Should a teacher...

[PandyPaws]

...air the particulars of a misbehaving Kindergartner to his/her parent in front of all other parents standing at the door at dismissal time?

While waiting for my DS's K class to come out the door, another K class came out, with the teacher shaking her head disapprovngly at a parent. She then proceeded to state "bad day", then give this mom the details of of her son's bad behavior on the playground, ie: pushing/shoving other kids down the slide, then when told to stop doing it again using his foot to shove, then being made to sit out, etc, and on and on.

I felt very uncomfortable standing there having to witness this, along side of a dozen or more other parents that were within ear-shot. I feel this should have ben handled as a private matter between the teacher and the parent. Wouldn't a simple "may I see you inside for a moment?" have been more appropriate?

Your thoughts??

 

[wvjules]

I wouldn't have stood there and listened. I would have gotten my kid and left.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Totally out of line by that teacher!!! I had a similiar incident when DD #1 was in 3rd grade. The teacher approached me at "Back to School" night while the room was filled with both parents and students and told me "we have big problems". she has only known DD for 1 week. She proceeded to then state she believed my DD had ADD/ADHD in front of other parents.

Well, I was so taken back. I thought I was going to throw up or cry right then and there. DD does not have ADD/ADHD and has medical documentation to prove it. However this teacher proceeded to say DD had it all year.........and some of the parents began saying she had it according to what the teacher said in EARSHOT of others. Made for an awful year......

Long story short....I pulled DD from that school for 4th grade!!!

I would report this to the Superintendent of Schools. Very unprofessional on the teahers part. Parents do talk to one another and this poor child is or can be getting labelled at such a young age. I know, I have been in a similiar situation!!!

 

[Kelsie]

I am going to assume that you were still waiting for your child . I do agree with you, that was not the time nor the place.

 

[PandyPaws]

Actuallly, Jules, my son wasn't out yet, and one did not have to "stand there" to listen. To further clarify, in my embarassment for this woman, I had backed away as far to the curb as I could (without getting hit by opening car-doors and looked the other way, as these kind of things DO make me uncomfortable. But it was difficult not to hear, as loud as this teacher projected herself. The pickup area is small and conjested, I couldn't very well leave without my son.

 

[wvjules]

I didn't realize you didn't have your DS yet.

 

[Pam]

Pandy,
I understood from your first post that you were still waiting for your son to come out.......


And yes, that teacher should have a lesson in tact and learn the correct procedure for talking to a parent - in PRIVATE!

Pam

 

[janette]

I would be horrified to have a teacher do that, I've never dealt with a teacher that said anything not in private.

I would send a note or letter to the school principal. The teacher needs a reminder that a little tact and timing is everything.

 

[wvjules]

While waiting for my DS's K class to come out the door,

Oops, I missed the first time. Apologies.

 

[jan/cape]

I agree, teacher used poor judgement. The parent was probably too stunned to ask for this matter to be discussed in private and not in front of other parents on the sidewalk.

 

[PandyPaws]

thanks, jules

I am so very greatful for the teacher DS has...she is very sweet and conducts herself with grace and diplomacy. Very much meant for the position she holds, IMHO.

Thinking back, DS #1 had a K teacher (5 years ago now) who was so NOT meant for the position. She had attempted a similar action at the back door one time with me, and I had interupted and asked for a private discussion Her "complaint" issue was ...DS putting oreo cookies on his eyes at snack time ..for which she made a federal case of and had made him miss recess for She also had another student who had a permanent seat on a stool at a counter in the back of the room It was a very difficult first year/school experience for my DS. She has since retired, thankfully.

 

[JohnTBap]

I would not. Parents always seem to want to discuss things with me (the reverse, I know) and I always find someplace "private" for us to conference. I am sorry that this happened to you.

 

[Towncrier]

Reminds me of the time that James' kindergarten teacher started referring to him as the "Um Boy". She asked a question and lots of kids raised their hands. As they went around the room, the child that was called on ahead of James used the answer that James was going to use. When the teacher called him, he just said "Ummmmm......" So the teacher called him Um-Boy.

When he got home, he was devistated. When confronted, the teacher admitted that it happened, but she brushed it off as "no big deal".

This witch should have retired years ago. She may have been a good teacher at one time in her career, but she surely hated her job by the time my son was in her class.

I'm glad that Thing 2 doesn't have the teacher that you were describing.

 

[emmy]

We had a similiar situation last year- where the TEAM chair person appraoched me in the hall way at pick up time and started to discuss our son's disabilities in front of all. Some of the other parents who witnessed it all called the principal to let her know he was out of line to conduct private business in the hallway, and I was so grateful for their support! It caught me so off guard that I couldn't respond at the time!

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I don't understand why, if she couldn't get a private moment, she wouldn't have just picked up the telephone later.

 

[Kteacher]

I agree it was out of line. This should have been a private conversation. Were there other children that could have heard this as well? Kids pick up on anything. The teacher also loses respect from the other parents. Not good for anyone involved.

 

[PandyPaws]

Originally posted by Kteacher
Were there other children that could have heard this as well? Kids pick up on anything. The teacher also loses respect from the other parents. Not good for anyone involved.

Yes, students are escorted out by the teachers. She wasn't even completely through the back door when she made eye contact with the mother and began shaking her head, then when right into the statement, as children exited around her. The proceedure for the children is to take a right from the door and line up against the wall right there.

 

[tedsmom]

Very poor behavior on her part. Perhaps you should call the school's principal and make note of it. It would hold a lot of weight coming from a parent who was NOT the parent of the child in quesiton to bring this up to the principal. My fear would be that today was that woman's turn, tomorrow that teacher might be having what should be a private discussion with me about my child in front of half the world.

 

[Pooh93]

Sounds very unprofessional and inconsiderate. She should have scheduled a meeting with the parent(s) in private.

 

[browneyes]

She should've asked the parent to stay after class to discuss the situation privately.