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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

I should just drop this, shouldn't I? Given brush-off by teacher.

79 replies

AnnieLobeseder · 16/05/2012 15:58

Apologies in advance for drip-feeding this, but I just want to give you the very bare facts first, so you can hear this from what is probably the teacher's perspective.

DD1 (6yo, in Y2) had show and tell on Friday. She took in a plastic ring, just a bit of old tat, that she got in another country. Some children in her class started to tease her and told her that this country doesn't exist. DD says the teacher (who is new and only started this term) didn't back her up and she was quite upset about it.

I picked DD up today (she usually goes to after school club), and mentioned to the teacher how upset DD was, and felt she hadn't been backed up. Teacher just said something along the lines of, "Well, that country means nothing to these kids anyway, I could tell them about Wolverhampton being a place and they wouldn't know about it. I probably just told them that there are lots of places in the world".

I said okay and left. But I feel I was very much given the brush-off. It seems that the teacher never told the class that DD was right, this country does exist. And she's at the age when it really matters to her that she is believed to be telling the truth.

There's more to it as well, but I guess the teacher doesn't know the rest so I'll keep that back for now....

I want to go back to the teacher and explain the rest to her, so she'll understand just how upset DD was, and why, but I suppose that's just causing more trouble than necessary. DD is over it now. I should let it go, shouldn't I?

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bamboostalks · 16/05/2012 16:00

Let it go. Yes.

MagnifyingGlassSearch · 16/05/2012 16:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WipsGlitter · 16/05/2012 16:05

Yes. Let it go.The teacher might have used it as chance to extend learning with a map or globe but never mind.

Original poster

AnnieLobeseder · 16/05/2012 16:12

Exactly Wips, why couldn't teacher have done a quick impromptu geography lesson.

Rest of story is that the country in question is DH's home country, so DD is half from this country, it's where her granny, cousins, aunts uncles etc live, she speaks the language, we follow both English and this county's customs and traditions at home. So more than telling DD that this place didn't exist, the other children were basically telling DD that half of her was imaginary. I think that's why she as so upset. Teacher doesn't know about this, I don't imagine, so can't really blame her for not picking up why it was so important.

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3littlefrogs · 16/05/2012 16:16

So - for the next show and tell, could your dd take in a scrap book with photos and information about her family and their country?

Frontpaw · 16/05/2012 16:17

Can you get someone to send you a postcard from the country so she can take it in for next show and tell? Were was it?

FantasticDay · 16/05/2012 16:18

What 3littlefrogs and Frontpaw said.

overmydeadbody · 16/05/2012 16:20

Well if your DD is half from that country then the teacher would know that wouldn't she?

How many children were telling her it doesn't exist?

I would have told the children they were wrong if they had said that in my class.

tumbleweedblowing · 16/05/2012 16:21

What 3littlefrogs and frontpaw said, and maybe drop a note to the teacher a few days before hand, warning her, to ensure there is enough time at showing, to do it properly.

And, grasping a little at straws an opportunity to remind DD that she knows the truth, and that they are the ones who have a gap in their understanding.

ThreadWatcher · 16/05/2012 16:22

Annie
Given the extra bit of information I would go and speak to the teacher if this were me. Also surely kids at school are there to learn? To learn stuff even if it isn't on the plan for that day???

I remember the day I learnt that there was a country called Ecuador - aged about 7, I was fascinated.....

littleducks · 16/05/2012 16:22

Are they saying it didn't exist for genuine, 6 year old ignorance, reasons or for political we don't recognise the country as valid reasons?

If its the first just let it go and maybe send her in with a map/globe/scrapbook for show and tell in the future.

SunflowersSmile · 16/05/2012 16:22

I can see why you are upset- the teacher was flippant. I think post card or scrap book idea great- or even take in a map for your dd to show everyone where country is!

Frontpaw · 16/05/2012 16:25

I am dying to know now. Is it Lilliput? Atlantis? Scotland.....?

