Punishment

[sherrardk]

Would welcome your thoughts on this one. Boy #1 is doing (very) well at school, nice attitude, good attendance, etc. In science they were doing a test and he was told off for listening to two pupils having a conversation. No accusations of cheating just talking. The teach tore up one pupil's test and told my son and two others that she wasn't marking their tests. In the following lesson she hadn't marked his test but said 'oh, I don't need to worry about you, you're doing fine'. Do you think this a suitable punishment?

[factor-fiction]

I think maybe a conversation with the teacher and head to discuss your serious concerns about the teacher's lack of competence would be the best way forward. And I accept that as a senior teacher you probably have a better awareness of the issues than I (as a bog standard teacher) do, and of course you know your son far better than I do, so I can't really add to this this discussion

[sherrardk]

FF - you're probably far better to comment on this than me as you are still teaching and I have a brain that hasn't been used for nearly seven years.

[pixie373]

It all seems bizarre. They aren't concerned about cheating. What are they trying to teach him- to put his fingers in his ears next time?

[sherrardk]

Get your point divebuddy, talking was between boy's friend and a girl (so very interesting to a fellow 13 year old), but he wasn't talking, just listening. Hate to think how she would react to proper naughtiness. Oh well, will bring it up next time I am at the school. Hardly the end of the world but v petty to my mind, if he's done wrong give him a detention, not leave his test unmarked. I think I am probably most irked about the silliness of the 'punishment', though I suppose it got her out of four sets of marking.

[sherrardk]

Another good point. Maybe she is new to teaching and is 'asserting her authority' but hasn't got it quite right yet. Would be a shame if she alienated students with her current approach though. Mind you, if she had ripped up his work (as she did the fourth pupil's) I wouldn't be quite so understanding about it.

[jno]

I hardly like to ask what the fourth pupil was up to, burning the building down or something?

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