How well do you really know your child’s teacher?

How well do you know your child’s teacher? This Is a question I’ve had to ask myself a number times!

After a recent discovery, I would suggest you ask yourselves that very same question, regardless of whether your child has special educational needs or not!

Here’s why…

A few days back I made a horrid discovery that meant I had to continue on with my day with this great anger manifesting within me.

I had this inability to filter out the hideousness of it all, my blood was boiling and a thousand questions bashed away at me.

  Last year I joined the TES social network and forum. No, I’m not a teacher, however It was during a period of home schooling my Little man as a way to avoid permanent exclusion. I have seen some things on the site that I normally take with a pinch of salt, yet a few days back, on receipt of a monthly newsletter that changed.

The TES website is the main and biggest UK resource for educators or those working within education. It contains job listing, a resource centre, the latest updates in relation to education, a forum covering a large area of subjects up for discussion, downloads including work-sheets etc, and much more.

On opening the email I discovered the updates were all mostly aimed at new teachers in-way of tips and advice. As always I had a quick scoot through to see if there was anything in relation to SEN (Special educational needs) and the pending ‘Green Paper’ when something caught my eye. 

The header read: NQT (Newly qualified teachers) Advice

and under that a link that read,

“Arm yourself with a few of those tried and tested one liners and you’re ready to deal with the thickest pupils” 

 curious I hit the link and was taken to the TES Forum

It was here that I unearthed one of the most disgusting threads I have ever read.

This thread contained over 600 comments from UK teachers, there was over 60 pages and posts,  dated from 2008 to the current date.

This thread contained one liners and put downs provided by teachers, these contained methods of humiliation, bullying, discrimination, sarcasm, abuse, threaten violence and inappropriate  language (including that of a sexual content)

Now before I go any further, please let me explain why this thread had me so mad it had reduced me to angry tears!

First the comments were worrying and the one liners should not be used on ANY child, the way the teachers spoke to each was worrying, and the names they publicly referred to us and our kids, Sickening!

Secondly, My own son with Aspergers has been treated in such away and as a result he has self harmed by smashing his whole body into brick walls, banging his head and scratching his arms till they bleed. He, like many others with some form of autism, tends to take things with a literal interpretation meaning the use of  metaphors and sarcasm are most dangerous.

Below is an example taken from a screen shoot. This key stage one teacher isn’t particularly rude, however the way in which she speaks about her young pupil is cold and frightening. She states he winds her by not sitting still and continuing to touch children and objects (playing with their hair etc) I don’t know if I’m correct, I’m just a parent, but some of what she describes here highlights possible autism traits or SPD even.

All she wants to do, is give him a right telling off, but instead choses to mock him in front of his peers.

Classy!

If this child does have a condition like those I’ve stated above, or some form of special educational needs, this will undoubtedly knock an all ready low self-esteem.

Is this how you want your 7 year old treated when at school?

Now, Im sorry if this post is rather long, it would have gone on forever if I the time to include the high number of comments that outraged me so much I blogged about it!

I have taken some screen shoots but will not be able to include them all, I shoot over 100, So, I’ve also quoted a few of the so-called “tips”, and hideous boasts provided by what are meant to be highly qualified teachers.

The fact is, that there are over 600 comments within this one thread from Teachers who started commenting back in 2008, when the thread was started and happily continue on today in the same disgusting manner is highly wrong.

There were only a handful of outraged teachers who left comments to state their shock at some of the comments left by those who are sadly in the same profession, however they just responded by mocking them and starting nasty argumentative comments, nevertheless it was comforting to see one or two teachers who cared.

With over 600 comments, what’s the chances that one of these teachers is the teacher of your child?

Maybe not today, maybe not even next year, but one day!

I say let’s speak up for our children!

Lastly, before I share some of these shocking statements, I ask, how is it, that this hasn’t been picked up by the media?

Has it? if so why don’t most know this thread exists?

What ever the reasons, it’s worrying that our teachers are quite openly sharing these sick so-called ‘Tips’ while laughing their arises of at our children.

I warn you, If your easily shocked, then GOODBYE you really should stop reading NOW!

Below is the very first comment (which kicked of the thread in Januray 2008)

‘I’m having a real problem with behaviour at the moment. I’m not very good at quick responses to pupils comments. I know I shouldn’t get in to a discussion with them but I’d like to have one liners to use.
Can anyone think of any common things pupils say, and a quick come back that works. Other than of course just ignoring it, which I try to do with most silly comments.
Here’s one…
“This is boring..”

