Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Shocked at DS's teacher this week!

217 replies

WellThisIsShit · 06/10/2017 23:04

She made a mess of something last week, which I did mention (politely!) in an email in which I was covering a couple of other unrelated things.

I then found out that lots of parents were 'up in arms' about the problem and there'd been multiple complaints, from individual parents and group complaints. Plus an angry exchange on Monday morning in the play ground, when a parent went in full throttle, and the teacher reacted in kind. All of which was inflamed by the teacher making it clear she hadn't got a clue what the issue was, or even what the parent was talking about at all.

Anyway, big furore and much concern that the teacher isn't up to the job (I'm glad I wasn't at the school gates this week!).

The wider context is that this teacher is coming into a challenging situation and is under the microscope, as she was parachuted in two days before the start of term after another teacher left the school in a fix when they pulled out with no notice. So, ht did a lot of classroom/ teacher shuffling and DS year ended up with this completely new teacher, who is very newly qualified, and has never taught in the uk before (or lived here actually). The school is really demanding and I have often mused that the poor teachers must have to be excellent, every single day, just to keep up - utterly exhausting to think about! Also the parents are err, well, they are much more involved than alot of schools, I think, and they expect to be listened to more as well.

So, anyway, it was all a bit heated and some of the parents were gearing up to a vote of no confidence in this teacher.

All made worse by the teacher responding ineptly showing her inexperience at handling parents... being confrontational, refusing to back down on things that she really shouldn't have chosen to make a stand about, being patently untrue and embarrassing to watch unfold (like the time when she decided to be firm and immovable that there was no one of x name in her class when grandparents did the pick up, and of course everyone watching was aware that x was been in that class for the last 3yrs and was in fact clearly there! Utter cringe my awful moment!), etc etc.

So basically, situation going nuclear fast argh!

So, I was completely shocked to get a sensible, well thought out response to my email, explaining her rationale at some points, and openly taking on my thoughts at others. Admitted she'd got the particular thing X wrong, and why, and how she was moving on from it... and according to other parents who are more tapped into this stuff than me, the teacher has responded in that same way to all the other complaints too, written and also verbal, meeting parents etc.

Basically, I'm really impressed.

Takes a big person to come back from this. And tbh, I wasn't expecting it!

So really, I wanted to share it on here and do a little private cheer for her :)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
user789653241 · 07/10/2017 08:00

Maybe OP may have realised how this teacher must have felt like, if she reads all these responses.....
And hope she comes back and be graceful enough to comment like the teacher did.

Anasnake · 07/10/2017 08:01

What a bunch of arse holes - do you really have nothing better to do than bully a new teacher ??

Alittlepotofrosie · 07/10/2017 08:02

Back in the olden days when i were a lass, parents used to come in for parents evening and that was it.

MyCatMyRules · 07/10/2017 08:05

A classic example of why teachers are leaving the profession in droves. You and the other parents are acting like a bunch of playground bullies, OP. Ds1 is a primary school teacher and sadly I'm no longer shocked by his tales of parent behaviour.

AppleTrayBake · 07/10/2017 08:06

Where is the management at this school? How on earth are they allowing an NQT to be treated in this way?

OP I suggest you get a hobby and leave the poor teacher alone.

Will you only be happy when the teacher jacks it all in at Christmas and your little poppet is being taught by a string of supply teachers? You don't recruit NQT's from broad, when you have a queue of teachers chomping at the bit to teach at your school Smile

Pengggwn · 07/10/2017 08:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AppleTrayBake · 07/10/2017 08:07

from abroad* that should read

mmgirish · 07/10/2017 08:08

This thread reminds me of why I don't teach in the UK anymore.

AppleTrayBake · 07/10/2017 08:11

Gosh there's nothing wrong with recruiting teachers from other countries, that came out wrong Blush

I read the OP as teacher came to UK to take the job, e.g video interview over Skype. We've had to do this before because of the recruitment crisis in our area.

Original poster
WellThisIsShit · 07/10/2017 08:12

Oh dear, I clearly should have said clearer:

I was emailing about other topics that she'd asked me to keep in touch about i.e. Not whining or complaining topics! Emailing is a way that the school encourage, and I'm disabled so don't make the school run often so is the only way I can keep on contact with the school. I just mentioned DS's problems with the homework in passing, not realising this was such a massive issue brewing in the playground!

And yes, I agree it was / is a nightmare for her, hence me wanting to say, bloody hell, she dealt with it amazingly!!! I'm on the teachers side here...

OP posts:
PaperdollCartoon · 07/10/2017 08:12

Poor teacher! You all sound horrid. She's also not beholden to you for her 'mistakes', her manager is the head, not the parents. I bet all the kids are entitled nightmares as well if their parents are anything to go by.

Expemsiveuniform · 07/10/2017 08:14

You are not on the teachers side. You are dripping with faux concern and no way do you just mention in passing a big issue that has the parents up for a no confidence vote. Faux concern shines right through you.

