'Naughty' child? Labelling – does it happen?

I am often approached by concerned parents with comments like “he’s been in quite a lot of trouble recently and we are worried that he is getting a bit of a reputation.” It always horrifies me that there are schools where this does happen. It reflects upon the school culture quite badly in my view, since my belief is that every child deserves a fresh start every day. In this way, labelling is simply not tolerated, it is not an option. If a Headteacher hears it going on, they should intervene to prevent it recurring. I have to say that in my experience the vast majority of my contemporaries would feel the same way. If you feel it is happening to your child you should most definitely approach the school about it.