OK, guys here are some of the responses and in no particular order! (Note I corrected many of these teachers spelling mistakes, that’s shabby)

“To the usual issue between students with one complaining.. sir he…

‘Hold on….. you are mistaking me for someone that cares….. sort it out without violence’walk away and ignore the 2-3mins of poor behaviour” 

“There a fine line between comebacks and getting aggressive to get your revenge – normally the line depends on how much sleep I’ve  had”

“I teach a mixture of abilities in years 10 and 11. I remember a particular individual being silly and making the odd comment. My reply on one occasion was “how Jovian”. The individual thought this was a good thing. But the brighter students knew. They knew I was referring to the Jovian (as in the planet Jupiter) atmosphere between his ears. . . . Dense and uninhabited.”

“To a very mouthy, arrogant year 10 kid, who constantly demanded my attention “Miss, I NEED HELP NOW!”.

In a gentle, caring voice: “I know sweetheart, but you’ll have to accept it’s going to take some time. I’ve spoken to various pyschologists and psychiatrists, and we’ve agreed that, with a careful program of support and intervention, we may be able to help you”  

“What’s wrong with verbally flattening pupils, showing them up, if it’s what they need?”

“48 – Excellent answer.

22 and 44: “Are you gay?”

Reply:
1. “No, but thanks for the offer,”

2. “No, but I would be if I thought my next kid would turn out like you.”

3. “Let’s keep that between us.”

4. “No, but I’ve slept with a few people who are.”

5. “Yes, but I only fancy attractive people, so you’re safe.”

In regard to self esteem, if dwarfs can threaten me with violence and imbeciles can call me stupid, I think they’re not lacking in self esteem, merely in contact with reality: if they don’t meet defeat in the safe environment of me answering them back (however uncaring this might seem), then they will in later life when someone less patient punches their lights out (which is rather more uncaring.)”

“Y9 boy, ‘Sir, why do you support Millwall, they’re s**t!’

Me, ‘I know, but you’re ugly & your mum still loves you’.”

Whenever a kid says something along the lines of ‘You can’t tell me what to do, you’re not my dad’ I reply:

‘No, if I was you’re dad you wouldn’t be so ugly’

Today a child working said “this is shlt”. My reply was “Your work usually is!

“Ooh, ooh! I just can’t wait for September now I’ve seen this!”

“When some little darling is swearing at you say! Please stop swearing, you’re not at home now”

“To a child who is being loud, unruly, unco-operative etc:
“Look at Brett everybody, he’s forgotten to take his pill this morning. See what happens when you forget your pill”

 “Child: You’re gay sir

Teacher: Even if I was, I wouldn’t  fancy someone as ugly as you! Child: you’re a  crap teacher

Teacher: Perhaps, but at least I can read and write”

“Me muttering when walking away; ‘soap in a sock….leaves no marks…’
they look worried at that, think you have gone mad…”

“This is school, not the Muppet Show. “

“Best one ever was;

kid: ‘Do you use contraception miss?’

during a year 9 PSHE lesson. I was speechless for a second and then responded with;

‘Yes, I usually stick your photo to my boyfriend’s forehead, and it seems to do the trick!”

At which the other kids collapsed laughing and after about ten minutes of looking blankly at his exercise book, the kid in question said ‘Are you saying I’m ugly?”

 

“one of the best I heard was pupil to pupil.

Pupil 1: you’re f*cking ugly!
Pupil 2: yeah, well your mum ain’t complainin’ !”

“Ah bless, are you finding this really difficult? Usually works…”

“I have also managed to convince my class that the IWB projector, smoke detectors and alarm sensors in the school contain cameras-I’m sure this wouldn’t work with any children older than KS1 …’
Actually it still works with Year 9!”

Just remember that the Government plans to up teachers powers when dealing with behaviour!

Can you just imagine what will happen then?

Click here for the TES website & here for the thread in question.

Please leave your comments to show your thoughts and help get some action.

Related articles

• Michael Gove: Children need to be taught an unambiguous lesson in who is boss (telegraph.co.uk)
• Help approaching a teacher – (ask.metafilter.com)
• There is no such thing as Good or Bad Labels…they’re all Bad (ontarioeducation.wordpress.com)
• Taking the Special out of Special Education (ontarioeducation.wordpress.com)

A disastrous half-term

Wow! We’ve defiantly had one hell of  a crazy few weeks.

