Working as a volunteer in school - challenging the teacher

[Jules2]

Here's a pithy subject for other parents and teachers - I really would like to hear from teachers. I've been volunteering in a Yr 6 class at my daughter's school and every week the teacher has made some kind of mistake - be it a grammatical error, spelling mistake or a mistake in Maths. One example was where she asked pupils to put 4 fractions in ascending order and she gave them the wrong answer. I'm not so quick at Maths myself but thought it was incorrect and worked it out after I left. English is my strong suit - I was a book editor and English graduate - so I do know my stuff. But what should I do? I don't want to embarrass a teacher (and she's not the only one) and this particular teacher can be quite defensive. Should I let these errors go? Or raise them discreetly after class - but when it may be too late? Teachers/parents - have you experienced this situation and what would you advise?

You still haven't answered the previous questions - presumably you see all the people who work in the school as colleagues? And quite often, volunteers work far more than one hour a week in a classroom - so don't be any more dismissive of them than you already have been (which actually says a heck of a lot about you - none of it positive).

Pride is not a virtue. A fair few volunteers have taught. Others may have other relevant specialisms such as child psychology. These kids you describe as 'my kids' belong to their parents too, as in they (usually) care a great deal about them too. Surely you can find some common ground here, TheTrouble.

I help out in my child's class. I have done for the past four years since she started school. I have a science degree from Oxford, an arts degree from a Birmingham, five A levels in core curriculum subjects (Maths, English, Science, MFL) and bags of enthusiasm and I find the children very entertaining, lots of fun, and love being around them. They make me laugh every time I go in, and they always seem pleased to see me. I am always pleased to see them! The school is happy to have someone who has good skills in important areas who wants to help. I am a nice person and not sneery or nasty to others who haven't had the opportunities that I have been fortunate enough to have. I have pointed out small errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation and many other things to all the teachers I have worked with, bar one who didn't make any mistakes. As I am not a complete arsehole, I have, of course, always pointed them out in a way that makes it clear that I know they know that thing (of course they know that thing, they're not idiots), they just made a mistake AS ANYONE CAN. Not one teacher has ever been anything other than grateful for the pointer.

As a volunteer, I am not the teacher's colleague. However, I am there to help the teacher. I do not think failing to point out a basic error would be helpful. A teacher who was offended by this would be, in my view, not a very good teacher. If they react badly to a mistake being pointed out themselves, how are they showing their children a reasonable model of how to behave when the children make a mistake (which all of them will at some point)?

As a volunteer, you absolutely are the teachers colleague whilst you are in the school - or at least, you should be treated as such. You should not, under any circumstance, be made to feel that you are at the "bottom of the hierarchy", nor should you feel unable to speak out if you witness a factual mistake made by the teacher.

The volunteers who have taught or have relevant degrees are in the minority, IME.

Well I have and have volunteered.

Caring about kids does not make you part of the staff hmm

Evidently...

One teacher i was supply working in had this sign on her window:

'Class Xs spelling test are on Monday's'

I had trouble that day. And then she forgot to do the test (it was a Monday).

Luckily, I only do supply TA work over winter, its back to my own teaching business now.

I think there is a difference between pointing out mistakes and questioning someone's ability to teach.
If I make a mistake, I am perfectly happy for anyone in my classroom to point it out or question me about it ( not that I make many mistakes, I'm quite a pedant in my classrooms!)
It's a tricky one, OP, as you state this teacher is defensive.
I have volunteered in my children's school as a parent helper; I never had to correct any errors thankfully. I'm not sure I'd have felt comfortable doing so.

Nobody said that caring about kids made anyone part of the staff. Good teachers recognise that having someone who really wants to do this for NO MONEY on board is worth its weight in gold.

The fact is, lots of volunteers might be better at the subjects you're teaching than you are. Just because they aren't teachers doesn't mean they should not point out an error which could negatively affect the children being taught.

The hierarchy thing is, quite frankly, a big pile of shite.

I have challenged teachers in a way which was related to their practice. Successfully. I made sure I knew my stuff though. I dread to think how someone with just a very good hunch could have done this.

The volunteers who have taught or have relevant degrees are in the minority

Or perhaps they don't wish to discuss their qualifications with you? However, given that we're talking about people with a degree being unable to teach core subjects to a basic level, and then acting in an unprofessional manner when their errors are pointed out to them, you might do well to remember that possessing a degree doesn't give you any form of superiority.

Students question me all the time. They are frequently wrong, but I always praise their critical and inquisitive thinking.

Bloody hell! I volunteer weekly and give up 3 hours of my ONLY child free time a week to help out at school. With very little appreciation from the teacher, often wonder why I am doing it as I am stuck outside the classroom most of the time doing paperwork/pencil sharpening. I do it as I would like to be of help to the school and the overburdened teachers.

I enjoy spending time with the children and love reading with them on the few opportunities that I get the chance to. I have a doctorate in science and write for a living. If I hear/see an error being made I would have to say something, tactfully of course - and I would hope that the teacher would be able to take the criticism despite my being bottom of the pile. I would be saying something simply because I care about my child's education. And for the rest, please refer to Opopanax's post.

I do not claim to be perfect TheTrouble, far from it. I'm not offended either, I've encountered too many similar attitudes. I'm just rather saddened. Parents and volunteers and parents who volunteer, certainly aren't the enemy. Scapegoats maybe...

Well try being more friendly then, TheTrouble...

As long as they 'know their place'?

Well I guess it's quite nice not needing to use my brain when pencil sharpening

But they should still be able to point out mistakes or make suggestions.

I suppose by leaving them to sharpen pencils you think you are safe from being corrected or being offered suggestions?