Is normal for teachers to call children stupid?

[Mijkl]

Without wanting to give too many details, I've been working with a teacher who I have overheard call students stupid and an idiot. It's not said viciously, but it is said as a definite reprimand (I.e. not a joke). I was a bit shocked, but I don't have much experience of teaching. Would this be normal and/or acceptable?

[Anasnake]

Zombie thread

[CraftyGin]

The teacher should only describe behaviour, not the actual child.

It’s not something they even should be careful about. It should be the default mindset.

[Dermymc]

With a top set ks4 group I will say this as a joke, eg if they do a simple calculation wrong etc. Never as an actual behaviour management tool or reprimand though. Context is everything here.

[Joinourclub]

Calling a child stupid is not acceptable. I have told a child to ‘stop behaving like an idiot’ before , but have also got the response ‘are you calling me an idiot?!’ , so I’d try to avoid saying it again.

Observing this teacher could actually be good for you, helping you be more aware of your own language and behaviour management, and getting experience of what doesn’t work. Try and see other teachers teaching the same class/key pupils if you can - doesn’t have to be your subject.

[echt]

Describe the behaviour: that was a stupid thing to do. Behaviours can change.

To say someone is stupid is to say that is what they are, it' essential, part of themselves, so why should they change?

The same goes for naming someone as a bully/ sexist/racist.

[MaisyPops]

Usually it's unprofessional.

That said, a joke between staff and older students who have an established relationship it can be ok but it is very much on the established staff, established positive relationship between staff and student.
E.g. I thought my projector was broken and called IT but when they came in it turns out someone who'd hired the room had turned another master switch off that I wasn't aware of. I rhetorically asked why anyone would do such a thing to me. A gcse student jokes that i was stupid. It was a good natured joke. Tone, delivery, context, everything.
Equally, if a 6th former doesn't think and knocks their cup of tea everywhere I might joke and tell them they're daft.

Any personal insults as a behaviour management technique are awful and unprofessional.
Discussing behaviour as being stupid is fair game.

[nzeire]

Strategy and temper combined. Absolutely no excuse. It was revolting behaviour and I nearly cried. Bloody bully. Don’t give a toss she will know it was me. I cannot stand back and hear that. Poor kid. Appeared quite resilient though, which I imagine indicates he’s used to it.

[CuckooCuckooClock]

Bloody hell that's awful.
There's never any reason to insult children to their faces
Has the teacher lost their temper or is this part of their strategy?

[nzeire]

I’m in the office at a school and heard a teacher calling a child stupid at least ten times today. She was shouting at him in a breakout room, it was horrifying. The child is about 7, and had behaved badly. It went on and on and on and ON. I went and got a leader and said something had to be done. The principal went in and it all quietened down. I’m traumatised. Want to lodge a bullying complaint to the board.

[Acopyofacopy]

Don’t be so sure about that, noble! I was “taught” some behaviour strategies fairly recently, one of them being “you need to shout a bit more”.

OP, see if you can change mentors. It’s a bit awkward, but it can be done.

[noblegiraffe]

What specifically are you worried about? If it’s your second PGCE placement then you’ll be mostly teaching not observing, and this person won’t be telling you to insult students as a behaviour management technique.

[elephantoverthehill]

Mijkl on the positive side, you have been put in a situation where you are questioning, learning and therefore honing your own skills.

[mineofuselessinformation]

Absolutely not acceptable.
But, how you go about raising it as an issue may sadly be an altogether different story.

[ChipInTheSugar]

I’ve heard “So, you’re stupid, you’re a liar, and a sheep!” from a Teflon-coated member of SLT Incredible how they get away with it.

[Mijkl]

The really poor behaviour management is also a big worry. It's good in my current school so I can see the difference.

[Mijkl]

:-o

[seven201]

I personally don’t even say “your behaviour was idiotic” etc. As I live in fear of being accused of being ‘unprofessional’. I once had a parent complain higher up about me for calling her child a liar. I had actually just asked her daughter if she was lying when she gave some ridiculous excuse for not having her homework. I know some people would brush that off but I worry about being labelled as a crap teacher.

The teacher who trained me was a twat. He advised me to not be consistent with behaviour management to keep the kids on their toes! He often stank of booze and got a sixth former pregnant and left

[Mijkl]

Coola this would be my gut feeling also. It doesn't seem professional let alone kind.

[Coolaschmoola]

*stupid

[Coolaschmoola]

Utterly unacceptable. I teach GCSE English in FE. The vast majority of my students have been called stupud by a teacher (I ask them). That's the point where they give up trying.

I tell them the only stupid person in that situation was the teacher. The damage that word does is massive.

[Mijkl]

I don't want to go into details re course etc. because I obviously don't want to be identified. I am the usual sort of trainee: panic-stricken and stressed :)

[GerrysSuccessor]

Agree with others. ‘That was a really stupid decision’ or ‘that was idiotic behaviour’ is okish, although there are ways of getting the same point across without necessarily using those terms. ‘You’re an idiot’ or ‘you’re stupid’ are never ok and in my school if over heard would at the very least lead to a talking to from a line manager

[noblegiraffe]

Crumbs is incorrect, secondary school pupils often have low self-esteem and we should not make assumptions about what they can cope with in terms of flat-out insults.

As a trainee, probably best to learn from it as something not to do at this point. What type of trainee are you?

[Valerrie]

No, it's not OK.

[Mijkl]

"That's because you're stupid."