New recruit teacher is inadequate

[BoboChic]

This, basically. DD in Y7 started secondary school 2 weeks ago. One - and only one - of her teachers is totally inadequate. He is a new recruit. Parents and pupils have noticed pretty quickly that he doesn't have the first inkling of the subject he is supposed to be teaching. One approach has already been made to the school to alert them. What are the best words to use to describe this situation? Inadequate? Lacking subject knowledge?

Re the black/white/green analogy. I wonder does this refer to academic terms, rather than just words? I spell some words in my subject area differently to another teacher, this is due to how we were trained and the difficulties of translating these words into English. Neither of us are "wrong".

If two or more parents happen to have the same concerns and raise that with the school, does that automatically make them a lynch mob? Why?

Because Jeeves a group of parents acting in concert, a couple of weeks into year 7, declaring a teacher inadequate and a moron, sounds like a lynch-mob to me!

Where does it say the group as a whole has declared the teacher inadequate and a moron? And, if he is inadequate, why should they not say so? I don't know about you, but if my child had a teacher who was consistently doing the equivalent of an English teacher writing "blak" and "grean" and marking pupils down for giving the correct answers, I might think he was a tad inadequate.

All this talk of lynch mobs rather ignores the fact that OP is specifically asking for help in phrasing her concerns in a manner that is as little likely to hurt egos as possible; and that she has pointed out that she has talked to others because "no-one wants to make an unfounded complaint or raise a false issue."

I really don't understand this insistence that, if parents have concerns, it is somehow bad form to talk to each other about it. Yes, sometimes the playground mafia can be a menace and can whip each other up into a frenzy. However, the other side of the coin can be perfectly reasonable and worried parents who don't want to make unfair accusations and who therefore check with others whether they have seen similar cause for concern. There is simply no reason to assume automatically that any parent who shares such concerns with others must be a bully and setting up a lynch mob.

My rule of thumb is usually to run past concerns with other parents, especially those who have older DC who have been through the school as they can often allay concerns or tell you that you need to keep an eye...

And other parents have asked me my opinions too.

As MelanieCheeks pointed out, in what language do you need the jargon? Because any jargon or euphemisms in English might be difficult to translate if you are speaking to the head in French, and generally jargon is used between people working in a specific field and not immediately understandable by the general public.

If it's blak for black and grean for green and other equally poor examples, then two weeks is certainly enough to be saying something.

I can't see anything other than the evidence and a supporting letter (like the example on here given this morning) is necessary. No jargon. No euphemisms. Blindingly obvious needs no elaboration or drama. Nor does it, particularly, need more time.

Not read other replies. I think the phrase you are looking for us 'have serious concerns about this teacher' and ask to discuss it.

Ignore people doubting your judgement. I will always remember the story of my friend's sister theory years ago taught 'French' for a term until in assembly they demonstrated their knowledge in French for it to become immediately apparent they'd been taught gibberish. Haha. Maybe an urban myth...

If you haven't read the other replies, how do you know there were people doubting her judgement?

Meeting went very - extremely - well . I had asked for a short meeting with the deputy head but when I arrived I was told my meeting was to be with the head. So it was in French, not English. We talked for over an hour, we both learned a lot and the head asked me to take the matter up with the school's MD (this is a group of 5 schools). Which I shall.

Oh come on, you got to give us more details than that! What did he say? Make any suggestions?

IMO you've been fobbed off a little here, "speak to the M.D" who manages 5 schools and is probably extremely busy isn't a great response.

at 'we both learned a lot' and the fobbing off.

Was the teacher appointed over the head of the Head by the MD or something? I'm sure things are different in different systems, but a Head sending a parent however articulate and influential (?) to the business side of the organisation, or the more distant uber Head (not sure of MD's role in this set up), to complain about poor teaching in her/his school would not seem very positive to me. But there you go. Another world!

Well I read the first ten!

There was a post earlier today from someone about the French system and it did sound as if teachers are recruited independently from the head.

It sounds like our system is very different here. Thank goodness the people who recruit in the UK are also hands on with the leadership and support system of teachers.

Come on OP! Give us some more info, did the head agree with you?

All very mysterious, sounds like no specific resolution.

French teachers are not recruited by the Head nor does he/she evaluate their performance. They are recruited by the regional inspector and if you have a dodgy teacher you need to complain as quickly as possible so that they can be moved to another school and become someone else's problem.

Blimey. Does it work, as a system??

I wouldn't be a teacher for a bloody gold clock with parents like this to contend with

OP you sound like what I think Enid Blyton would call an utter prig

Does anyone try to make them better teachers?

It's not fobbing off. The head of school thinks I'll advocate for more resources/change of policy where he hasn't managed (I orchestrated a major curriculum change 5 years ago so have form).

Private schools recruit their own teachers in France!