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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

How to avoid horrendous year 2 teacher?

40 replies

fircone · 27/02/2009 12:13

I have noticed that one of dd's potential year 2 teachers is AWFUL and I couldn't bear her to be 'taught' by this individual.

Ds has gone through the school and had a variety of teachers, some brilliant, some average, but certainly nobody that has made me shudder. I have never made any waves at the school and being quite solitary (friendless!) I don't indulge in playground gossip.

I volunteered to buy some books for the school and had to meet this year 2 teacher. She was inarticulate, unintelligent, uninspiring... I mentioned a few authors and she glared at me blankly. She started every sentence with 'basically' and droned on about 'learning objectives' and whether books would be 'received positively'.

I am thinking I must start plotting to improve dd's chances of avoiding this teacher next year (there are three classes per year). I know it's an absolute no-no to request certain teachers, but are there any seeds I could sow at parents' evening?

Thanks for useful suggestions!

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Songbird · 27/02/2009 12:34

Unless you were talking about Enid Blyton and JK Rowling, I wouldn't be that concerned about her not knowing every author of childrens books! OK, so she didn't inspire you, someone who clearly has quite an extensive knowledge of books and their authors, but how on earth can you know that she would inspire a Year 2 class. I think what you're suggesting could be very damaging to this woman and her career and you might need to keep your nose out. If she is dd's teacher you can monitor how things go, and make complaints if you have any serious worries about the standard of teaching. But just taking agin her and trying to prevent her teaching your dd is not on IMO. Sorry!

londonone · 27/02/2009 12:37

How do you know this person will be teaching year 2 next year?

Also what are you basing your opinion on, one conversation?

seeker · 27/02/2009 12:41

Horrendous and awful - based on one conversation?

And it doesn't matter what she's like with frown ups - it's what she's like with 6 year olds that's important.

Do some research and don't judge on insufficient evidence.

seeker · 27/02/2009 12:42

Grown ups, obviously, although I have met some frown ups in my time!

Original poster

fircone · 27/02/2009 12:42

I wasn't thinking of making any complaint about the teacher - I would never do that. But all the same I care somewhat less about this woman's career progression than I do about dd being taught by a lumpen drone.

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Songbird · 27/02/2009 12:47

Frown ups I like that!

Fircone - I guess this is why you're asking for advice, but what on earth are you going to do in your 'plotting'? Without saying @I don't want dd to have that teacher' how on earth are you going to get your way on this.

londonone · 27/02/2009 12:48

Well I guess you better home educate then.

Original poster

fircone · 27/02/2009 12:48

It was one conversation, I admit, but I can't help it - she did not give a good account of herself.

She asked me how would I know what books were suitable for children, since I was not a teacher? !! I made no reply.

OP posts:

smugmumofboys · 27/02/2009 12:49

Don't judge her too harshly. A couple of DS1's teachers have not been great at conversing with parents but DS1 has absolutely loved them.

As a secondary teacher, I can see how some teachers are extremely cautious about what they say to parents and may consequently come across as overly 'neutral'.

AMumInScotland · 27/02/2009 12:49

Well, even if she is a lumpen drone (which I think is unfair on the basis of a single meeting) do you believe being taught by her is going to seriously ruin your child's education? I had a range of teachers throughout school - some lovely, some very snippy, some fun, some dull. I still came out with a good education and a love of learning.

MaryAnnSingleton · 27/02/2009 12:53

why don't you volunteer to help in her class to get a more rounded view of her teaching/how she relates to the class etc ?

CanterburySnails · 27/02/2009 12:56

I do empathise fircone. My DS had a teacher like that a couple of years ago. She had a reputation for being bad with parents, which I was prepared to ignore, but I hoped she was good with the children. I helped in the class one morning a week for a whole year, and saw that she was unfortunately not good with the children, parents or even other members of staff. She was basically waiting out till retirement.
However, DS did ok in her class. She didn't inspire him but he was fine. It made him really appreciate his Year 3 teacher too!
I am not sure there is anything you can do, but I would say, don't worry too much. One good thing about teachers who are a bit rubbish is that you feel fine when you need to talk to them, as you aren't worried that you are going to upset them in any way, which you tend to worry about with good teachers...

seeker · 27/02/2009 13:12

And you think it's OK to classify someone as a lumpen drone based on one conversation? Ye Gods and Little Fishes!!!!!!!!

