Do you see this as an intimidating comment by a teacher?

DS13 told me that yesterday he and a friend were in an area of the Pod where they shouldn't have been. They were called over by the teacher of that area and he asked them "what would a pitbull do if you entered it's territory"? DS said "bark" the teacher replies "no it will go for your neck, I am the pitbull and if you come back into my area there will be severe consequences". It almost sounds like a threat, I just fail to understand why he couldn't have just told them plain and simply to stay out of his area.

Regards,
Dianne

Erm, yes, I see that as an intimidating comment. What are you going to do??

I would hope the teacher didn't mean it as a threat and that it is a really bad analogy. I would be taking it up with the principle or his Department head just to make it clear that it is unacceptable.

WOW, i know some teachers use intimidation or their 'reputation' as a tactic to get kids to toe the line but honestly... i don't think it's appropriate a simple "what are you doing in here" and a "you know your not allowed, come back and you ill be in trouble" would have done.

That is a VERY inappropriate comment/threat to make especially to a student! I would report him.

To compare himself to a pitbull is almost calling himself a murderer.

Very innapropriate!! Ide be taking it further!

:o wow! That is really not on.

I'm going to ring the school I'm just not sure if I should speak to the Yr8 Co-ordinator or the Principal. Was also thinking of ringing the Department of Education as I'm not confident the school will do much. DS13 said he wanted to go and talk to the principal himself so I told him if he feels comfortable in doing that then he should.

Regards,
Dianne

Wow bit out of line there. That would make me uncomfortable and I'm an adult :(

I think it's a bad analogy in poor taste but I don't think it's particularly threatening. By that I mean I don't think you have anything to worry about the teacher being physically violent against your son.

I think the teacher was probably trying to get a point across but spoke before they thought.

I have to agree with N2L.

Sounds like there is more to the story. When I was in high school yes teachers spoke like that, but not all the time and only when either they or their position was threatened. And it meant very little anyway. I would be more concerned that perhaps this wasn't an isolated incident (ie. they had done it before) or that perhaps the person he was with is a known trouble maker.

It sounded quite threatening to me and quite honestly, if it's enough to upset your DS and yourself then definitely speak to someone about it, whether it be the coordinator, the Principal or the Dep. Ed or all 3. Teachers shouldn't speak to students like that ever.

I wouldn't take it further, but that's just me. I wouldn't want myself or my child to be known as 'that' person, always making complaints etc. Teachers are people too, not jut these infallible figures in our kids lives. His comment was a little forceful, but maybe he was totally fed up with kids breaking the rules and not doing the right thing. Maybe your DS's friend (or your DS? I don't know his history) are getting into trouble a fair bit. I'd probably just tell my child to stay away from out of bounds areas, and if the teacher makes another comment that upset them like that, to let me know and if reconsider from there. But not for an isolated incident.

Agree with what N2L and PZ have said.

I would leave it.

Edit, I didn't realise your DS was upset by it. If he is I would approach the teacher. I wouldn't be going to the department.

Totally agree with teachers being people too. And unlike primary school they are given more freedom and respect and sometimes it doesn't get reciprocated to the teachers. I know this because I've been on both sides of the track ;) and I don't know if it's changed much but when teachers were dobbed in it usually wasn't because they were at fault but often because there was a gripe because they could hold their own. Not that I'm accusing your son of anything just want to offer another perspective. :)

Actually no i don't agree. Yes teachers are people but so are students and in no way should a student ever feel threatened or harassed by somebody that they are learning from. There are MANY other ways to get a point across. Who knows maybe they didn't know where they were was a restricted area, considering its a new school year and maybe rules have changed, i don't know. But his comment was very out of line and if nobody is willing to speak up then this teacher will get away with it over and over again.

So what if you are seen as 'those' people. I would rather stick up for my kid and be seen as a dibber dobber then ignore things and have them become depressed/anxious everytime they have to go to school. The worst that can happen is the teacher will be spoken to.

Dianne, you do what you feel is best for your son. Maybe even get him to approch that teacher and say that the comment was uncalled for. If the teacher then laughs or dismisses him then he should seek somebody higher up to talk to.

Ok have to disagree there. I never said I would dismiss it, but I wouldn't go in guns blazing without all the facts, or better yet seeing if it was an isolated incident. And I certainly wouldn't send my child to talk to him about it for two reasons, it could make it a lot worse for for him or if there is an issue it could provoke more grief between the two of them.

Sounds like a bit much! Good luck in talking to the school.

I mostly agree with you LMS, I see valid points from both sides. Sure it could have been a one off, maybe the teacher was particularly stressed that day, but that doesn't make it "ok" to speak to a student like that. It is drilled into students that the school yard should be a safe place for everyone (or at least it was drilled into us). If it was another student who said it, there would have been repercussions. The same should go for the teachers.

The other thing to consider is maybe it's not a once off? It may have been the first time Dianne's son was exposed to it, but who knows what he's said to other students before. If no one does anything about it then he will continue to get away with it.

I wouldn't suggest that Dianne's son speak directly to the teacher, but I think some kind of communication needs to happen, maybe a meeting between the principle, the teacher, Dianne and her son? That way there is someone present from both sides and everyone can (hopefully) get a full picture of what happened and find an appropriate way to deal with it.

If you want to follow it up I think it is better to approach the teacher first. There are two sides to every story and I doubt that a teacher whose MO is threatening students without good reason would last very long in the profession. TBH parents who undermine teachers by rushing off to the Principal every time their children come home and complain make it very difficult for teachers to do their jobs especially in schools that already have discipline issues.

Had some time to think about this and reading all the responses, I agree with Onyx - approach the teacher first. I'd be going in saying something like "I understand there was an incident with DS and friend being somewhere they were not supposed to be, can you please explain to me what happened?"