I wanted to post this at the end of last week, but life being what it is, I didn’t stand a chance! You see, our half term didn’t start off too well (Understatement of a life time) The Friday the children broke up from school was going pretty well… That was in till our brand new living room ceiling fell through. “Does this ring any bells?” Those readers of the blog, that have supported me for quite sometime may remember this post “What went bump in the night” posted back in May 2009. Well, It would seem that I’m the receiver of bad luck, that and this sodding house is jinxed! If you are unaware of what did actually go bump in the night, I’ll give you one guess? … Of course it was my ceiling, what else! When the ceiling came down last year (I mean the entire ceiling) I was pregnant. The massive cloud of dust was too much to bear for myself and the children. It set of the fire alarms sending Little man “BONKERS” He had fallen asleep on the sofa, some ten minutes before the stupid thing fell down. Lucky his father was round who thankfully had noticed a strange sound. That strange sound was in-fact the ceiling cracking above their very heads. I was upstairs with my daughter half asleep watching a dvd. Little man was saved by daddy! He had scooped him up and made a runner to safety. Just as he shouted my name followed by something I didn’t understand! (His panicking state had him shouting in what seemed a foreign language)  Before I could ask him to repeat himself I heard the crash. Within seconds the house was like an ash cloud. Needless to say my children were petrified. Little man kept shouting… “FIRE”  what with the dust, smells and fire alarms going off  (who can blame him when he protested that smoke alarms were only meant to discover fire)

That was a nightmare night and it wasn’t set to be our last!

I was in a state of shock when it happen again! The last one fell due to old plaster being the problem. This time it came down with not only a huge crash but loads of stinky water that happened to be hot. I had been complaining about this old, wet, musky smell for weeks. I had to convince myself it was just me or it was something that would eventually  just disappear! I searched everywhere for the cause with no luck at all. It was gone nine p.m. when disaster stuck … Meaning the housing office was closed and I would need to ring the out of hours number. It’s funny! Given the amount of work I’ve had done on the house (most caused by the ceiling collapsing last year) I was remarkably clam. The receptionist on the other end of the line told me so… I think they expected a screaming mad woman. You see I had to go to the paper and kick a fuss to get that new ceiling & the crumbled walls replaced. “I even moved out” It was horrid as Little mans routine went off the wall, all he wanted was to go back home! My daughter was fine given we were staying at my mothers in which she loves. I also had my beautiful new-born  to look after. Though the damaged occurred in May 09 our ceiling wasn’t finished to the September and the walls in March 2010! Now this has happened!

Turns out the plasterers who had done the ceiling had nailed the plaster-board  through a water pipe leading to my daughters radiator. It had slowly leaked (Hence the reason for the musky smell) for well over a year…. In-till I decided it that fateful Friday night, that it was a little nippy in my daughter’s room so cranked up the temperature… Resulting in my living room becoming a flooded bomb site, my son running round like some “lunatic” and a great big mess to clean up! Of course this wasn’t the highlight of my year so far and I’m sure god has plenty more surprises in store. As you can expect despite remaining pretty clam, I wasn’t best pleased!

On a lighter note, the rest of the half-term went pretty well. We didn’t really do or go anyway (About from bus riding, but what’s new there!)

Halloween was quite fun:) Mainly due to the fact that once I had completed a few roads of trick or treating with my daughter I got to go home and have a bit of mummy time. Little man went with his friend next door and his mum, and my daughter then decided to go with her aunty and cousin as apparently I was a tad to slow *giggle* Well, was I complaining? Hell no! The baby was with his daddy and I was completely childless for all of an hour and what a blissful hour it was 🙂 (I love all three of you, but mummy also loves some sanity)

The children’s costumes were fabulous and were brought by my friend who loves spoiling them rotten. My daughter was a classic witch… big nose, teeth, black lipstick and the full outfit. Little man was a monster of some sort and even Harley had a devil dress up (Not that he participated but oh how cute he looked!) We discovered that little man couldn’t tolerate the mask, luckily he kept it on long enough for me to take a picture. His sensory sensitivities also meant he didn’t like the feel of the suit, but once we had explained he could wear it over his normal hoodie and track-pants (He would live in these if I let him) he was fine! Of course I had the dreaded fear he would be rude to people “Give me the candy Now” or “Your gay” (Don’t know why but he is always saying this one) Lucky I needn’t have worried, he was fine and I was told he was actually very polite.… *Big Smiles* I suppose he figured out that in order to gain candy he should just zip it 🙂 Last Halloween was a nightmare as little man throw a wobbler and had a huge meltdown while we were out with a parent and child from his class. Red cheeks and weepy eyes, I had to escort him home. It really didn’t help that I was the size of a beach whale due to being pregnant and just a few weeks from my due date!  Little man could not get his head around my changing shape. He would quite bluntly tell me I was huge (I could always rely on an honest opinion that’s for sure!) Well, he got angry that night and kept calling me fatty. Yep I wanted to be swallowed up whole by the ground beneath me. Pregnancy hormones had me a blubbering wreck, but lucky for me & little man, she completely understood and still remains to be non judgemental when it comes to little man.

So all that’s left now is the 5th of November to contend with. Last year little man did his Army SAS crawl, that gave the impression he was being shot at, when at a public display. Its fair to say we wont be doing that again….…Fireworks will be watched through the safety and comfort of his bedroom window 🙂