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 16/05/2012 16:29

I would be upset, and annoyed. It just smacks of the wrong attitude, the teacher is supposed to be there to teach - and not just what is on her lesson plan!

How hard would it have been for her to say 'actually xyz, Annie'sDD is right, the country is called A, it is on B continent near to countries C and D'?

bigTillyMint · 16/05/2012 16:32

God, this could have been a relevant teaching point - show it on map on w/b, look at pictures from the country......

I like littlefrogs / frontpaws ideas.

Frontpaw · 16/05/2012 16:33

I would also send along some typical cakes or sweeties for the kids.

LindyHemming · 16/05/2012 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImaginateMum · 16/05/2012 16:57

This happened to me when I was younger. I told the teacher that one of my ancestors had lived in Timbuktu and she laughed at me and told me that was a made up place. Still annoys me actually, so I do wish my parents had gone in with an atlas as I hadn't made it up.

BehindLockNumberNine · 16/05/2012 17:04

The sad truth may be that the teacher herself did not know that this country exists.... (Geography seems to be someting that is skipped in schools )

As for the teacher knowing your DD is half from that country... my dd is half Dutch (I am Dutch) but her teachers don't know this.

I would speak to the teacher again - it could have been made into an impromptu Geography lesson, the teacher should have picked up on the class's ignorance and educated them rather than ignore the issue...

I would go into school and talk to her, not regarding the fact DD was upset but regarding the fact there is a bit of learning to be done here. Can your DD take in pictures of your DH's country? A few words in the language? Hand out a treat in the way of a sample of a local delicacy?

Could be fun for her and the other children and show them this country does exist

Hullygully · 16/05/2012 17:06

A lot of teachers are frighteningly thick re general knowledge

Original poster

AnnieLobeseder · 16/05/2012 17:15

Arf at Frontpaws' country suggestions. Country is Israel, so while folk may well dispute its right to exist, I doubt 6/7yos are so politically aware!

DD's old teacher knew her background, she's taken in Hebrew story books before and when the year were doing Judaism in RE I went in and we lit Shabbat candles. But like I said this teacher only started this term so doesn't know any of this.

I'm very unimpressed that the teacher didn't take this opportunity to educate the class. Smacks of apathy. Surely she should have a bit more enthusiam just weeks into a new job? Okay, so she'll only have this class for one term but that's no reason not to make an effort.

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blackeyedsusan · 16/05/2012 17:17

poor dd. not a nice feeling to be told you are wrong like that. the teacher should have handles it differently, and maybe it would have been better to tell the teacher that dd was from that country and it was particularly upsetting for her. I think it would be a good idea to take in a map/flag/photos/other things that are from that country and prove them wrong.

BehindLockNumberNine · 16/05/2012 17:19

Annie, I would talk to the teacher purely on the grounds of her apathy. I can see why your dd was upset.

Dd's friend (who has now sadly moved schools) is half Russian half Israeli. And proud of it. And the class were always aware of both those countries (purely because of E) and it was great to see them broaden their horizons whenever E or any other multi-national child brought items in to school for projects / show and tell. The teacher should have jumped on this, shame on her

Original poster

AnnieLobeseder · 16/05/2012 17:21

Tis true that some teachers don't know geography though. When I was about DD's age, my family was going to Korea for a while. I wrote this in my news book at school but spelled it Corea, and teacher didn't correct me. When I found out how it was spelled a few days later, I was shocked the teacher hadn't noticed my mistake. The first time I learned that teachers don't know everything.

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daisymaybe · 16/05/2012 17:24

The teacher could have done an impromptu Geography lesson yes, but what if she had a really packed schedule that day (not of our choosing btw, government says what we have to teach every day) and just couldn't fit it in? What if another child was playing up and she had to deal with it? What if she had an extra-curricular teacher waiting to come in? What if she was just feeling a bit harassed and didn't get the importance from one item?

Stop being so judgmental. The scrap book idea is a good one, do that and have a little faith in your child's teacher.

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