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

[AnnieLobeseder]

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?

If it had been any other time other than show and tell I would say def let it go as of course teacher was possibly (no probably) juggling 101 other things and of course we all make mistakes....

but this is show and tell and kids are supposed to listen, learn etc...

but I wouldnt bring it back up, I would do as originally suggested and take it other things about the country (and the ring again!) and perhaps a little chat to the teacher (with BIG smilie face) letting her know what you have bought this time and how good you EXPECT it to be this time

hopefully will restore your DDs confidence and make the teacher think twice

but then, move on

YANBU - the teacher is belittling the upset caused, when she should take a complaint of teasing more seriously.

I think this sounds very odd, OP. And that it is irrelevant whether the teacher knows about your family - someone in the class could have family in Israel. I think her Wolverhampton comment shows she doesn't get this at all - unless I am missing something about Wolverhampton's history and politics! I am not sure I could drop it in the circumstances you have described.

seeker - I've been back plenty of times. Why do you say I haven't.

Thanks again everyone. Sorry if any teachers have been offended, but of course we're going to be critical of how our children are treated in school, especially if they're upset.

I'm going to drop this and consider it a bad day on the teacher's part. Perhaps her explanation was a bit rubbish because I just dropped this on her at the classroom door and she didn't have time to think of how to explain the situation better.

Getting DD to do a project in Israel is a good idea. She did one last year when she missed a week of school to go to her aunt's wedding - to keep her brain going while we were away she put together a picture diary of her holiday. So I'm not going to push her to do one this time unless she brings this incident up again - not sure it's helpful to remind her of it if she's moved on. But if she raises it again, then we will get the card and glue out!!