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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

What to do about sarcastic teacher

62 replies

ParanoidBeryl · 22/09/2017 17:42

My DD (12) has a subject teacher who she finds really difficult. She was telling me today that it is the only subject in school that she hates, and it because the teacher is really unpleasant and sarcastic. The teacher is absolutely renowned amongst parents for being hateful, and she is the only teacher who teaches this subject (ICT).

I've been aware of it since DD started the school last year, and when DD was providing me with examples today of exactly what the teacher does, I wanted to contact the school. DD doesn't want me to for fear of reprisals. Examples were if DD asks a question because she is unsure of something, she says the teacher will sneer and say 'weren't you listening?', even when the teacher hasn't explained it.

What should I do?

OP posts:

KittyVonCatsington · 23/09/2017 21:03

.some teachers are pathetic bullies but according to some people on this thread all teachers are perfect, always respond appropriately and it's the parents and pupils who are at fault!

I agree - some teachers are 'bullies'. Some humans are 'bullies'. Some parents are 'bullies. Some children are 'bullies'.

And?

You are projecting your past experience specifically onto this scenario. Just as some teachers (including me) are projecting our experiences of similar situations in the classroom. Why is one more wrong than the other?

Ultimately, none of us know the full picture, not even the OP. However, plenty have said she is within her right to question the school. Some have just also given the advice that it may not be as cut and dried as the DD or other gossiping parents state and to be prepared for that.

Orangeplastic · 23/09/2017 21:07

Redsrule I think the OP has chosen a poor example - I can see how that comment could be used by a good teacher but I can also see how it can be used to manipulate and bully students.

MaisyPops · 23/09/2017 21:25

orange I think you are massively projecting here.Saying 'weren't you listening' isn't bullying and I'd love to see how it manipulates children.
There are bullies in all professions and walks of life. This isn't one of them.

As another poster said nicey nicey doesn't always mean great teacher. Nicey nice can mean pushover and a laugh in y7-9 but you're stuffed at gcse. Equally, i know many teachers who are strict and have quite a dry sense of humour with the students who are well respected have students want to be taught by them.

The OP has said this teacher is awful yo everyone and that they are picking on her DD. It can't be both.

She would be right to raise a concern and speak to thr teacher. She would be wrong to accuse the teacher of being a bully.

Orangeplastic · 23/09/2017 21:45

No there are teachers who are awful to everyone and there are shit teachers who are shit to everyone and that is not ok either - as I said I had one but I stood up to her because she had blamed me for talking when I was almost to shit scared to breathe, she asked if I was going to apologise and I said NO - it was the first time I stood up for myself - of course she called me an impertinent little madam but that was all she had - she was weak and crap and I knew it! She never picked on me again because I saw through her - I had no fear - I was never badly behaved in her class but she had scared the shit out of me to extreme levels - she had dislike me because I had refused to eat on a school trip and she had issues about this because I was always well behaved and hard working in class...I don't think I could ever allow my child to experience something like this. Maybe I misunderstood her (unlikely) - in which case a parent who intervened and mediated would have been able to resolve a high stress situation.

KittyVonCatsington · 23/09/2017 21:54

Who are you responding to orange? No one has said there aren't awful teachers or no shit ones. Am utterly baffled.

Orangeplastic · 23/09/2017 21:54

Ds has an English teacher who is very emotional tells them they were the worst Year 9 she has ever had - apparently they were rubbish! Ds put up with these pep talks for the whole of the first term - he's good at English and I told him he was lucky because she'd like him because he was keen but it would take her a while to figure him out - he spent 4 months hating that woman before he accepted she was almost human, was she inspiring? NO! His love of English survived her horrible moods! You don't need to be an asshole to get respect - you do need to be a good interesting teacher though!

2cats2many · 23/09/2017 21:57

I tell my children that sometimes you get Miss Honey and sometimes you get Miss Truncheable. Just like in real life.

BoneyBackJefferson · 23/09/2017 22:01

Orangeplastic

You post about the teacher but not about the class. It could well be that they were the worst year 9 class that she ever had.

you do need to be a good interesting teacher though!

Doesn't matter how interesting a teacher is if the class won't let them teach.

Eolian · 23/09/2017 23:15

according to some people on this thread all teachers are perfect

Who said or even implied that?! Teachers are human. Some of them might even not actually be hugely nice. Just like some doctors aren't. And some shopkeepers aren't. And some waiters aren't. If you're expecting all teachers to be likeable, then I'm afraid you're being a bit unrealistic. Some can be a bit mean or sarcastic, particularly when faced with repeatedly and frustratingly inattentive or poorly-behaved kids. Last time I looked, that wasn't a sackable or even disciplinable offence.

corythatwas · 24/09/2017 00:35

To be fair, being mean and sarcastic is unprofessional though, Eolian. Not least because among that inattentive or badly behaved class there are bound to be some shy and quietly behaved children who wish they were in a less disruptive class, but who are going to be just as upset (probably more so) by a mean teacher.

Not saying that is necessarily the case here.

blueberrypie0112 · 24/09/2017 00:43

It really depends how she does it. Some sarcasm is harmless while others are just mean and bullying. kids need to learn how to read sarcasm but I guess it is better to leave it to the child’s family

MaisyPops · 24/09/2017 07:07

Doesn't matter how interesting a teacher is if the class won't let them teach.
This. But I don't think orange gets that.

The more relaxed style of teaching and the more out the box comes AFTER the class behave, listen, work hard etc.

Likeability isn't what makes a good teacher. And it also isn't the same as respect. I can think of lovely teachers who students say are nice but they still misbehave, not listen etc.

The crux of the post is a child has a teacher who isn't gushing with sunshines and sparkles and they don't like it. That's just life.

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