Teacher assaulted my son - what to do?

aimee21j

bingo_babe wrote: »

I don't want to ruin the guy's career, but I do feel that this should be a disciplinary matter. I don't buy into the Data Protection nonsense either. The names of other children could be blanked out couldn't they? This is how the police would get round that little problem.

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Did teacher have a verbal warning? Sorry if you have said before- I don't recall seeing it. Why do you need to see the reports?

slow-but-patient-JC

Interesting thread ... I can see both sides so thought i'd through my two cents in, despite being a lurker :rolleyes:

Bit of context first. I was probbably one of the goodies at school and generally respectful. As I was going into sixth form 12 years ago, even I thought some of the kids coming up had been infected with some sort of "issue" and attitude problem. Lack of respect of a few undermines positive behaviour of the many.

My friend is a teacher with kids who are very young. they kick and punch, and apparently their parents undermine what she says to the kids, telling her that the kids aren't to respect and listen. Some of these parents are probably the same as those I saw coming when I left school. Now I'm more worried that if my friend had a bun in the oven and didn't immediately go on mat leave, who know's what could happen. Personally, its not worth the risk if these kids can't control their tempers.

However, it is never acceptable to throw something, such as a broom handle, in the vague direction of a child. Whether it makes contact or not isn't the point, the intent is important and the level of impact possibly incidental. But its still spitting your dummy out of the pram. :mad:

The OP does seem to have some valid points. 2 days in isolation seems over the top for swearing at a teacher after being "accidentally" hit. Not condusive to learning either.

The handling of the investigation seems poor, but hardly reason to go to a solicitor. That's over the top and suggests the OP is looking for too much. However, if i'm recalling right, I don't think FoI applies when a confidential investigation is in process. Data protection act (and fees applicable) possibly more aplicable as OPs son was involved. This probably just frustrated the management team. If they've invited you to a meeting, even if the first seemed like a waste - go and hear them out and ask for the investigation policy. All else fails, ask the governers. The real issue is potentially how the management team handled the investigation and the isolation.

Teacher throwing a broom handle if the kids weren't paying attention? Also over the top. I appeciate the OPs son was one of a group - no one on here knows much more than this. Kids talk and don't always pay attention. I didn't always and I was a swot. But if all the posters on here who say this is a sign of complete disrespect of the youth of today and who have genuinely always paid attention in class without exception think its ok to throw things at kids, I won't be too worried as this must be a tiny minority, but its a bit scary nonetheless (I'm thinking pod people ). Seriously, come join the 21st century of human rights. No one deserves to be hurt, and if its an accident, an apology should be expected, and accepted.

Bringing in legalities unnecessarily will only undermine both child protection and the protection of teachers through unfair disciplinary practice and possibly cause additional stress. There is potential for bullying teachers and bullying parents/kids, and this should be addressed. Childrens education should not be jeopordised, we have it better than many in other parts of the world. But its probably never going to be perfect.

I'm preaching now so gonna run away :rolleyes:

bingo_babe

SugarSpun wrote:

Education is a right, but it comes with responsibilities and duties, and the most important of those is that you do not abuse it by not paying attention and not disrupting a class.

I agree. And on the other side of the coin is for the teacher to act in a 'professional' way - that is to maintain the attention of their pupils.

Not to lose their head and act in such a reckless manner.

aliasojo

Curv wrote: »

No. I'm viewing it as 'no big deal' because there is precious little respect from many young people for any figure of authority. The young man in question was demonstrating his lack of respect by first ignoring the teacher and chatting with friends and secondly by responding to his admonishment by swearing and speaking aggressively to the teacher.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but what, exactly, are teachers supposed to do with children who are being brought up in an environment where their own wants take priority over important matters such as education? Talk to them about it? Pointless when they are refusing to listen (as in this case).

If the OP had given even the slightest indication that she felt her son played any part at all in this matter, I would perhaps have some sympathy for her grievances regarding the way the school dealt with the matter. But as it stands she brushes off her child's apparently frequent disruptive behaviour as merely 'he's easily distracted' and in the face of such an unbalanced argument, I can't help but see things from the other angle.

It's highly unlikely that the teacher used throwing a broom head as his first tactic when trying to get the boy's attention and the fact remains that had the boy been more respectful and paid more attention, none if this would have happened.

Lord knows I agree with your first comment, I do think respect is a dwindling commodity these days. I dont know what the answer to poor behaviour is, I only know that you can't tackle it by displaying poor behaviour yourself. It's just a lesson in hypocrisy.

As for the OP, to be fair.....none of us knows what her son is like, nor what the teacher is like so how on earth can we make judgements about either of them? Her son could be the biggest con artist going, or he could be telling it as it is, we just dont know...but that hasn't stopped lots of people from deciding that the boy is obviously a bad lot and that the teacher deserves sympathy.

The truth probably sits somewhere in the middle.

It seems to me that the whole thing has been poorly handled by all concerned from the start. No-one should be excused from the part they played (and that includes parent and Head teacher).

SugarSpun

bingo_babe wrote: »

I don't want to ruin the guy's career, but I do feel that this should be a disciplinary matter. I don't buy into the Data Protection nonsense either. The names of other children could be blanked out couldn't they? This is how the police would get round that little problem.

Also to suggest that it's my son's fault for not seeing the object coming is a ridiculous argument - so on that basis it serves that poor child Rees Jones right for walking in front of a bullet?

The Data Protection Act is the law. It applies to you whether you like it or not.

A classroom situation where your son should have been paying attention is in no way equal to Reece Jones's death. Perhaps this kind of absurdity is why you're having problems being taken seriously.

The head teacher has assured you that the matter is dealt with. The law prevents him/her from showing you the related documents. It's time to accept this and move on.

Zazen999

Is the teacher still teaching him?

Curv

aliasojo wrote: »

As for the OP, to be fair.....none of us knows what her son is like, nor what the teacher is like so how on earth can we make judgements about either of them? Her son could be the biggest con artist going, or he could be telling it as it is, we just dont know...

This is very true. In my 40 years plus experience of listening to people, the overwhelming evidence is that when someone paints a thoroughly one-sided picture, there is little of substance in plain view and the opposite version tends to be more accurate.

But that IS just my view.

With regard to the issue of how the matter has been handles by the school, I suggested to the OP that she contacts the LEA with a less emotive version of events and asks them to comment on whether an appropriate process has been followed.

But there is a definite whiff of bloodlust in the air and I doubt the OP (and a few other posters) will be happy with less than a public hanging.

bingo_babe

Yes, the teacher is still teaching him despite the matter being unresolved.

There have also been 'mediation sessions' imposed on my son without my consent or knowledge.

Curv

SugarSpun wrote: »

The Data Protection Act is the law. It applies to you whether you like it or not.

A classroom situation where your son should have been paying attention is in no way equal to Reece Jones's death. Perhaps this kind of absurdity is why you're having problems being taken seriously.

The head teacher has assured you that the matter is dealt with. The law prevents him/her from showing you the related documents. It's time to accept this and move on.

What she said.
:T

spugzbunny

Mitchka wrote: »

Nope.

Well my bad then .... you should meet up though because you do seem very similar, and online at similar times. Strange world really.