NotAgainYoda · 07/10/2017 08:16

Why were you 'shocked'? It sounds like you'd bought into the 'she's just crap' mentality

I think there are some parents who think themselves intellectually superior to teachers

Nofunkingworriesmate · 07/10/2017 08:17

Ok op let me tell you how YOU need to correct your behaviour

Leave all teachers alone to do their job
Only communicate with a teacher if your child is v upset or you need to convey medical info ( I.e he now has asthma here is his pump)
Thanks them with wine /flowers at least twice a year
Only get them sacked if they hurt or otherwise abuse YOUR child
Keep your nose out of other people's gripes Between teacher and kids

I hope you are a troll, I really do, you do realise we are facing the worst teacher shortage ( and school cuts) in history ?? and soon you will be responsible for education your own child as they will be in groups of 60 being looked after by the cheapest perspn available

stonecircle · 07/10/2017 08:17

You don't sound on the teacher's side. Why do you feel the need to mention that she's new to the UK? How is that relevant? My dcs had NQTs from Australia when they were in primary - all fab teachers.

MaisyPops · 07/10/2017 08:18

If you were really on her side, you wouldn't be involved in what's going on in thr playground and wpuld be emailing/calling the head to inform them that there is a vicious and nasty group of bullies in the playground intent on targeting a member of his staff.

SpiderWilly · 07/10/2017 08:18

You haven't been at the school gates to actually witness any of this yet you're posting on a forum gloating? You sound like a gossip who has joined in from the sidelines. This is commonly known as playground jungle drums.

MrsPworkingmummy · 07/10/2017 08:18

As a teacher, I completely condem this type of behaviour and agree with every comment posted so far.

What a bunch of rough, drama-loving, idiots you are!! I feel so sorry for your children. Take your Jeremy Kyle mentality away from the school yard and back to your own streets.

My guess is that the school is in a deprived area, there is a high staff turnover due to the school being unable to hit unrealistic targets (no suprise if the children have parents like that - don't sound supportive at all. Teacher time is probably spent controlling the behaviours the children have learned from their parents, rather than teaching them what the subjunctive mood is). I don't know why, as a parent, you feel you have the right to bully and undermine a member of staff who, given she sent you a personal response, (not usual school policy. In fact, in my school, we are not allowed to email parents directly) sounds like she's trying her best in an utterly horrid school. No the wonder kids are the way they are!!!!

TheFallenMadonna · 07/10/2017 08:21

You need to share it in the playground and do a bloody enormous great public cheered for her Hmm

WhatwouldOliviaPopedo · 07/10/2017 08:23

God, these parents sound horrendous and if I was that teacher I'd be looking for a new job at a school where parents actually support the staff and want them to do well.
She made a mistake, which she owned up to, and now everyone's calling for a vote of no confidence?? She refused to release a child in the playground until she was sure who was collecting her? That's what she's meant to do to safeguard the kids - I can just imagine the furore if she let any Tom, Dick or Harry grab them at the end of the day without checking.
If I had parents screaming in my face I'd probably bark back too. My OH is a primary teacher and he will stand up for himself if a parent shouts at him because at the end of the day teachers are NOT the parents' employees, they're the school's, and no one should be abused in their workplace.
Frankly you don't sound at all pleased for her, OP - you're clearly revelling in the drama and stoking the gossip and that makes you as bad as the other parents.

2014newme · 07/10/2017 08:26

Urgent bullying playground gossip. These parents think they run the place, vote if no confidence indeed it sounds like they are bloody lucky they gave a teacher at all.
You come out if this badly op. Stop constantly emailing school. Be the voice of reason to tge other parents. Tge teacher should not have had to send a letter. Poor woman can you imagine the stress she is under.
Shane on you and the other parents op

MardyMatilda · 07/10/2017 08:27

You said she explained to you about another mistake she made - she didn't need to do that and she shouldn't have. She's not answerable to you.
You also said she should have known a child as he's been there for 3 years but she's only just started?
Make your mind up which one is true.

PerfectlyPooPoo · 07/10/2017 08:27

Another side of this is dd1 had 5 teachers last year (y1) and they promised that they'd get a stable good teacher this year.

She has a NQT who while may be a good teacher has no clue how to speak to the parents and we are generally a nice bunch. It's just little things like rolling her eyes and huffing if the answer isn't what she wants to hear.

I only do school run twice a week so I don't really let it bother me but I not impressed when anyone rolls their eyes at me and have really had to bite my tongue not to react to it.

MardyMatilda · 07/10/2017 08:28

Quite.
The teachers aren't our employees.
If you're so unhappy, move school.

CoffeeBreakIn5 · 07/10/2017 08:29

You're not fooling anyone here OP, you heard about the issue in the playground that you missed so you decided to get involved by sending an email. But if course the email wasn't about that topic, you just mentioned it 'in passing'. Of course you did.

FFS, you and the rest of the parent mob are utterly disgusting, talk about not giving her a chance. Your little congratulations sounds patronising - so what if she's inexperienced, that doesn't go hand in hand with being under qualified! You lot seem to presume it does so have interfered because you think you know best.

This is why teachers are leaving the profession. Parents assume that it's their right to get involved and tell (bully) the teacher so that they do things their way. In no other profession do you get interference like this. You seem to think that the parents being more involved than at most places is ok! It's not!

Leave the teacher alone to do her job, the attitude of the parents rubs off on the kids and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Swipe left for the next trending thread