Shouting....

[Stayinganonymous]

While in school today I witnessed the Head Teacher take a child into his Office and scream at him for hitting a teacher, I nearly jumped out of my skin and although the boy had clearly been naughty, the level of violence in the male Head Teacher's voice really disturbed me.

A couple of minutes later he shouted violently again, this time as a result of the boy hitting him.

This boy has real anger management issues and the school seem to really struggle to cope with his behaviour but the way he was spoken to really disturbed me.

Is this a normal way to deal with unacceptable behaviour in a school?

Normal way for dealing with hitting a teacher would be exclusion, either permanently or for a few days. This is assuming that the child is at least in junior school ( so 6yrs+), not a 4yo. Certainly the only time a child was physically violent to the head at dd's junior school he was permanently excluded and this was a child with quite serious problems.

But shouting is never a good idea. Though perhaps excusable if someone is hitting you, don't you think?

Perhaps it was just the last straw with this boy.

If the child is a 4yo, I would expect school to make less of a fuss.

Doesn't sound like it's working!

Agree with cornsilk.
You don't know how long it's been going on for- how old was he?
I wouldn't be a teacher for all the Sancerre in Waitrose.

He's in Yr3, it's been going on since Reception.

Exclusion is NOT the only way of dealing with a child hitting a teacher - and I definately think it is NEVER acceptable for a staff member to shout at a child.

The school will have a behaviour policy which would tell you what the school are meant to do - sometimes these docs are published on their website.

But I would be very concerned. Staff need to care for ALL kids - regardless of their special needs or behaviour problems.

"A couple of minutes later he shouted violently again, this time as a result of the boy hitting him."

maybe the head teacher was shouting out in pain. I think shouting can sometimes be effective in getting the seriousness of the issue over.

"I think shouting can sometimes be effective in getting the seriousness of the issue over."

I think if that was the case the child would have listened and stopped after the first time he'd been shouted at.

yes it doesn't work for all children, but it does for some. That's why it has been used for centuries, even if it is now frowned upon.

I would be concerned. Raising your voice as a teacher is one thing, but you say 'screaming' and 'level of violence' in his voice. Sounds like the head lost control, and that really rings alarm bells for me.