Is the following normal or reasonable teaching practice?

[popperdoodles]

I and many parents in my sons's class (Year 4) have issues with the teacher. We want to all get together and make a formal written complaint to the head but before I get too carried away I wanted to check what others may think of things in case we are all just being a bit precious.

She is generaly grumpy and miserable and gives the impression that she doesn't want to be there which really doesn't help. One morning she shouted at them in the playground before school " I've had enough of you lot already and we haven't even got into school yet!" This was in front of all the parents, many of whom had to bite their tongue. All the children were doing was chatting a little as they lined up. They were all lined up in the military straight line she insists on but with a little bit of quiet chatting. Makes me wonder how she speaks to them in the classroom.

Ok, if a child in the class misbehaves it seems the whole class is punished e.g misses play time or has to stand with their hands on their heads for 5 mins. I really feel this is wrong why is a whole class punished for the bad behaviour of one or two children?

The standing with their hands on their head thing. I don't like it. Seems a bit 1950s to me. I am told they have to all stand like that in silence for 5 mins and if someone talks they have to stand longer. Is this not physical punishment? I can remember having such punsihments at school as a child but then the teachers were also allowed to smack us. I thought we had moved on from such things?

This teacher has only been back from maternity since christmas and since then the level of homework as diminished to practicaly nothing where as previously they had at least 2 or 3 pieces to do a week plus spellings and reading.

Praise seems very thin on the ground. My son said to me that no matter how hard he tries she never says well done makes me very sad.

So what do you think? Are we all being pita parents and are these acceptable teaching practices or is she a terrible teacher and we should all complain ASAP?

Thanks

I don't think talking to head is necessarily cowardly. In a way it protects your relationship with her, as a third party can mediate between you, whereas to approach her direct could well put her on the defensive. And of course the head has the both the reputation of school (and staff) and the welfare of the chn at heart. A good head will be sensitive to the possibility of pnd or whatever, and in a position to offer teacher support, which, after all is what she most needs. (Agree her apprach is V. inappropriate)

Littlefish, I too did not know all the things re hmwk until the inset! Ironically, a lot of other teachers did not as well. In saying that, I do not know of anyone who would have the "guts" to go against policy and not send it home if everyone else was!

Just a quick update....

Since my last post this teacher has not been in school. She has been off sick. I have spoken to the head and she has been diagnosed with PND. They don't know when she will be coming back. I am pleased she is getting some help but feel sad that my son is set for a term of one supply teacher after another . So far he seems alot happier than when she was in school so that's good. Worried how the class will progress with different teachers covering all the time but i have to trust that it is all being dealt with.

Blimey .... you were right - there was something 'up'? Mothers intuition Glad she is getting help. Hope all goes well with your ds. My ds1 had similar - maternity leave and actually had 3 different supply teachers in one week , but the class coped remarkably well.

Poor teacher. Hopefully some time away will help. I do think that if there is a problem the teacher should be approached in the first instance. Idle gossip on the playground and 'gang mentality' is not helpful for anybody. However, I do agree that hands on heads is not a correct punishment in today's schools and as a parent I would have been very concerned about that.

Thanks for the update popperdoodles?
Why can't the school arrange consistent supply to cover this teacher?
It's not rocket science, surely?

How many teachers has he had since you posted?

He luckily has had one of the special needs teachers covering since half term but yesterday and today they have had supply as the other teacher had to get back to her other teaching commitments. Head explained to me that poorly teacher is being signed off a week at a time at the moment which is making it difficult for them to plan. I really hope they sort out someone who the children have had before and know and who can stay as long as needed. Otherwise one problem will have just been replaced by another!

I would

• Request to see the school's behaviour policy where they should detail all reward/punishment procedures. You can then check what she is doing with what the school advocates.

• I would ask to see a copy of the schools' homework policy. This should detail year by year the school's expectations and also will show progression.

I would keep a diary of the comments your child makes for 2 weeks. I wouldn't tell him you're doing this just ask how his day went etc.

You then have evidence on which to base any complaint as she sounds like she would be going against any normal schools policies certainly for discipline. By having evidence (and quoting the schools' documentation at them) you will appear more focused and serious.

sorry!!! Didn't see the update (haven't had time to read)

Isn't it wrong for the the head to have disclosed the teacher's diagnosis? Isn't that confidential information?

I hope the school sort out cover for your ds's class. Something similar happened to my dd's class a couple of years ago and they got a supply teacher who stayed till the end of the year. It's not impossible.

Yes Head should not have disclosed personal information about the teacher. He could have said her illness was reviewed weekly hence the need for supply teachers and when the situation solidifies more he would then make decisions and let the parents know.

I have to admit I was a bit surprised that head told me about the PND. I haven't repeated it to anyone but a few of us had wondered if this was what the problem was. She has been off for 4 weeks now so people are going to start to ask what's wrong. From her point of view I would be very upset if parents had been told this without permission.

Golly. Poor woman and poor children, too.

Head was wrong to give you the diagnosis - is lucky that you are a sensible person and won't go gossiping about it.

Hope the supply cover gets sorted out.

Hi
I have to say that I hate the mentality of punishing the entire class for something that only one person or a few have done.
Why do taechers do this?
Hope the new supply teachers are ok.