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Why are teachers so patronising?

121 replies

TinselTownley · 22/12/2013 04:04

I am a 42 year old mother of two. I am often judged on my looks and did model while I completed my Masters.

The teachers at my youngest's school talk to my husband and I as if we have learning difficulties. I am going to start the next term just doing the same back unless anyone can offer me an explanation?

I have an older child (12). The baby is now in reception. I have been quite forthcoming about my career as has my husband. We earn much more than teachers. They actually said 'well done' to us for taking some photos of the boy looking at autumn toadstools during our usual weekend dog walk. Then they clapped. They also have given me no progress report for my child since he started Reception in September. We both work and they only meet with parents/ have open events between 9 and 3.

I've met a lot of teachers and those with talent and integrity aren't like this. [edited by MNHQ] Do feel free to call them up to experience that unique 'you've got special needs' approach to communications first hand.

In the meantime, what do I do?

OP posts:
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MidniteScribbler · 25/12/2013 12:23

So what I want to know is that as a teacher who is about to finish a PhD, can I then look down on parents such as the OP who only have a masters degree, or do I still need to roll out the red carpet if she can find time in her busy schedule to come and talk about her child with me?

Jaynebxl · 25/12/2013 12:56

Well that depends, midnite. Were you ever a model? I think we can assume you earn less than the OP.

scottishmummy · 25/12/2013 13:12

I wholeheartedly understand,I too am gorgeous,I've modelled tights for spar
And I'm dead clever,various professional qualifications and I'm proper loaded
It's hard for teachers,earning tuppence ha'penny,always on holiday.but not as gawjus as the parents

my2bundles · 25/12/2013 19:55

Firstly how do you talk to someone with learning difficulties? My eldest has severe difficulties so if you could educate me in how to communicate with her that would be great (Im being sarcastic by the way). Your comment about this repulsed me and you need to take a long hard look at yourself.
Your childrens teacher wont care about your career, just so you know. We are only one term into the school year, your child is still in reception, lack of progress report is not unusual but if you would like one why not just ask the teacher?

lougle · 25/12/2013 22:23

You viewed it as patronising, she was probably just delighted to have visual evidence of an enquiring mind because teachers now need evidence to justify their judgements of the stage a child has reached in the EYFS. You provided clear evidence, so she was grateful and that spilled out into clapping - so what?

DD3's teacher said to me one day 'Mrs Lougle, I don't want to patronise you, but can I just say I was listening to you talking to DD3 earlier today and I was just blown away by how kind and loving and gentle you were with her.....'

She wasn't patronising me. She was giving me absolute sincere encouragement because DD3 was finding the 'leaving' part of being in Reception tough and had tears every morning at that point. It made me cry, because I hadn't even seen myself as being kind, loving and gentle. I'd seen myself as irritated, impatient and frustrated, trying my best to give DD3 what she needed to get through the door.

I'm sure how she talks to you has nothing to do with your looks or your prestigious position.

my2bundles · 26/12/2013 07:57

Just wanted to add that physical beauty means nothing when you are obviously ugly inside, true beauty shines from within, you dont appear to do this.

Johnnyrotten123 · 28/12/2013 18:16

lottieandmia
Teachers Are Always Right on mumsnet - you cannot say a word against them. but OP you didn't help yourself by saying you earn more than teachers. If you have an issue with a teacher then fair enough but what you and they earn is irrelevant

We must be reading a different MN...

PastSellByDate · 01/01/2014 08:31

Kind of agree with Johnnyrotten123. If you've conveyed in any way hey I'm better than you because I earn more than you - the likelihood is their attitude is a response to your own.

TinselTownley if you want to get on with teachers (and that can be work) I suggest you convey the message that you're interested in their professional opinion.

But....

I do agree that teachers can be judgemental and often pigeon hole parents. In part I suspect their busy/ stressed and find parents' evenings and 3 extra hours of saying more or less the same thing over and over a real trial.

My advice is focus on what you need to know. Go to parent/ teacher meetings prepared to query things in as positive a way as possible.

So don't ask - Why haven't you done x? or Why can't my DC do y?

Rephrase it as confusion - We are a little concerned that our DC doesn't seem able to do y by now? Is this something we should be concerned about?

That leaves it open for the teachers to say - yes, Mr & Mrs X, your DC is finding y a little difficult at the moment, but that's quite common....

Or just be proactive - I find asking 'Is there anything we should be focusing on at home...' really useful. Basically it's all I ask now.

