There is never a valid reason to use the word pathetic with a 7 year old child. Whether you are critiquing his work or him is irrelevant. This teacher's method is to break their self esteem. It is in no way encouraging the child to better himself or his work. Perhaps he has undiagnosed issues affecting him. Perhaps he freezes up while testing. Perhaps he has things going on at home that affected him that day. At 7 years old you should be finding out WHY he failed the test vs. what was done in this case. I think that not only should the teacher (having been approached and showed zero sympathy or remorse) was correctly terminated....but any administrative staff or school board supporting her methods needs to seriously be reevaluated as well. It sounds like they need a complete overhaul at that school/district. If you don't have the patience, compassion, and LOVE for children that it takes to be a teacher....then you need to find a different field of work. Period.