My son spent ages on his geometry homework the other evening, but did it and got both sheets in on time to the teacher. They were all correct, but then the teacher took both sheets and ripped them in half and told my son to do them again………….why? because he forgot to write his name on the top of the sheets !! Does anyone else think that’s a bit over the top? I would have thought that a verbal reminder or an extra sheet of homework to be given to make sure it doesn’t happen again but to rip up their hard work I think is pretty crappy, or am I being over sensitive? I don’t think it sets a good example to the kids destroying things readily rather than sorting it out reasonably with them. It certainly upset my son as he’d spent so long doing them. I’ve told my son not to do the sheets again and I’ve taped together the ones he did earlier. I’ll give him a letter for his teacher. Does anyone else have similar problems with their kids teachers like this? or am I just being too soft and should tell my son to do them again as he teacher told him?

I personally this is really bad for a teacher.... i would speak to the head of the school as that shouldn't be aloud... how old is you son?

I would not do the homework again, and i would not write a letter i would go personally with my son to her and tell her what you think....

just my view....

He will remember this for the rest of his life. I can feel my heckles rising as I read your account.

Write to the teacher and explain why you have forbidden your son from repeating the work. If he has an issue with this then you can meet to discuss his (the teacher's) bizarre destructive behaviour. Add as a footnote that you are somewhat concerned that this strange attitude may manifest itselt in other way to the detriment of the children in his care. Send a second copy of it to the head teacher. Add a few obscure learned (but meaningless) acronyms after your name AEA IEA CTECH GEd to add credibility in a don't-dare-mess-with-me-mother****er stylee.

dave

FWIW, I think the teacher went too far, and you're doing the right thing — whether you do it by letter or in person. I hope you're able to resolve the matter with a minimum of strife.

I am in complete shock i have NEVER heard of this happening before, no you are not being to sensitve. The teacher was out of order, if i was you i would go to school with your son tomorrow, and speak with the teacher. Give your son a cuddle from me, and tell him it was not his fault

if i were you, i'd let my son do the homework again but at same time i'd inform the school management and complain about the teacher's behaivor. so that the next time other parents complain about the same teacher, the school management would see that this particular teacher is a psycho.

Totally over the top.

If you do take action I just hope the teacher doesn't take it out on your child in the future.

Sounds to me like teacher needs to get a life and a sh*gg.

By telling your son to ignore the teacher you're teaching him to ignore authority.

Is this what you want to teach him?

Why not just have him re-copy what he already did in a new sheet of paper and add his name to the top. Problem solved, and it should take him no more than 10 minutes or so.

If you don't want to have him manually copy because 10 minutes is too long for spending on schoolwork, photocopy the pages and then have him add his name to the top. I don't think the teacher will be pleased with this approach though, I sugges the first one.

If you go and write a letter to the teacher or the principal, what do you really think is going to happen? That the teacher will suddenly agree with you, admit his/her mistake, and apologize?? Or will the teacher grade your son more harshly on future assignments, because now he is seen as a kind of "problematic student" (i.e. one that causes hassles for the teacher, because now the director wants to find out what is going on)?

Think about it.

It's not like the teacher beat up your kid or anything. She simply asked him to re-submit his homework. Hardly over the top.

Another point to make:

It is interesting to note that the prevelance of Bearer shares in Switzerland require no name identification. How you it make you feel if I tore up and destroyed your entire stockholding because you had not put your name at the top of it ?

dave

hardly over the top, he ripped up the kids homework what was all correct except a bloody name god.......

all the teacher had to do was say put your name on and don't forget again if you do you will get more homework, but to destroy something what took time to do is way over the top..

Learning the right time and place to question authority is an important life lesson, as is learning when it is foolish.

I pity anybody who has never learnt to question authority.

School is a GAME, but it is a very important game.

Should authority be questioned ? If it is patently acting wrongly and unfairly, then of course it should.

As regards future treatment: lay down the line in the sand by getting concerns in writing, and you may find your son given the benefit of a higher mark in future as it is clear the parents will take no ****.

dave

This reaction was not appropriate. I've never seen a teacher losing the countenance (at least not until I was fourteen ).

I think this is a good idea.

Authority should be questioned, but not disobeyed.

Question the law, but do not disobey it.

There are proper channels for questioning authority.

How old is the kid, 5? Did teacher make him cry? Or is he a young adult studying geometry?

Give your child the tools to solve the problems he can solve (he CAN solve this one!), don't rescue him all the time, he will thank you for this later in life.

Remember, school is a GAME, nothing more, nothing less. But it is a very important game.

do you have kids?
have you being in this situation?
or are you the mean teacher??????

Are you a teacher Blueshrimp? If so, can you also please prove Lob's theory that teachers are crap neighbours?

Barbra.

I have had bad teachers in the past for my oldest daughter and she has come home in tears. I am the most timid person you could meet but not when it comes to my kids. I went into the school and confronted the teacher. I was not screaming or rude but I was very stern and told her if she ever treated my daughter that way again she would have to deal with me again and I wouldn't be so pleasant next time. It has been 3 years since my daughter was in her class and she almost kisses my feet when I come to the school. She was over the top sweet to my daughter the rest of the year....which isn't good either, you would think that I threatened her life or something, lol. I feel so bad for your son and I agree that he should not redo the work but you should also give the teacher the opportunity to apologize before going to the superior. Now if it happens again.....well that is different

I find your attitude really bizarre. This is not law, this is a bullying schoolteacher. To what channels are you referring ? The writing of a letter to the person involved and his line manager (head teacher) in this case is an appropriate response.

This is not about tools to solve geometry problems, this is about preventing an adult from behaving unreasonably. Burdening a child with the task of responding to this is unfair.

dave