My attitude toward our DDs teachers & HT has become incredibly cynical over the years. But, I also know that both DDs are happy at the school socially - and that's also important. So if you're unhappy with what is going on at school - do more. However, do it quietly. Don't make it a challenge or insult to the school. Just don't take them very seriously. I have literally come to the conclusion our school is just day care. There isn't a well-planned delivery of curriculum with benchmarks for skills that if not met signal a child needs help - there certainly is no stable progression from year to year so that as a parent with two children 2 years apart at the school I've had two entirely different academic experiences with DD2's class having regularl weekly homework (3 governors children in that class) and virtually doing in Y4 what DD1's class did in late Y5 & about half are doing now in Y6. Yes, yes, years can be different - but this is a stable, well-educated area (hospital/ university main employer of parents) and frankly it's mad that 1/2 of Y6 hasn't mastered their times tables to x10.

Over the years I just tend to see any sort of patronising conversation as teachers who are struggling a bit - I'm not rude, but I trend to respond with 'Yes, I can see it's a difficulty for you' or 'Yes, I suppose it's not possible to teach x at this age.' It isn't everyone - but not every teacher is as dedicated a professional as one might like. Indeed I've tended to find a teacher's professionalism is inversely proportional to their claims of being a highly trained professional.

My advice is this take heed of what the school is saying, but also make it a point of being informed about what is going on at other schools locally. I've found my arguments for things like teaching division are stronger when I can back it up with - I realise your policy is no multiplication/ division homework but it is confusing when a, b, c, d, e, school (all within 2-3 miles of here) are regularly sending home this kind of thing (handing over homework sheets) to their pupils. It must have stung them, because 2 weeks later we did get our first ever 2 digit x 2 digit multplication homework (late June Y5 for DD1).

Finally if you want a reality check - my advice is view the new national curriculum (to be rolled out from Sept 2014) when your DC will start Y1 - KS1 (Y1/ Y2) - KS2 (Y3 - Y6) here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum - just scroll down for area of curriculum.

Also campaign for real education has some fairly parent friendly statements about what your child should be able to do each given school year: www.cre.org.uk/

HTH

DRooster · 09/01/2014 18:43

"sniff" This thread is lovely,
and one of the reasons I just joined the forum ... oh no, not a forum ... a "talk"
:|
There doesn't seem to be an introductions section, so Hullo!

I want Tinselthingy to post again ... please post again ...

Snopple5dip · 20/02/2020 01:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Feenie · 20/02/2020 01:12

Snopple, ffs - cannot you not read the words 'zombie thread'?

BottleOfJameson · 20/02/2020 09:07

So what I want to know is that as a teacher who is about to finish a PhD, can I then look down on parents such as the OP who only have a masters degree, or do I still need to roll out the red carpet if she can find time in her busy schedule to come and talk about her child with me?

You should compare qualifications and earnings with each parent and decide from there which you should look down on and which you should treat with respect. Don't forget to also consider appearances though!

I have known a few early primary teachers who seem to speak to everyone like they're 4-6 years old which I assume is just their professional demeanor they find hard to turn off. I couldn't be bothered to spend time being offended or comparing income with them.

gran75 · 20/02/2020 09:55

There are quite a few teachers here on MN who talk to everyone as if they are 4-6, especially if they disagree with them.

Snopple5dip · 20/02/2020 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Feenie · 20/02/2020 12:18

Can only guess what your motives could possibly be for resurrecting such a thread Hmm

KingscoteStaff · 22/02/2020 10:21

Zombie zombie zombie

Yeulisloveofmylife · 22/02/2020 11:57

Wow, blast from the past, I haven''t seen pastsellbydate's name for so long. She was lovely. Wonder where she is now.

Swimornoswim15 · 24/02/2020 12:19

Just ask? That's what I do. We had parents evening in October. I ask them how she is getting on some mornings when I take her to the door. She took a while to settle in so I had a few updates when they were a little concerned. She's doing loads better now though. But the TA also will answer questions and sometimes just chat to me anyway. Perhaps you can approach someone and say excuse me how's James getting on etc?

Perhaps he's doing great. If they are not chasing you then he's probably a pleasure to teach and no problem.

Also I think teachers may seem patronising but they really arnt. They are surrounded by youngsters each day so I think they tend to keep jolly and light hearted. Especially reception teachers. My DD has a lovely lady covering maternity. She's good. Can not pick but mostly I think she's a great first teacher. The other teacher in reception is a bouncy young 20 something that was talking to me on the taster days like the world was made out of fairy dust. She was lovely but she is constantly in that bubbly excitable mode. But that's why she works with kids and I don't lol!! How your child feels about them is what's important. As long as my child's happy and learning then I'm happy. I think you need to ask for an update. Do you have a parent book to write anything in?

Norestformrz · 24/02/2020 12:31

It's more than six years since the OP started this thread

Starbuck8419 · 27/02/2020 15:16

This is the most mental post I think I’ve ever read.

viques · 28/02/2020 12:54

I keep promising myself that one day I will start a Where are they Now? thread and @ posters who have drifted away in the hope that they come back and humbly apologise for their misconceptions.

I also keep promising myself that one day I will get to the bottom of the ironing basket.

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