Teacher shouting at the children

[PinkFizz]

My son has just gone up into a new class in September and they have 2 teachers,one does 2 days and the other does 3.The one that does 2 days is much older(about 50 yrs old) and my son says that she is always shouting at the kids and telling them to "Shut up!" at the top of her voice.He says he doesn't like her.I spoke to another parent yesTerday about this and her daughter has said exactly the same thing - in fact this girl wont even put up her hand in class anymore. So do I speak to the teacher concerned,who may well give my son a hard time over the fact that he has complained to me,do I see the headmistress and say that several children have said the same? I don't want to make things worse for my son.By the way,he is 7 yrs old. TIA.

[crete]

have a quiet word with the teacher, she may well not be aware your child gets upset good luck

[noxlumos]

I'd personally see the headmisress in preference to the teacher herself as I agree it might result in your son having a more dificult time with her. I suggest you get as many other parents on board as possible as well to add weight to what you are saying. It's really not acceptable for a person supposed to be demonstrating good manners , responsibility and self discipline to behave like that, it give a completely negative role model to the kids and ultimately will make them regress in their education and social skills as is being demonstrated by the little one whose too worried to out her hand up now.

[sunflower68]

I agree with noxlomus however I would be inclined to speak directly to the teacher first and go to the next level if you get no joy.
It clearly is upsetting your son - my kids would be exactly the same. I am sat here trying to think how best to word it and am a little stumped. You may have to tell a porkie or two eg "I have noticed my lad is coming home with a lot on his mind.....reminds me of when I was 7 I had a bad time with a new teacher......he is just like me, he does not react well to a lot of noise in the classroom.....would it be ok if there were no raised voices....."
Phew it's a tricky one tho. Perhaps you could send in a letter directly to her? You must confront the teacher or she could be more cross if it comes from the head.
Don't worry for now about other mums; concentrate on your son first and foremost. If he has any problems through this then she needs firing, as that would be totally unacceptable.
Good luck, be brave, let us know how it goes. xx

[PinkFizz]

Hi guys.My son is not scared of her luckily but just asks me why she shouts at everybody all day.Even when they try to ask her something and she is busy which they don't realise she just bellows "Shut up and go away!" which I think is disgusting.Yesterday he came home with a full lunch box and only a quarter of a sandwich eaten and when I asked him why he said that this teacher was so busy ranting and raving that she ignored the lunch bell and by the time he got in the hall to eat,it was time for them all to be sent out to play,which really upset me as he went hungry all day.

[B00]

Oh you've got to say something!

This horrible women is let loose on small children??? It beggers belief- go straight to the headmistress!

Good luck :-)

[TheGopher]

All part of life's rich tapestry, I am afraid. As a parent, I have been there myself and know how you feel. But bear in mind. Teachers are all different and as he progresses through the school and then secondary school there will all sorts of different personalities to contend with. If he had a sweet quiet teacher before, this one might seem dreadful, to the children concerned but please think before making any complaints.

My child's teacher from age 7 to 11 shouted her head off and all the kids used to be terrified of going into her class. It turned out that she was the teacher that he and the others think back to with the most fondness. She was a great teacher with years of experience and taught them a great deal both academically and about that big wide world out there. They didn't even take any notice of the shouting after a few months - they knew her bark was far worse than her bite. Children quickly learn these things.

It is just an opinion, but see how it goes with your son. He has to learn to cope with all sorts and you can't be there to protect him.

By the way, being of senior years, I can remember teachers throwing things like board rubbers at us. Not that I think this was right, far from it, but we coped and learned to dodge the rubber and still managed to enjoy school and not live in fear.

[B00]

Sorry gopher but I don't think Fizzy should accept it, I'd be ruddy furious if anyone spoke to my 7 year old like that never mind someone who's supposed to represent respectable authority!

I'd be really hard pressed not to rip her head off if I knew she'd told my child to "shut up and go away".

[duckster]

my teacher shot me!

[PinkFizz]

sorry,did you say shot you??

[TheGopher]

I understand Boo what you mean, but still think children, to a certain extent have to learn to deal with these circumstances. My seven year old was certainly shouted at unfairly at school but learned to deal with it very well. He did come home and complain but it was soon forgotten and never did him any harm. Parents naturally want to protect there children from upset but at seven a child should be aware that occasionally life isn't all rosy.

