What to do if the teacher insults a child in front of everyone?

The teacher at nursery school is demeaning one child in front of the others - how should I react? A father wants advice from our team of experts.

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One question - three opinions

Our son attends the large kindergarten. There is a boy in the class who has behavioural problems and is very challenging for the kindergarten teachers. The other day, my son told me that the teacher said: «He's ill, just don't pay any attention to him.» I find that impossible, especially as it's not the first verbal derailment by this teacher. Should I speak to her about it? And how do I do that?

Christoph, 39, Wolhusen LU

What our team of experts says:


Stefanie Rietzler
Calling a child with behavioural problems sick and asking others to ignore them is more than unfortunate. If you approach the kindergarten teacher, I would approach them with an open mind and open questions. For example: "My daughter told me about this statement. It irritated me and I couldn't understand it.
Peter Schneider
The teacher seems to be overwhelmed with the boy. If verbal derailments are the order of the day, I would address this at the next parents' evening or in a parents' meeting. Not without first asking the other mums and dads of your son's mates whether the other children also have problems with the kindergarten teacher's language. It is important to bear in mind that six-year-old children sometimes do not repeat in exact order what has happened all day. And: A single sentence taken out of context usually sounds more dramatic than if you know the wording of the whole conversation.
Nicole Althaus
I find that just as impossible as you do; and yes, you should definitely speak to the teacher about it. Preferably directly and straightforwardly. By telling her what you have heard from your son. If it is easier for you, you can feign or even actually show a certain amount of understanding for the stress caused by the behavioural problems, but without softening your demand that you do not want a child to be disqualified in this way in the presence of other children.


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