What's your opinion? Is this teacher's reaction valid or was it not appropriate?

Was the question given to each student one after another? Or, was the question free for all to answer? If it was for each student, then the student who answered correctly is at fault. But he must not be punished (remember he is only 6 years old). He might have a phobia next time a question is asked. The teacher should have said like this "good, but next time let us give each one a chance to answer". If the question was a free for all, then the teacher is at fault. I am a math prof.

I just smile at the ego cenrerdness of the teacher. It is true that the discipline recalls that the question should be answered by the student to whom it has been asked for. Even the higher class students would have did the same thing. Often the adults of any catagory are blind under the pretext of discipline we kill charity, love and comprehension. We use a knife where a small pin is required. Students will simply receive the punishment but must see what is the reaction of the student within his heart. We may even make the human mind as an encyclopedia but it is very hard to be humane and make others more human

I don't think the punishment is appropriate. The kids are innocent- a 6 years old doesn't know that what he did is not right. The other kid only wants to answer the question because the other student doesn't know the answer. The teacher could at least ask the other kid to stop and then talk with the little kid after and explain why he/she should not respond when he/she is not being asked.

I think that the teacher may have overreacted. A simple reprimand would have been sufficient. All that he needed to say to the over eager child was "good job, but we have to wait our turn", etc. I think by punishing the kid that answered, the teacher is sending the wrong message. He needs to stress waiting on one's turn, not degrading the child by making smart comments to the child and giving him time out for it.

That is so wrong.. The teacher should have been more patient and understanding, since he was teaching toddlers. They don't really know that much about being polite. he should just have talked to the student.

That was not an unfair punishment. But maybe an unneeded one. All the young child did was answer a question he knew the answer to. If the teacher did not want him answering, the teacher only had to say, "I wanted this student to answer, it was not your turn." Or he could have told him to raise his hand, or something. But to punish a six year old for knowing an answer, that was wrong. That sends the wrong message to kids. So to answer your question, yes that was wrong for the teacher to punish the child. Wrong because the child did nothing wrong to begin with. Also wrong because the child did not know the teacher did not want him answering and only should have told him that. The child did not know any better.

I suppose the teacher had his or her reasons for concentrating on the first child, but the second child was obviously eager to provide the answer and I feel the teacher's reaction was wrong, as a 6-year-old is too young to understand the finer aspects of perhaps why the teacher was focusing on the first child. A simple, kindly spoken few words to the second child I feel would have been far more appropriate and humane.

I can understand what the child did wrong as he shouted the answer out with out being asked and the other child needs to be able to learn the answer to the question himself and won't always have someone to answer the questions for him.But the punishment was completely unnecessary, he was only a little kid he should have realised that he was probably just excited that he knew the answer.The teacher should have just explained that its rude to shout out in class and he shouldn't do it again that's the best way to stop him doing it again.

I think the teacher overreacted. Sometimes kids can't help themselves if they know the answer they'll say it. Now children may think they'll get punished if they know the correct answer and they will just not talk.

Wrong. I am a teacher myself and I never give such silly punishment for my students for any reasons. Moreover when one student is helping other student. It happens all the time. Students learn many things, it's normal if they can't memorize everything. And they have their own specialty in certain subjects. I can't punish my students if they can't memorize the English vocabulary. Moreover when they are only 6 years old! That's just silly! I would usually keep giving more questions (around two or three more) to the student that I choose to answer. If he/she still can't answer then I would skip. For others who help this friend, I usually would ask them to wait until I throw the chance to them.

In my own opinion, I think the teacher reaction was not appropriate, as we all know most the young student (ages 6 years old ) are very active and can not control to speak what in their mind. As a teacher, i think instead of punishing the student to made him sit in the yard for 5-10 mins why did not just talk to her student and explained the reason why he cannot answered the question in the situation.

Children are naturally impulsive. The child who answered most likely was excited that he knew the answer and was eager to show his knowledge. I think the teacher was very wrong to react that way. How dejected that little boy must have felt. He must have gone from being elated to being miserable all in a matter of seconds. The teacher could have simply explained to him or reminded him that he was asking another student, not him, and to remember that the next time. Unless the child does that frequently (which turns in unacceptable behavior) I don't think his behavior warranted punishment.

I think it could have been better if the teacher just made the boy stand up at the back end of the room and not outside. Had I been the parents of that kid, I will talk to the teacher so as this thing not to happen again.

The teacher shouldn't have punished the child for answering correctly. She should hace told him that he should wait his turn. The teacher should have a lesson on manners! I remember when I was in grade school and if you wanted to do something, you would have to ask,"May, I do ..." She wouldn't let you do whatever you needed to do if you asked "can I do (whatever.) That taught us all to ask properly.

I just smile at the ego centrerdness of the teacher. It is true that the discipline recalls that the question should be answered by the student to whom it has been asked for. Even the higher class students would have did the same thing. Often the adults of any catagory are blind under the pretext of discipline we kill charity, love and comprehension. We use a knife where a small pin is required. Students will simply receive the punishment but must see what is the reaction of the student within his heart. We may even make the human mind as an encyclopedia but it is very hard to be humane and make others more human

Thanks a ton for posting this discussion. Well i know whatever that child did by interfering was wrong but the punishment that was given to him by the teacher was not at all justified. I know children always have this trepidation to answer all the questions and i think rather than punishing his he should have been dealt by the teacher in a better way. I think the teacher should have realized this by now. What say?

Hi friend, Teachers must need more patience to teach the little kids, since they are in kindergarten classes and don't know about anything. The teacher must teach every thing to them. Parents will take care of their little kid while they are in home and teach some thing to them to make them sharp. It is not an easy thing to teach to the kindergarten students. We must need more tolerance and endurance to do it. A good teacher who is having more patience and give care and affection to the kids only have the ability to teach lessons in a good manner to the kids. There is nothing wrong in asking the name of the picture from the KG students. First of all the teacher must teach about the name of the picture in the class as well as make all the students to understand about it. After that she can ask question about the lesson without any hesitation. It is not a good thing to ask question without teaching them properly as well as giving punishment to the little kids. Some students may smart and bright in the class due to their parents coaching activities. Not all the kids blessed to have teaching parents. Some parents don't have the ability to teach all the things to their kids due to their busy schedule and this kind of kids may remain as slow learner in the class. It is teacher's duty to teach the lesson patiently and made them to understand. She will ask the questions from them after teaching the lesson properly. However punishing little kids is not a good thing and surely every teacher must avoid punishing the kids and guide them with their care and affection. Teachers must give extra care to the slow learners and made them to be bright and smart in the class. It is the real achievement of a teacher.