Resign or get sacked? my chioce!

RuthnJasper

ILW wrote: »

I would suggest there is a world of difference between putting "daft" things on Facebook and sending private communications to vulnerable children.

Agreed, though the private communications (though an ill-advised course of action) may be purely professional. Invoking your employer's name and FB page in drunken/mad/whatever public 'status updates' could be seen as equally or more damning...

honey10

I'm so sorry to read this, I really hope you get the outcome you want.
In my opinion, which is not professional or anything of the sort, but I would say, dump the union rep asap, speak to the area manager. Speak to your unions legal helpline, they should be able to give you some advice, and also speak to you house insurance, they should have legal cover.

Please please please, do NOT resign, it will make you look guilty as hell. I think it might be better to be fired, after fighting your corner, than to resign, but thats just my opinion.

Good luck, I'll be following the thread :-)

ILW

I am sure it is not the case, but the problem is that everything OP has said is exactly what you would expect a caught out groomer would say.

ValHaller

honey10 wrote: »

In my opinion, which is not professional or anything of the sort, but I would say, dump the union rep asap, speak to the area manager.

On the contrary, stick with the union. If you don't want to resign, then don't and tell the union rep firstly that you are not resigning and secondly you want the best representation to support your decision, with bigger guns brought in if necessary.

CKhalvashi

ILW wrote: »

I would suggest there is a world of difference between putting "daft" things on Facebook and sending private communications to vulnerable children.

Exactly.

What I post to a small group of 'friends', and what I post that the world can see are two VERY different things.

ILW wrote: »

I am sure it is not the case, but the problem is that everything OP has said is exactly what you would expect a caught out groomer would say.

I'm not accusing OP of anything here, even though I feel it can be seen as daft, but I do agree with you.

CK

janiebquick

Never resign. let them sack you and take them to an industrial tribunal if they do.

stevepal

Well to be brutally honest, they have enough to sack me, I understand that. I broke the rules, I should have known better with my experience, and as someone else said here, when you look at the facebook transcripts it could easily be (mis)interpreted as grooming (God, that was difficult to write!).
In a way it will be a relief just to get it over with and be done with the place, which is something I've wanted for a while now. New things to do and all that. The only issue is this...what is the best way forward for me an my family? Right now I'm tempted to go to the hearing simply to look the two governors (who I know) in the eyes and tell them my side of things, even if only to make me feel better, closure and all that.
One other thing. On Tuesday morning I have an appointment with a mental health nurse, arranged by my counsellor. This was done when she found out I had a disciplinary, she's been a great help to me. Not sure what the nurse will say or do, but the thing is, this is only and hour before my hearing!!! I'm going to try to get it postponed, good isn't it?!

rebel1012

Yes they probably do have enough to dismiss, if they want to go the black and white with no grey route.
Plus if it is delayed you do still get paid up until the date of the actual dismissal.
You have everything to play for even if you never want to go back, in which case if you get cleared or just given a warning you can hand in your notice and leave with your head in the air. Then your reason for leaving is honestly a career change etc, nothing on your CV saying dismissed or resigned pending dismissal.

Plus your name will be cleared and the rumour mill can go back to stuff like roadkill being used in school meals to keep costs down and other such nonsense.

RuthnJasper

stevepal wrote: »

Well to be brutally honest, they have enough to sack me, I understand that. I broke the rules, I should have known better with my experience, and as someone else said here, when you look at the facebook transcripts it could easily be (mis)interpreted as grooming (God, that was difficult to write!).
In a way it will be a relief just to get it over with and be done with the place, which is something I've wanted for a while now. New things to do and all that. The only issue is this...what is the best way forward for me an my family? Right now I'm tempted to go to the hearing simply to look the two governors (who I know) in the eyes and tell them my side of things, even if only to make me feel better, closure and all that.
One other thing. On Tuesday morning I have an appointment with a mental health nurse, arranged by my counsellor. This was done when she found out I had a disciplinary, she's been a great help to me. Not sure what the nurse will say or do, but the thing is, this is only and hour before my hearing!!! I'm going to try to get it postponed, good isn't it?!

Sounds like a good plan to me. Just be completely open and honest. You aren't the first to have misjudged the implications of readily and widely accessible social media, and you won't be the last.

Dimey

As you know, I've felt you shouldn't resign all along.
OK your teaching career is over whichever way. But resigning just screams an admission of guilt to future employers (your travel co may or may not work out and you may need to get a new job sometime). Best to show you fought for the truth to come out even if you fail and are sacked.

Bear in mind that you will be able to claim unemployment benefits if you are sacked. Whereas you can't for a defined period if you resign.

I reckon the Union Rep has promised he'll get you to resign to save the Head and the Governers a lot of embarrassment. That's why he's got so demanding.

It sounds like you are in no fit mental condition to be making such important decisions at the moment. Another reason why the Union Rep is behaving badly pressurising you.

I'm glad you are at last getting independent legal advice. Don't agree to anything till you get this advice.