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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

ds's new teacher is an absolute delight! ....not

70 replies

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 11:54

new teacher, only been at the school for a week, has told ds he is not to use his left handed pen (bit of history, ds's writing was bad, we switched to left handed pens last year and his writing improved vastly in both speed and neatness), when he carried on using it, she tore the page out his book and made him start again with a biro.

he got upset about all this, then 'conveniently' begins to complain of earache (her words, not mine), he's then told to stop it otherwise she will send his to the head of ks2.

i went in to see her the next morning and was informed by her all of the above, she didn't wait to hear what i had actually come in to see her about.

what i was actually coming in to say was that we ended up in hospital in the evening, with ds is considerable discomfort having impacted ear wax removed from his left ear.

have a meeting with her next week, how would you play it?, just leave it and move on or have it out with her?

ps ds is in year 6.

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LookingUpAtTheStars · 06/09/2015 11:57

She ripped a page out of his book? Are we back in the 80s or something?

Atathania · 06/09/2015 11:58

I wouldn't let the pen thing go - I'm left handed and struggled with presentation and speed. Why on earth does she think a biro is better?

Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:00

she said 'biros are universal'

i don't get why she would want to deliberately hinder a child in year 6. first time i'd met her, and her attitude was shockingly negative towards ds. her automatic assumption was he was faking earache. he quite clearly wasn't.

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IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:00

Why is the meeting happening? Did you organise it or was it planned in anyway?

IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:01

Are the SATs marked electronically (in which case black biro is preferred?)

IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:02

Do you think your son didn't hear the instruction not to use the pen because of his ear wax issue, or is that separate?

SoupDragon · 06/09/2015 12:03

I would certainly tell her that my child would be using the pen that is designed for left handers and that I would be complaining to the head if they did anything other than facilitate this.

SoupDragon · 06/09/2015 12:04

Are the SATs marked electronically (in which case black biro is preferred?)

I think the requirement would be black ink rather than biro.

Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:05

she offered that we have a meeting to discuss it further. am thinking of sending dh, he doesn't usually deal with school stuff due to work commitments etc, but also because at any parents evenings he's been to, he delights in antagonising primary school teachers

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Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:07

and yes, he said he didn't fully hear what she was saying. you know, because of that 'fake' earache n all

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Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:08

he has a selection of left handed pens to use, fountain, biro, all with moulded grips, shaped nibs.

she won't let him use any of them.

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windypolar · 06/09/2015 12:09

What decade was this!

she didn't wait to hear what i had actually come in to see her about.

Perhaps speak to the head of KS2 if she's not listening to you, rather than waste time meeting with her again.

LottieDoubtie · 06/09/2015 12:13

I would make a list for the meeting- what you want to say and what outcome you expect. Then, what you will do if she refuses to meet your expectations.

Assuming that your DS using these grips has been standard practice in the school up to this year, she hasn't got a leg to stand on there.

IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:14

Aqa often state biro or ball-point as fountain pens don't scan as well. (I think fountain pens are better for writing but it could be that SATs have the same and the teacher wants to train them to write with the pen needed in the exam?)

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 06/09/2015 12:14

Some teachers get on their high horse and forget parents are important. Start writing incidents down to discuss at meeting. DD is a lefty ... struggles with normal pens ans scissors ... and broke my (expensive) can opener!! Would be annoyed as only a pen.

Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:15

i wish now i'd just listened to what she said, asked her to clarify again that ds was faking and that he was in trouble for not following instructions, then just gone straight to see the head.

i have friends who are ta's at the school and they are shocked, the school even buys in left handed stationary for lefties to use.

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stopfaffing · 06/09/2015 12:15

"he delights in antagonising primary school teachers "

Hmm, well that's going to be helpful not to successfully resolving the situation , which I presume you actually want to achieve?

It would be far better to write down your concerns and discuss them calmly and maturely with the teacher who is going to be teaching your child for the next 12 months (surely better to everyone to try and create a good relationship rather than antagonising her).

I have great sympathy with your predicament. Who cares what type of pen he uses to write if it helps him improve speed and neatness?

IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:16

I don't think, if your husband "delights in antagonising primary school teachers" that it is a good idea for him to go, do you? Just explain what you have explained here. And if you get no joy then speak to the headteacher.

leghoul · 06/09/2015 12:20

Go on your own, or with a silent friend, but I'd suggest a bullet point list to go through and any other questioning or comments are recorded by you taking notes at the meeting; and you do not need to stay for long.Surely long enough to make your point and try to do so amicably. Alternatively,email head of KS2 now before the meeting informing them of the meeting and what you will be discussing and of DS requirement for left handed support and NB he ended up in hospital, please do not accuse him of faking an illness.. hopefully we can work collaboratively this year..
don't take your husband.

IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:20

Does your son know that his dad delights in behaving like this towards his teachers do you think? Is it possible that he might also think that that attitude is a good idea and could this be coming across? Boys at that age are very impressionable and like to be like their dads often. Just a suggestion.

Atathania · 06/09/2015 12:22

Christ, she may as well just tie his hand behind his back and have done with it.

Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:22

antagonising was meant as a bit of a joke, he is actually probably the best person for the job as he'd be able to put emotions aside and talk practically. he's a uni lecturer so more knowledge of working within education that i have.

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0dfod · 06/09/2015 12:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IguanaTail · 06/09/2015 12:24

I think you do need to meet with her. You want the relationship to work and it's only the first week. Use the headteacher if you need to if that meeting fails.

Original poster

nipersvest · 06/09/2015 12:26

going ahead with the meeting is dh's idea, he wants to gauge if i'm over reacting before taking anything higher.

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