So very angry right now!!

joeblack066

I have a lot of issues with my daughter's school. Today just became the proverbial straw that broke the donkey's back. For background, my DD's Dad, a lifelong Type 1 Diabetic, died from a massive heart attack four years agon on Christmas Day when my then 10yo DD was alone with him. DD has struggled with coming to terms with this, and her school have been worse than useless. Today, with no warning, no quick text or email to me to pre warn us, her Biology teacher did a full lesson on Diabetes, and that heart attacks and death are possible as a result. The class were incredulous, not realising that diabetes is potentially fatal, and this resulted in a bit of a free for all comment flinging session. Through none of this did anyonecheck that my DD was ok, which she most certainly wasn't. She is still angry, v v upset, and I feel we have just slid back nearly 4 years. Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!

globalds

I would say you would be expected to inform the school of specific wishes and areas that need to be treated considerately.

The school teaches a syllabus and will include all or more than is required.

Tell your daughter to leave lessons if it is uncomfortable ..But inform the school you have allowed this decision ..should she suffer any consequences for walking out.

Cherry_Bomb

Whilst I'm not disputing this must have been very upsetting for your DD but is it necessarily the schools fault? Was the biology teacher aware of what happen to her dad?

nickyhutch

Whilst I have every sympathy for your daughter and her feelings (that must have been a dreadful thing to go through), why, if the school have been so bad for 4 years, haven't you moved her? What have you expected of them, exactly?

mrcow

The biology teacher was probably not aware of the reasons behind your daughter's Dad dying. If this happened in primary school, then the secondary school would be aware that her dad had died, but not necessarily of specifics.

You need to make them more aware of this - diabetes comes up on KS3 and GCSE syllabuses a fair bit.

Not trying to be argumentative, but as a Biology teacher, I have to teach about heart disease, stroke etc. and cancer - all the time. Most pupils will know of people suffering and/or dying of these (as do I). Pupils always have a lot of questions about such things - especially if they know people who are affected or have been affected. If you have specific requests to make to the school, then make them clear and that they are communicated properly.

cheeswright

she hasnt gone back 4 years
its certainly ripped a scab off - and shes raw and hurting
but
now - without her having to rip that scab off herself every single time she explains to one of her school friends - they all have some level of understanding of her situation
I expect the teacher had no idea - and will be devastated if the situation is explained to them
but
if - for instance - because of her obviously devastating experience - she became a campaigner in later life to raise funds for diabetes research
what would she have changed about that lesson?
what would her message have been to the other students ?

would asking her something like that help her cope with the situation?
then she could even move on a little

not probably what you want to hear - but you cant protect her from ever hearing about this again...
it wont go away
so she has to find ways to....chanel the anger she has towards the disease
not against people talking about the disease



I'm not sure I've said this properly..or quite what I mean

onlyroz

I also don't see how the school could have possibly anticipated this. Are you suggesting that schools should not teach lessons about any type of illness just in case somebody in the class has been affected by it? Or, for example, they should not teach about road safety just incase somebody knows someone who was killed in a traffic accident?

meritaten

to be fair joeblack - I doubt that the teacher was aware in any way that this would be an 'issue' for your DD. and I dont imagine that schools routinely screen each lesson for issues pupils may have.
If, as you say, she is still finding it hard to deal with - is she having or had any counselling? I can imagine the experience was very traumatic for her.
I think that this is something YOU as a parent need to be dealing with - would you be writing Irate letters to the BBC if they showed reports on this?
I can understand YOU upset if your DD is upset - but think its something YOU should be dealing with.

faerie~spangles

What happened in class was unfortunate.

To put a positive spin on things - it may in the long term be a good thing, namely in giving your DD a better understanding of what happened to her granddad.

Unfortunately we cannot control being reminded of bad things which have happened in the past.

Would you have the biology dept ask : hands up anyone who has lost someone who suffered from a heart condition / cancer / ??? Then to suggest that if they find the lesson too upsetting they may leave the class?

go_cat

faerie~spangles wrote: »

, namely in giving your DD a better understanding of what happened to her granddad.

I think it was her dad not grandad

Brighton_belle

faerie~spangles wrote: »

To put a positive spin on things - it may in the long term be a good thing, namely in giving your DD a better understanding of what happened to her granddad.

It wasn't her grandfather...it was her own father.