Australian teachers have taken to an online forum to confess the ‘red flags’ that signal a student might be hard work before they’ve even said a word.

From certain hairstyles and particular names to clothing choices and even the type of backpack slung over a student’s shoulder, teachers admit they often clock small details that make them quietly brace themselves for the term ahead.

Dozens of educators took to an Australian teachers’ forum, using it as a confessional to reveal how they judge students based on the way they look, what their name is or even what stationery they bring to class.

The thread was started by a teacher who asked: “Other than a rat’s tail, what is your ‘this student will be painful’ red flag? For me, it’s a Nike bag.”

What followed was teachers detailing sometimes oddly specific reasons some students are immediate red flags.

What’s in a name?

According to the teachers in the forum, certain names lend themselves to students who misbehave or don’t do their work.

“First name ends in den. Or completely misspelled name,” one teacher wrote.

“Any boy’s name starting with J,” added another.

One teacher unleashing on students with very specific names: “For me it’s the C names, Chase, Cooper. As well as the names like Archer, Ryder and Kobe. Haven’t met a nice kid with these names all rude and think they’re untouchable.”

“For girls, basically any hyphenated name means you’ll have a nightmare.”

“Any name with an X in it.”

“Name starts with Jay, Jai, Jae, or Jye or ends in din, don, den, dyn tin, ten, ton, tyn, lin, len, lyn, or lon.”

“Name is sort of off-beat but is also mis-pelled (Pheonix) or miss-pronounced (Pee-ho-bee rather than Phoebe).”

“Yet to meet a single Jayden (or variant) who wasn’t an unmedicated ADHD type with anti-social behaviours.”

Judging a book by its cover

Teachers said they’re also able to pinpoint just how a student will behave based on what they wear and their hairstyle.

“Mullet. Nike TNs. Shorts as long as boy leg undies as school shorts (girls). No uniform first week of school.”

“Hat exemption. Needs to wear a hat. Parent made that much of a fuss the school allowed it.”

“Boys dressed in all black gym gear ALL THE TIME.”

“False eyelashes which blink excessively when you ask for groups to be formed.”

“Boys with mullets or earrings. Especially in just one ear. I’ve got two like this in Year 1.”

“Fake lashes, press on nails, chewing gum. This is year 6 from my experience. Or the school shirt is ridiculously long over their tiny bike shorts that you don’t even know they have shorts on.”

“For boys, the diamanté studs. Added points if he is trying to grow a moustache.”

“A red head with box dye black hair. I try and give them the benefit of the doubt and they always reveal themselves.”

“Girls who roll their winter skirts up so I can literally see their butt.”

Niche niggles

There were also some very niche ‘red flag’ indicators that triggered teachers in the forum.

“If they own an ebike. Specially one that has the conversion kit on it.”

“Boys- lean back on their chair the minute they sit down. Girls- group of 5-7 friends that have to sit with each other in class (you just know that group hates at least one of its members).”

“When a teacher starts their description of the student with some variation of “they’re actually really smart but …” Not only will they probably disrupt. But they are also almost certainly v manipulative.”

“Students who try and drag furniture around as soon as they walk into the classroom to sit with friends.”

“The red flag students are usually the ones that bring that same one notebook to every class, and no pencil case or folder for handouts.”

“Boys who come to class with a laptop and if you’re lucky a pen in their sock.”

“Any kid who says “I’ll work on the family farm”. No ambition and/or the family doesn’t value education.”

But there were a couple of teachers who responded with concern at the nature of the online discussion.

One educator wrote, “Look…. I get all of this. But aren’t we as professionals supposed to give each student a blank slate? I’ve been told numerous times about students in my class being horrible and to ‘be careful/strict’ with particular students, and in some cases it intimidated me. My experience with these kids has then been vastly different and I’ve had really good experiences with them. Shouldn’t every child be given an opportunity? Not just written off because of a hair cut, or a name, or a pair of shoes? Come on.”

What are you thoughts on all of this? Share your opinion in the comments below.

Feature Image: Photo by Lesli Whitecotton on Unsplash