Amey · 27/02/2009 13:12

This is a good illustration of the value of 'playground gossip' and why its a good idea to make some effort to mix with the other parents in the playground.

You could find out what the general opinion of this teacher is. And you might discover how to go about moving classes.

My advice is to 'indulge in a bit of playground gossip' and make friends with your ds's friends parents (good enough for him, good enough for you!!)

Best of luck

Original poster

fircone · 27/02/2009 13:25

The point about playground gossip is that I wouldn't take notice of people slagging off a teacher, and I certainly would never do this myself to other parents - that's why I'm posting here!

But I can't see why I'm in such bad odour here for saying that my immediate impression of a teacher was very disappointing. Clearly Miss Reads or Miss Doves no longer exist, but I had hoped for better than this for dd, or her classmates.

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Smee · 27/02/2009 13:36

fircone, they do have a fair point imo, though so do you in that first impressions are sometimes horribly correct. I agree with Amey though, playground gossip can be useful. You don't have to indulge in being negative or bitchy, but you can learn lots from it. + if your daughter does end up with that teacher, rest assured as it won't just be you who's worried and at least if you know the other parents you can all act together if need be.

AMumInScotland · 27/02/2009 13:37

I think the negative response is because you didn't just say your immediate impression was disappointing, but you then use words like "awful" and "horrendous" and "plotting", which seem to be a masisve over-reaction.

seeker · 27/02/2009 13:47

"AWFUL - couldn't bear dd to be taught be her" "Inatriculate, unintelligent uninspiring" "Horrendous" "Lumpen drone"

Not QUITE the same as "My immediate impression was very disappointing"!

Sparks · 27/02/2009 13:57

Getting back to the original question, in my daughter's school AFAIK no child has ever moved classes at all. Once a child is in a particular class he/she stays in that class. So no 'seeds to sow at parents evening' or anywhere else.

Nabster · 27/02/2009 14:01

My son has had a teacher and there is a real chance my other son will have her in September and tbh I am not feeling happy about it. Until I get the class lists there isn't anything I can do and if he is with her, there probably still isn't anything I can do.

Original poster

fircone · 27/02/2009 14:09

I know, Sparks. I've heard parents say, "I want Miss X/Mrs Y/Mr Z" to each other, and the school makes it known that no requests/movements are accepted. But it's never concerned me before - all the dcs' teachers have been fine. It's just this particular one who seems so... not what one would hope for, or even settle for.

I guess I'll just have to hope that out of three classes dd gets one of the other two teachers.

Teacher X will go far, though. She was full of praise for the Head, the National Curriculum, but also "the new learning pathways explored in the revised National Curriculum", Jim Rose, the county council... She knows which side her bread is buttered on.

OP posts:

TooFoggy · 27/02/2009 14:42

It might be worth waiting to see, he may not be in her class anyway. Or you could have a word with the head and request one of the other teachers, saying you feel your son would really flourish is his or her class. Good luck!

TooFoggy · 27/02/2009 14:43

Or if the school are very very strick on not letting people have the teacher you request then you must request her right away! Loudly and in a very obnoxious way!

cory · 27/02/2009 15:17

I am sure if you caught me at the wrong moment, I might well come across as a lumpen drone. And I'm truly inspiring, really
It's how you come across on a regular basis that matters. And how you connect to that particular child. The proof of the pudding and all that...

Reallytired · 27/02/2009 16:36

Unfortunately I think its invitable that your child will have a mixture of gifted teachers, average teachers and below average teachers.

My son's reception teacher was truely amazing. He very briefly had one dire teacher for a term in year 1, followed by a good teacher (but not as good as the reception teacher) for the rest of year 1. His present teacher is nice, she works hard and I am sure she is good, but my son loathes her for some unknown reason.

However whatever the teacher is like, the parents make a huge difference. There is loads you can do at home to support your child's learning.

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