasn't fair because he hadn't done anything wrong.

This isn't the first time the whole class has been punished for a few individuals.

Interested to hear from others and their experiences/thoughts on this or similar.

Thanks in advance

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PixieOnaLeaf · 03/02/2011 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

medoitmama · 03/02/2011 21:38

Agree with Pixie. It does seem a bit unfair, but if it was more than a few, (or even the vast majority) she may have felt that it was difficult to pick out the few that were not at blame at all.

If it was happening on a daily basis I might be inclined to go and speak to her but not for once in a while. Maybe just explain to your DS that while it doesn't seem very fair, it may be the teacher's way of getting the whole class to behave better so that others are able to get on with their work in a calm environment.

IntotheNittyGritty · 03/02/2011 21:45

Depends how often she uses it.

I think the purpose of it is for those who are disruptive to realise that their actions affect the whole class and that everyone suffers.

Sadly it doesnt usually work unless the peer prssure from those affected say something to those children.

tigana · 03/02/2011 21:46

I'd leave it.
You don't know the facts, just the facts as explained by a 5/6yo child.

You run the risk of seeming a bit know-it-all and a bit precious.

And I'd put money on it not stopping the teacher from doing it again if he/she felt it neccessary.

Original poster

lovingmy2 · 03/02/2011 21:49

which at 5 isn't likely to happen. Its parents evening in 2 weeks so maybe I'll mention it then. I'm a teacher and I've hardly ever held a whole class back so find her methods hard to comprehend. Especially in Year 1.

OP posts:

PixieOnaLeaf · 03/02/2011 22:33

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ImNotaCelebrity · 03/02/2011 22:45

Agree with pixie. And, as a teacher, you know your name will be mud in the staffroom ever after!

ImNotaCelebrity · 03/02/2011 22:45

Agree with pixie. And, as a teacher, you know your name will be mud in the staffroom ever after!

SingleDadio · 03/02/2011 23:19

It can be effective. It can encourage the idea of being a team.' not always but someimtes. It's good to learn this life lesson now, as when they're older they need to recognise that their actions affect others. For example if ofsted inspect a school and it is heading for special measures, even though one teachers lesson was outstanding, then she is still put into special measures. It's the way the world works.

sydenhamhiller · 04/02/2011 13:41

Reading this thread with interest (sorry to slightly hi-jack OP) as my Y2 son has same issue with his teacher.

Since the year started they have missed playtime, PE (why is never Literacy that gets missed :o) ), the weekly cake sale where they get to buy a biscuit for 10p. My son is very quiet, teacher very pleased with his behaviour and says so... But DS has the usual strong sense of justice of 7 yr olds, and says "but I wasn't talking, and I was good - she said so - so why couldn't I have cake sale/ PE/ playtime?"

I don't think this approach works at this age: the kids who misbehave are not improving, while the kids who do misbehave are becoming discouraged and upset (quite a few have started refusing to go to school as teacher shouting gives them headache!). The lesson seems to be: if you're naughty you're punished, and if you're good....well, you get punished too.

Do I just tell increasingly anti-school 7 yr old "suck it up princess, or my name will be mud in the staffroom"?

Quick disclaimer - ex-teacher, so usually very much in 'back-the-teacher-camp'

pointythings · 04/02/2011 13:54

I suggest all teachers who use this punishment read up on the Geneva Convention - it's pretty clear on the illegality of collective punishment.

Sorry to be harsh on this, but I think it's bad practice and lazy.

It will demotivate children who behave well, who will learn that hey, there is no point in behaving well because they will get punished for what their classmates get up to.

The disruptive children will learn that they will not be punished for their bad behaviour, their classmates will share in it - which will make the punishment less bad for them.

I'd let it pass as a one-off but if this becomes a regular occurrence I would take this up with the teacher, and if no joy take it further.

mustdash · 04/02/2011 13:58

I agree with pointy.

It's lazy of the teacher, and often the disruptive children benefit more from a firm hand and support rather than punishment which makes everyone dislike them.

Rant over - I'm just about to go to school to "discuss" with DD2's teacher why she thinks a similar thing is appropriate.

choccyp1g · 04/02/2011 15:23

Since parents' evening is coming up, I'd ask innocently how your child is behaving, "because I hear he was kept in at playtime recently".

Teacher then has a chance to explain, "Oh that was the day I tried a whole class punishment" or "that was the day EVERY child was being noisy (even yours!)" or "Oh yes, I remember one child was misbehaving and the whole class was giggling and encouraging him" or whatever. If the teacher is not much cop, it might be, "Oh I often have to keep them all in".
Do come back and tell us how it goes.
IMHO an occasional all-class punishment is reasonable, but not more than about once a term.

FlamingoBingo · 04/02/2011 15:26

I agree with pointy too. That would really piss me off.

cansu · 05/02/2011 17:32

I really am always amazed how parents feel that they should question the teachers professionalism for the slightest of complaints by their offspring. We don't do this with other professions. I don't think you should make a fuss. How can the teacher manage her class if every parent thinks they know best? It may seem unfair to your dc, but the loss of ten minutes free time is unlikely to scar him for life. I'm sorry but I think this is a massive over reaction on your part tbh. If this was happening all the time, you might have a cause for concern, but this doesn't seem to be the case from your OP

Watchtheclock · 05/02/2011 19:16

Really disturbing that whenever there is the faintest criticism of teachers, even when warranted, there is always an outcry calling parents precious, pfb etc, etc... Think it is not right to dissuade parents from discussing genuine concerns/worries "even at parents meeting"!!!! for the worry that their name will be "mud" in the staffroom. that is so not right, even if it goes on, it shouldn't, and demonstrates that sometimes it is teachers that are precious and not parents! are you saying that parents should not discuss concerns for fear of offending? there are lots of great teachers , really great, but there are also some that are not all of the time, and it is bordering on intimidating to use these tactics to fob off genuine problems.

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