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Original poster

Teacher...a bit like Jordan...but worse

90 replies

Jinx1906 · 31/05/2013 16:00

Was hoping to get some advice here.

My dd is currently in year 4 and has been very lucky to have had a very nice teacher who has made good progress with her. From speaking to some of the other mums it seems that all are very happy with her.

On the friday before half terms DD had a letter in her schoolbag saying that DD's current teacher would look after the kids 2 days per week and that another teacher who has now returned from leave will be taking over the class 3 days per week. The trouble is that not only are we unhappy with the school's decision to replace a very popular teacher for the last half term of the year but that she is being replaced by someone who is not at all popular, appart from with some of the dads perhaps. My older daughter also had her in year 6, which was a complete waste of time. She was not able to maintain discipline in her class and was often rude or on the mobile chatting in front of her class.

I know that the school is not going to take our concerns on board. Some partents have already written to the school to voice their concerns but have not received any replies so far. I would very much like to do the same but is it reasonable to complain about a teacher putting a lot of cleaving on display, wear see through blouses and mini skirts whilst at work which is my main concern at this stage. The current teacher told me that the school reports are currently being put together and that all testing has now been done, so in terms of academic stuff I'm not that concerned. Not much happens in most schools during the last few weeks in any event.

Any advice very much appreciated.

Thank you mummies.

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puppy08 · 31/05/2013 16:25

Fgs

Yettish · 31/05/2013 16:26

Haha!

I assume this is a joke?

Original poster
Jinx1906 · 31/05/2013 16:28

No it isn't and not funny from where I.m coming from.

I don't understand why anyone who dresses like a glamour model on the job would go in to teaching.

OP posts:
KatoPotato · 31/05/2013 16:29

Cleaving... very funny!

TheToysAreALIVEITellThee · 31/05/2013 16:31

She is clearly on the game. You're right to be a concerned mummy. I wouldn't want my dc to see a woman in a mini skirt.

Yettish · 31/05/2013 16:34

Your poor children.

How dreadful for them to have such a rotten role model.

PoppadomPreach · 31/05/2013 16:34

Does she suck her pen in a seductive manner?

That would be a deal breaker for me.

squeelybean · 31/05/2013 16:34

DS has a school full of tracksuit wearing teachers.

At least yours makes an effort!

BeauNidle · 31/05/2013 16:35

If you are at all concerned about the attire, just mention it to the head, that you feel she is a bit underdressed. Ditto mobile phone usage if you have proof.

BeauNidle · 31/05/2013 16:36

Bet there is a full turn out of dads for parents evening, frantically wracking their brains to find questions and keep her talking.

KnottedAnchorChief · 31/05/2013 16:37

So is it the way she looks or the way she teaches that's the problem?

Fragglewump · 31/05/2013 16:39

Is it cameron Diaz?

Original poster
Jinx1906 · 31/05/2013 16:40

When DD was in year 6, most mondays the girls would come out of school talking about if she was more "orange" than the week before and the lenght of her nails and eyelashes. All the boys had to talk about was boobs... Not exactly my idea of inspiring children... and this is an outstanding school according to Ofsted.

OP posts:
JakeBullet · 31/05/2013 16:40

Quite honestly apart from the discipline and mobile phone use (which I am very suspicious about....afaik teachers have to lock them away during lessons) the rest is not an issue. Why are you worried about how the woman dresses when it's how she does her job which matters? Her dress is immaterial (assuming it's not black PVC skirts etc).

JakeBullet · 31/05/2013 16:43

Her dress sense is not an issue, and tbh it is down to parents to teach their sons that women are not a sex object to be laughed at. I would NOT be happy if my DS was commenting on a woman's "boobs". Who cares what colour she is?

Did your DD progress during that year with her or not? If not and things were missed then you have a legitimate complaint, otherwise you don't. How she dresses is none of your business.

GetOrfMoiLand · 31/05/2013 16:45

Well, all the children sound rude. Perhaps you mummies should spend more time teaching your children not to make spiteful remarks about a teacher's appearance instead of choosing to act like Year 6 children yourselves.

Original poster
Jinx1906 · 31/05/2013 16:46

KnottedAnchorChief,

Both the way she teaches and the way she dresses. In terms of the teaching would be more concerned if she would have taken DD's class in September to be honest. It is nearly the end of the year, so in terms of teaching guess there is only so much damage she can do.

OP posts:
BeQuicksieorBeDead · 31/05/2013 16:49

I feel really sorry for this teacher. Imagine your boss having to tell you that parents were dreading you teaching their kids, because of the way you look. I am assuming that if she was fat, frumpy and old it wouldn't matter, as long as she could teach?

Get a grip op and stop being a judgemental parent. Maybe do something about all the other parents who are not giving the woman a chance. Believe it or not, year six girls can be pretty bitchy, and she wouldn't be the first teacher accused of using her phone when actually using the school ipod, or responding to an urgent call about a sick relative.

BrianButterfield · 31/05/2013 16:52

I've been accused of 'using my mobile during lessons'by kids - actually, I don't have a clock in my room so I keep my phone, on silent, in my top desk drawer and occasionally check the time on it. I don't even take it out of the drawer!

Caitycat · 31/05/2013 16:54

As others have said you should have brought up issues with her teaching when they happened (when your dd1 was in her class). I don't see how what she wears is going to cause any problems for your dd2 if the school feel it is inappropriate they will tell her I'm sure. She is presumably returning from maternity leave and may be feeling anxious about her return and leaving her baby, I'm sure she would feel mortified if she knew how negatively her return was seen. Try to be open to her and objective then if there are real issues you could contact the school.

BeQuicksieorBeDead · 31/05/2013 16:54

In the current educational climate she wouldn't get away with less than good lesson observations, and with the threat of ofsted the head would have pulled her up on dress code if it was a concern.

Original poster
Jinx1906 · 31/05/2013 16:54

DD did not progress at all during her time in year 6, nor did most of her pears.

JakeBullet,
Would prefer pvc skirts to bra and knickers on display to be honest. A lot of work places have dresscodes why should schools be any different? Really that much to ask to cover up whilst teaching at a primary school.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jinx1906 · 31/05/2013 16:59

Caitycat,

I did bring up DD1 lack of progress at parents evening and informed the head as well as her dresscode. We were not the only parents to do so and we have no information as to it the school have spoken to her about it. From other parents I know who had her the following years had exactly the same concerns and again nothing was done about it. Nobody was sad to see her leave... i'm pretty sure there is good reason that the school have put the letter in the bookbags on the friday before half term!

OP posts:
JakeBullet · 31/05/2013 17:00

Okay, so you have an issue with her teaching, that then IS an issue. Bra and or knickers on display (really?) . I would expect the head teacher to be telling her that this is inappropriate.

Where did you get the info about mobile phone use? In our school ALL staff have to lock their phones away except for break time. If nothing else it is a Safeguarding issue and needs to be addressed.

Mutteroo · 31/05/2013 17:00

You need proof to base these accusations on. How she dresses should not be a factor, unless she's turning up in her undies of course!

How did your DD do academically when she was taught by this Jordan-esque teacher? If you feel DD was failed in some way by this teacher's teaching, then maybe you have a justifiable complaint. If your child will be taught until the end of term only, then I cant see how they would be damaged even if this was the worst teacher on the planet? I would also stop talking with other parents because it is coming across as gossiping.