'And will she be in tomorrow'?

JimmyTheWig

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

That's very interesting elisamoose. Thanks for that.

Just read this back and it sounds like I was being sarky. Wasn't meant that way - I genuinly was interested in what was written.

aliasojo

I don't think it sounds sarky.

daisiegg

Gosh, I would never ask a pupil what had been wrong if their parent just said they were 'ill'! Really not my business. However I appreciate I am a teacher and not in the office and responsible for all the admin behind this.

The person suggesting the pill might just have been trying to help, rather than just worrying about the school's attendance figures. It would be really detrimental to the education of the girl in question if she ends up having to have one or two days off each and every month! There is no reason to assume the bad periods will settle down on their own, some women do just suffer terribly. I went on the pill for painful periods at 12 and I'm glad I did as, like your friend's child, I would have ended up having 3 days off a month as I was in so much pain!

JimmyTheWig

daisiegg wrote: »

Gosh, I would never ask a pupil what had been wrong if their parent just said they were 'ill'! Really not my business.

But those of us who don't work in schools don't know that! Which is why a parent might offer the info just in case.
But also do you not have a duty of care? If a child is having a few days off every month might it not ring alarm bells that something isn't right? E.g. they are having to stay home to care for a parent / sibling, or there is no money for the bus fare, etc. In which case would you not need to ask?

The person suggesting the pill might just have been trying to help, rather than just worrying about the school's attendance figures.

To me it was the rudeness of the answer that was the problem rather than the actual suggestion. It's a valid suggestion, but not one that many parents would be blase about.

laurel7172

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

But also do you not have a duty of care? If a child is having a few days off every month might it not ring alarm bells that something isn't right? E.g. they are having to stay home to care for a parent / sibling, or there is no money for the bus fare, etc. In which case would you not need to ask?

Yup. I'd ask, for just that reason.

LEJC

Just to take the thread full circle....and asking in a light hearted manner that hopefully doesn't cause anger or distress...

"and will she be in tomorrow?!!"

daisiegg

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

But those of us who don't work in schools don't know that! Which is why a parent might offer the info just in case.
But also do you not have a duty of care? If a child is having a few days off every month might it not ring alarm bells that something isn't right? E.g. they are having to stay home to care for a parent / sibling, or there is no money for the bus fare, etc. In which case would you not need to ask?


To me it was the rudeness of the answer that was the problem rather than the actual suggestion. It's a valid suggestion, but not one that many parents would be blase about.

I was referring to the other posters who mentioned schools demanding more detailed descriptions of their children's ailments.

Yes, obviously if a child is off a lot and alarm bells are raised; that is a different matter. But I won't, as a form tutor, question every pupil who has one isolated sickness absence and whose parent has written in to say 'they're ill'. I will usually say 'oh dear, are you feeling better now?', or, if it was really obvious what was wrong with them I might say 'yes that was such a nasty cough!' or 'your migraines again? Poor you!' but I would never peer at them over the letter and ask 'What was wrong with you?!' if the information hadn't been offered to me. Even in the case of a persistent absentee this would not be the way to approach it - someone would probably phone home to gently find out if there was some sort of persistent medical problem, and take it from there. No one (in my school at least) would ask to a child's face for details of an illness.

aliasojo

LEJC wrote: »

Just to take the thread full circle....and asking in a light hearted manner that hopefully doesn't cause anger or distress...

"and will she be in tomorrow?!!"

Lol.....I'd have sent her in today if I could have been sure they wouldn't have sent her straight back home again. :rotfl:

She's a bit better this afternoon, just need to see how she is in the morning.

dedicatedmoneysaver

As one of the 'office ladies' we HAVE to ask these questions. We always ask if your child is 'likely' to be off the next day, otherwise if not known (which is understandable, as 24hrs is a long time), we need a phonecall. What if you child was better and then you sent them to school and they took ill on the way and never arrived. If we just assumed your child was still ill and never rang you or texted you to inform you of your missing child, how would you know. You may be a good parent and it seems silly, however not everyone thinks the same as you. The volume of calls you take in a busy high school, these questions are essential to keep the cogs well oiled :rotfl:

aliasojo

dedicatedmoneysaver wrote: »

As one of the 'office ladies' we HAVE to ask these questions. We always ask if your child is 'likely' to be off the next day, otherwise if not known (which is understandable, as 24hrs is a long time), we need a phonecall.

I understand what you say, but we have to phone in everyday regardless, even if we've indicated the child is likely to be off. Which kinda defeats the purpose of asking questions really.