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Do teachers still write the 'naughty' children's names on the board?

200 replies

Reastie · 28/10/2022 20:36

I remember this happening when I was at school. there would be a list on the board with the names of children when they were disruptive like a 'naughty list'. I thought this had finished years ago. I'm looking at potential primary schools for DS and one of the schools I had thought otherwise looked good use this as a first defence sanction. They don't call it a naughty list, it's called something like 'name on the mountain' where I presume there's some kind of mountain on the wall where they add children's names as they might disrupt the class.

I'm sure I remember in my teacher training that this had been got rid of as the children with their names on there could be doing it for attention and would like the attention of having their name on the wall, even if it was for something negative they have done. I've never seen it done myself my any colleagues. Is this a red flag or am I overthinking?

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LindseyHoyleSpeaks · 28/10/2022 20:39

A teacher at ours did. Multiple parents complained. Very outdated!

Reastie · 28/10/2022 20:39

They also have awards for attendance, which I hate. Congratulations little Johnny for either being lucky enough not to get ill or for coming into school when you were ill and spreading it around to everyone else. Sorry Jemima, you don't get an attendance award because you were ill and weren't well enough to make it to school.

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bloodyeverlastinghell · 28/10/2022 20:40

Not seen that done recently. I did see a picture with all childrens names velcroed on. Good children would go to rainbow section at the front. Naughty kids in the stormy bit at the back. Teachers don’t say naughty anymore now I’m sure.

EVHead · 28/10/2022 20:41

Definitely not!

Until about five years ago there would often be a wall display which the kids had to aim to “climb” by the end of the day/week (make 10, etc.) and those who succeeded would have “golden time” at the end of the week. Very frowned upon now.

Anotherbloodyusername2 · 28/10/2022 20:53

Lots of the schools (and some nurseries) round here have something similar to the rainbow/storm on the wall mentioned above. I think it's horrible.

scrivette · 28/10/2022 20:57

Reception have the rainbow/cloud/sunshine/storm, I don't really agree with it. I would be happy for the rainbow (or similar) for children to aim to be there for something they have done that has been very good though.

immigrant002 · 28/10/2022 21:02

My son is in reception in an "outstanding" school he told there is a good and a bad list ! I could not believe it to br honest

Chocoholic900 · 28/10/2022 21:11

Still seems to be very typical to have a behaviour chart of some kind in Reception, a lot use sun / cloud type pictures and move the child throughout the day. All the other children can then see where each child is placed and thus often creating one child who is labelled the 'naughty' child because they are always on the storm cloud or what have you.
It's a terrible outdated idea that doesn't help behaviour in the sightless and I've no idea why schools still feel the need to use them.
Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to pick a local school that doesn't use that system as they all do round here.

Realityloom · 28/10/2022 21:16

My primary school had a naughty list and tbh it was a fab school. The majority of the kids were well behaved anyway.

ChicCroissant · 28/10/2022 21:17

Yes, the 'weather' type chart was in use at DD's infant/primary school too. Everyone starts each day in the middle together, but may move about as the day goes on.

Dogtooth · 28/10/2022 21:21

DD was in reception last year and they had a journey thing where you progressed on the wall if you met behavioural expectations.

I don't love the idea but kids know who messes about anyway. Teachers have to get 30 four to five year olds to behave and do activities together. They don't have many tools to do this, a chart thing might just make kids think twice before playing up.

mrsmarmalade12 · 28/10/2022 21:29

Traffic light system here

golddustwomen · 28/10/2022 21:45

Traffic light system in our school too.

Disneyblueeyes · 28/10/2022 21:54

I write a child's name on the board if they've had a verbal reminder, a verbal warning and have had to be spoken to again. This basically means they lose some of their break time to discuss their behaviour.
It's more habit to be honest. I've only had to do it 3 or 4 times this term so far so children certainly aren't doing it for attention.

Howeverdoyouneedme · 28/10/2022 21:54

Out of interest, what system do people think should exist in reception?

Disneyblueeyes · 28/10/2022 21:54

golddustwomen · 28/10/2022 21:45

Traffic light system in our school too.

We've used this for really difficult classes in the past.

Largethighsbadeyes · 28/10/2022 21:55

Sorry to break it to you but they do this in secondary schools too. Part of the behavior system.

It's a C1 (c standing for consequences)

MichonnesBBF · 28/10/2022 21:55

The ones described above are not naughty lists though...
They are visual aids to support all behaviour, be it fantastic or not so:-try again, well done, excellent, wow...
Everyone starts on well done, (rainbow/Amber) depending on how your school do it.
Words are not always enough especially with younger ones, they need to see and be encouraged to make the right choices for them.

All children will at one time need to be reminded and have the chance to try again..

Curta · 28/10/2022 21:56

Nothing has ever 'been got rid of'. Some teachers will still choose to use it in some cases.

BeanieTeen · 28/10/2022 21:59

I couldn’t get my knickers in a twist over this. I prefer my child to go to a school with a good handle on behaviour any day over one where teachers clutch their pearls over writing a child’s name on the board. No wonder behaviour in schools is going down the pan.

twinmum2022 · 28/10/2022 21:59

I'd say schools have enough to contend with at the moment. This probably isn't high on the agenda - each teacher will have their own methods but trust that every school has some form of "naughty list".

Nellodee · 28/10/2022 21:59

It’s important that there is a clear behaviour policy, consistently applied. What that policy is, is less important.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 28/10/2022 22:01

In DS's primary your name starts each day on green. If you mess around and keep chatting, your name is moved to blue. If you are cheeky or repeatedly ignore instructions, you go on yellow. If you punch your friend or break school property deliberately, you go on red and get sent to "Caroline". I am not sure who Caroline is. Rumour has it that if you set the building fire, you go on black and have to speak to the headmaster.

If you do something particularly good you go on silver, and about once a term (coincidentally) each child gets put on gold. Sometimes they have to scrape the barrel a bit to achieve that.

Annabananna1 · 28/10/2022 22:03

Weather board here.
I don't think it's a bad idea tbh.
Kids should recognise how their behaviour is.

My name was forever on the naughty list on the white board at school. It was called the 'checking in' list, can't remember why or what happened if you were on it.

ChattyPat · 28/10/2022 22:03

There was no naughty list when I was at school. Just had to stand on your chair with one hand on your head and the other over your mouth. I can't actually believe what some of these whack-job teachers got away with in the 70's/80's.

So I do think a rainbow/storm sounds better but maybe my baseline is quite low.

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