How long has this teacher been at the school? If it were me I would try talking to some parents whose children have spent more time with her and find out a bit more before complaining.

Pink Fizz's child isn't scared just curious as to why this person shouts. Personally, I would explain that it's just a silly thing that this teacher does when she gets cross and to ignore it. If this teacher did spend the lunch time period ranting and they didn't get time to eat then I presume the whole class were in the same situation. It might be worth investigating this.

[B00]

Yep, and I see your point too gopher (oooo aren't we civilised? LOL) However I'd be reluctant to advise my child to ignore a teacher when they are shouting, raising their voice, whatever. We all know that 7 year olds tend to take things literally, he might get it into his head to ignore her completely, then gawd help the little mite; he'd have her full wrath coming down on his head!!!

[PinkFizz]

Hey guys - I have just made an appointment to see the other teacher,the one he has 3 days a week.I need to see her anyway as it is Parents Evening week and so I may just mention to her about her colleague and see what she says?What do you think?

[dizydosydoll]

I think I would be the same if this was my son, If my child does wrong at school i expect him to be told off shouted at , but to be shouted at for nothing is not wright. I am 22 and out of all the teachers at primary school i still remember my R.E teacher she was awful always shouting and the dread of knowing that her lesson was coming up was awful i hated it, she would shout and put you on the spot, very embarressing.
I would go and see the head and make sure that she is taken in to have a word with you can tell the head that you dont want the teacher to know who has complained.

[B00]

Yep fizzy go for it- i'm gobsmacked that the parents of the child who's too scared to even put her hand up hasn't brought this to anyones attention either.

Already said it, but I'll say it again- Good luck :-)

[TheGopher]

Reasonable idea PinkFizz. However, if necessary, I personally would speak to the teacher herself, not in a complaining way but just tell her of your concerns and see what she has to say. Telling the headteacher or a colleague without telling the teacher herself is hardly fair. I know myself I would rather be approached directly and given a chance to explain than someone going to my boss without my knowledge. It would sour any further relationship between you as parents and that teacher. The teacher would be extremely stupid and would jeopardize her job if she were to take it out on your son!

[ummmm]

I tink if there was a few more teachers around that shouted at our children there would be a few more kids that had more respesct for adults. Softly softly does not work

[TheGopher]

Speaking from experience most teachers are very reasonable when parents voice their concerns directly and will make every attempt to make the child concerned feel more at ease.

Also, for all we know the poor lady might have terrible problems at home or be suffering from the menopause. No excuse I know, but please give her a chance to explain and put things right.

[sunflower68]

ummmmm I think pinkfizz'; point is mainly that the teacher is shouting for no apparant reason; it would be a different kettle of fish if she were the mum of a naughty boy.

Gopher I do agree with all you say although don't forget that we have come a long way since board rubbers were chucked at kids - kids today are 'nannied' more than ever (bring back the cane I say but just for the worst behaved kids) but for most kids they are used to a totally different approach these days from the teachers.
Whether good or bad that the teachers are softer, it is what the children know and are used to. We can't expect them to accept a teacher with old-fashioned behaviour.

[TheGopher]

I suppose you are right sunflower. Obviously any form of abuse is wrong, verbal or otherwise. However, I do believe that too much parental protection from the cruel world can make it much more difficult for a child to cope in the adult world later on. Teachers shouting is not good behaviour but unfortunately it will happen whilst teachers are human beings and there will come a time when all of us will get shouted at or unfairly treated. Life is just not fair! Most seven year olds will understand this fact if parents explain this.

Looking back I think my own children were over protected by their parents in some ways and it did them no favours! Our kids are rightly so precious to us but we need to grit our teeth sometimes and let them take a few 'knocks' .

[Pippa68]

Personally I don't think anyone should have to accept being shouted at ~ no matter what their age.

I know teachers have to raise their voices above the childrens..having spent time in the busy classrooms it is sometimes difficult to hear yourself think! however, this teacher is being rude & to be honest isn't a good example to set for children is she?

Good advice given to you already, Pink. I would go to the headteacher first, actually. If the teacher is in the mindset of shouting at kids for no apparent reason (and has displayed rudeness) I would go above her head.