My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

The staffroom

Is normal for teachers to call children stupid?

33 replies

Mijkl · 20/11/2017 21:45

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?

OP posts:
Report
CuckooCuckooClock · 31/10/2018 07:32

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?

Report
nzeire · 31/10/2018 07:40

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.

Report
MaisyPops · 01/11/2018 17:32

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.

Report
echt · 02/11/2018 07:50

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.

Report
Joinourclub · 02/11/2018 07:58

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.

Report
Dermymc · 02/11/2018 07:59

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.

Report
CraftyGin · 02/11/2018 21:53

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.

Report
Anasnake · 02/11/2018 21:55

Zombie thread

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.