Try and ascertain whether this was the first time or if it is a repeated thing... get some more background.

I have to say I agree with N2L, Rouge and Onyx. If you are concerned, then I think definitely speak to the teacher first to clarify, and if you still aren't happy, speak to the principal.

but...

To be honest, if that had happened to me at that age my parents probably would have said "well, best you don't go in there again". And my parents were supportive, vigilant people so it wouldn't have been a case of not being concerned about my welfare. Kids have to learn that there will be people in their lives who are intimidating, rude etc and as long as the teacher hasn't hurt him physically, belittled or bullied him, or broken the law in some way I'd be inclined to let your son deal with it his own way.

Having said that, my DSs are still young'uns so who knows how protective I will be when they are at school. In the same situation I could be out for blood...

I was going to pretty much say what onyx said. I would first go to speak to the teacher and find out for myself their version of the story. I think theres 3 sides to every story eg...your son's side...the teachers side......and the truth is normaly inbetween each of those. There may be a lil more to the story....but then there may not. So i would think it best to go to the teacher in question first.

Yes I think the comment is inappropriate and yes I would mention something. Infact I would speak directly to the teacher to find out in what context it was said and flag to him that perhaps it wasn't the best comment for him to make.

If I am seen as "that person" ...pfft...I am a mum and I will protect my children so I really don't care and as for teachers being people too- yes they are, but like all professionals there is a code of conduct to adhere to and I don't think this kind of comment meets this expectation. Teachers are role models and indirectly show our children how to manage situations and how to cope etc....something this teacher has done badly.

I think bugsmum pretty much said what I was thinking. Goodluck with what you decide to do and I hope it doesn't happen again.

Our kids aren't made of glass though. We're talking about a 13 year old here, not a little kid. I will fiercely protect my daughter, but no, I won't be the person making complaints every time my child finds themselves in a situation they don't like. Like I said, if this is an isolated incident I'd leave it be. I'd explain that it's probably not a good idea to be going out of bounds, and to try and stay off of that teachers radar. By 13 I'd hope my daughter has a small sense of who people are and how people react, I'd just say you know what, Mr. X was pretty blunt when he spoke to you, try to stay out of his way from now on. If he says something like that to you again, let me know and I'll have a chat with him. I honestly do not want my kids going through high school with teachers so professional and infallible that my children go off into the real world unaware that sometimes, people in a higher position than you will sometimes also be jerks. I want them to know how to deal with that, professionally and emotionally, so that it's not so much of a big deal. I dunno. If this guy wasn't picking on my child on more than that occasion, I'd chalk it up as a lesson learned about the nature of some people and move on.

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Our kids aren't made of glass though. We're talking about a 13 year old here, not a little kid. I will fiercely protect my daughter, but no, I won't be the person making complaints every time my child finds themselves in a situation they don't like. Like I said, if this is an isolated incident I'd leave it be. I'd explain that it's probably not a good idea to be going out of bounds, and to try and stay off of that teachers radar. By 13 I'd hope my daughter has a small sense of who people are and how people react, I'd just say you know what, Mr. X was pretty blunt when he spoke to you, try to stay out of his way from now on. If he says something like that to you again, let me know and I'll have a chat with him. I honestly do not want my kids going through high school with teachers so professional and infallible that my children go off into the real world unaware that sometimes, people in a higher position than you will sometimes also be jerks. I want them to know how to deal with that, professionally and emotionally, so that it's not so much of a big deal. I dunno. If this guy wasn't picking on my child on more than that occasion, I'd chalk it up as a lesson learned about the nature of some people and move on.

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Yep, what I was trying to say but nowhere near as well.

It actually reminds me of a teacher at my school. He was so strict and scary and as lower school students we all thought he was the rudest bleep of a human being. And boy on the occasions we ever came across him did we stay in line. Then come year eleven I had him for I think it was physics. I was terrified and so not looking forward to having him. But he turned out to be the best educator I have ever come across. By the end of the year I worshipped this man, for while he was intimidating and probably not disimilar to the teacher in this instance when someone did something wrong, his ability to impart knowledge and to reward those doing the right thing was amazing. And as a 16 year old I was able to see that most of the supposedly scary things he was saying to the naughty or younger kids was actually tongue in cheek and he was just having a laugh while still disciplining. As a younger kid I wasn't able to see this.

I guess I'm saying as adults it's hard to get a genuine idea of the teacher through the child's perspective, as they will always be a bit intimidated to begin with. If you feel you must pursue it, which as a caring mother you have every right to do, go and have a chat to the teacher first. You never know, if he's anything like my teacher he could've been saying it all tongue in cheek and walked away with a bit of a chuckle.

I'm going to go against the grain here, and say no, its not intimidating. It sounds from the OP that the teacher used an example from life that the boys would listen to and remember, I don't think he was saying 'im going to bite your neck' as such.
I like N2L's post, she pretty much typed it WAYYY better than me!! And I also wouldn't make a complaint against this teacher, but would honestly like to hear what they're opinion and take on this situation was. Teacher first-then Principal-if it were me :)

I'm not going to comment on the comment because enough ppl have. But can I just say DS, I am so impressed that your son told you and is comfortable enough to talk to the principal. It just shows what a great job of parenting you are doing!

Thanks for all your replies, very appreciated. The day I posted this our internet crashed, was down until yesterday. I ended up speaking to the Yr 8 co-ordinator who agreed the comment was inappropriate. He also spoke to all the pod teachers to allow the children a little grace as the pod is huge and they are still unsure of the boundaries. He spoke to the teacher concerned and had a chat to DS and asked if he wanted to take things further to which DS said no.

Regards,
Dianne