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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

My very self conscious 7 year old is getting himself upset because he is getting into trouble for not answering the register like a pirate!

39 replies

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:27

His class are learning about pirates atm & DS (who is a very self conscious child) is getting really upset because his teacher wants them to answer the register with some pirate phrase & DS just can't bring himself to do it.
He wouldn't even tell me what the phrase was because he was too embarrassed, but he says he is getting threatened with having his name put on the board for not taking part.
I told him that so long as he answers the register it doesn't matter if he can't bring himself to do it like a pirate, but he says his teacher is getting very cross with him for not answering like a pirate.
He finds this kind of thing almost physically impossible (he is being assessed next week to see if he has extra special needs) & I think it's unfair he is being pushed into doing this.
I was an anxious child & know how impossible silly little things like this can feel.
I want to have a word with his teacher, but do you think I'm being over protective here?

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SherlockLGJ · 23/04/2007 20:28

Have a word, she sounds as though she is indulging herself. TBH

Hulababy · 23/04/2007 20:28

I think you need to go in and speak to the teacher, and explain. Sounds like the teacher is being pretty unfair in her approach with this.

Marina · 23/04/2007 20:28

No I don't think you are being unreasonable.
Is the teacher aware of the situation at home? Could you bear to tell him/her if not?
Your poor ds
Surely this is supposed to be a fun thing to do, not a compulsory source of terror?

nickytwotimes · 23/04/2007 20:29

have a word with that teacher.
ffs, she needs to get over herself - what'll it be next? barking like a dog?!

TinyGang · 23/04/2007 20:31

I sometimes wonder how some people make it into teaching. What a ridiculous and unkind way to treat a child.

rabbleraiser · 23/04/2007 20:32

Agree with all posts. She sounds like a pre-menstrual control freak. Your son should not have to surrender his dignity in this way ... and seven's a very crucial age developmentally, so if he doesn't want to do these things, he really shouldn't.

Strewth, she sounds insensitive.

colditz · 23/04/2007 20:33

FFS How many more children are going to be punished for not wanting to twat about? Some of these primary teachers need a smack!

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:33

Yes his teacher is aware of the situation at home, I was only talking to her today & asking her to keep an eye on DS because of next Fridays move. She is also aware that DS is a very anxious child at the best of times.
His teacher has been off until quite recently with stress, so I don't know if she is maybe not on top form herself still, but this is really upsetting DS.

OP posts:

vimfuego · 23/04/2007 20:33

Arr.. that teacher be a scurvy knave! A keelhaulin' be what she needs.

ledodgy · 23/04/2007 20:35

Write her a letter tongue in cheek suggesting that if she tries to make him speak like a pirate again you'll 'shiver her timbers' and make her walk the plank. Instead of yours sincerely sign out ahoy my heartie! She'll soon get the message.

Blu · 23/04/2007 20:37

No, I absolutely do not think you are being over-protective, and given that, presumably, his teacher knows that he is being assessed, and that he struggles with things like this, she should have a lot more sensitivity.

Could the SENCO speak to her, too?

Definitely speak to her - poor little mite!

And fancy making something which is hardly the educational be-all and end-all and menat to be fun into such a big deal! What a right old Cap'n Bligh!

Hillls · 23/04/2007 20:37

I too think you too need to speak to the teacher, Its sounds so silly of the teacher, hardly education is it to answer with a pirate phrase not going to stop him learning, but her attitude might.

ledodgy · 23/04/2007 20:38

Oh yes also state in the letter that if she doe sit again you'll arrange a mutany!

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:41

That might just do the trick!

She told me today that she had forced him into some roleplay today, which he didn't like! He just hates all things like that & he said that he just can't answer the register like a pirate.
I told him it didn't matter if he didn't want to answer in this way, so long as he answered in some way, but he said that he got into trouble for just saying "Here" & got threatened with his name on the board.
He only told me about this just before his bedtime & is getting himself quite worked up by it.

OP posts:

cece · 23/04/2007 20:43

will he not even say ay ay captain?

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:43

Yes I have told his teacher that he is being assessed next Wednesday & she is aware he has difficulties.

OP posts:

TinyGang · 23/04/2007 20:44

How stupid she's going to look putting his name on the board for that. Like an overgrown kid sulking cos someone won't play her game. She's bonkers.

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:45

No he won't cece (I have a feeling that is what he's meant to answer) he finds that kind of thing almost physically impossible. I even struggle to get him to dress up on school dress up days. He is terribly self conscious.

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cece · 23/04/2007 20:49

I must admit I taught pirates once and we had a dressing up day and I did the register like that. But would like to add I wouldn't have minded if anyone didn't join in, and certainly would be horrified to know a pupil had got themselves so upset by what is after all a bit of fun.

Are you sure she is being so strict about this? It does seem a bit OOT to tell him off and put his name on the board for something so unimportant!

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:50

Maybe his teacher is a bit harsher on the children atm because of her recent stress (she was off for around 4 weeks), but DS doesn't need more upset right now & I don't want him getting himself all knotted up about something as silly as this.

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FrannyandZooey · 23/04/2007 20:51

you have got to be kidding us

the poor child!

I kind of hope it turns out he is getting the wrong end of the stick. If not (you seem pretty sure) then PLEASE go and speak to her.

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:53

Think I need to have a word tomorrow & find out exactually what is going on. She is normally a lovely teacher, but like I say, she has only recently returned to work following time off with stress, so this may make a difference to her tolerance levels.

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wheresthehamster · 23/04/2007 20:54

Oooh, this is bringing back horrible memories of my own schooldays.

I got detention at secondary school for not doing a silly voice for a part in a play in an English lesson. I was the same as your DS, it was physically impossible for me to do it. I really feel for him but hopefully the pirate thing won't go on much longer.

I think you should say something but let her explain the "punishment" bit, you never know he might have misunderstood and she was jesting e.g. he would have to walk the plank or something. Not ideal if she knows his anxieties I know but possibly an explanation.

Good luck!

Original poster

pinkchampagne · 23/04/2007 20:57

I won't go in all angry, not at all, I will just explain that DS is getting upset about this & that these kinds of things are very hard for him to do. I will then see what she says about it.

OP posts:

Blu · 23/04/2007 20:59

That sounds a very good approach, PinkChampagne.

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