Posting on DM's behalf because she doesn't have mumsnet but would like some perspectives.
Some background:
My brother is in year 6 and currently rehearsing for a big part in a west end show. He has been rehearsing for the last 2 months or so and is soon to start performing. My family are not based in London so he boards with a few other children, coming back to school about once a week. While away from the school he has a tutor. The school teacher sends a folder of work with him so that he can keep up to date with the class and this is brought back to school for marking when my brother comes home.
When he starts performing he will be at school around 2 days a week and will spend the rest of his time in London performing. This will be the case until September when he will start secondary school.
The headteacher is extremely supportive and has been very co-operative with the LEA and the theatre company. He has a licence from the LEA so absence is authorised. My brother works very hard and he consistently performs very well academically.
This is not the first time he has performed on a big show and spent a lot of year 4 touring in a big production. Again, there were no major issues and the teachers were great especially his form teacher. It was a big juggling act for my brother who worked really hard to keep up.
The theatre company emphasize that going back to school at least once a week while on a big show is very important so that the children retain links with their peer groups and also try to establish normality/a routine.
Over the last 3 or 4 weeks, my brother has been very unhappy on the school days and has begged not to have to go. He comes home from school upset and has asked 'not to go back to that school'. When we spoke to him to try to find out what's wrong he has said that he hates going because of one of his teachers (she teaches top set maths)- let's call her Mrs.D.
Mrs. F has been speaking to my brother every week, telling him that he's very academically bright and asking him, sometimes in front of the whole class why he's messing around with acting/the theatre. This is very upsetting for him and he has been trying to avoid her. On one occasion, there was a maths competition on a Saturday and she was asking children to volunteer, when she asked him he said "I'm sorry I have rehearsals" - she called him selfish and that he should be giving something back to the school.
We didn't know about this at all and when my mother found out she was livid. She wants to speak to the headteacher as he is normally very sociable and loves school. I'm worried it's my brother's word against a teachers and my mum's complaint won't be taken seriously.
My mother and I are obviously both biased but it's not in his nature to make something like this up and he normally loves school.
It's a private school (if that's at all relevant) and all fees have been paid even though he's so absent.
WWYD?
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AIBU?
Is DM being unreasonable or is this teacher?
11 replies
coralpig · 09/03/2016 15:37
OP posts:
MadamDeathstare ·
09/03/2016 16:15
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