To think not being very good at your job is not a reason to be plastered across the national press

[callherwillow]

teacher struck off

Ok. I get some teachers are rubbish. I understand many people are poor at what they do, and that should be dealt with by earnings, disciplinaries, even dismissals.

But does it really need to be plastered across the press?

[ghostyslovesheep]

well does it really need to be highlighted and discussed on MN over a month after that BBC article was published?

[Floggingmolly]

No, she didn't deserve that. But it was probably last weeks fish and chips wrappings until you decided to respread it all over Mumsnet. Shame on you.

[callherwillow]

I thought it was a fairly interesting discussion, and given its on Google for eternity that highlights the point I'm making, that she didn't deserve it.

Twenty years ago it genuinely would have been last weeks fish and chip wrappings. I'm not posting because I want to give the woman a hard time. I think she's been treated appallingly and not just her but others in certain professions who commit no crime but are treated by the press as if they did.

[RedHareWithBlondeHair]

Well you've just spread the matter further haven't you

[callherwillow]

But I didn't post for that reason. It is hardly spreading it further when it has been across the national press and is preserved online for eternity which is precisely why I think it is an AWFUL thing to do.

[JudyCoolibar]

I think the issue here is that there was more to it than that the teacher was just not very good at her job. The subtext seems to be that she resisted anyone who tried to help her and refused to acknowledge the problem. I think these type of proceedings are an absolute last resort, so she could have avoided both the proceedings and the publicity by recognising that teaching was just not for her.

[callherwillow]

But it's still not something that should result in a public shaming and humiliation. Losing her job - yes. Being struck off from teaching - very possibly. Being named and shamed - NO.

It isn't a criminal offence to be a crap teacher :)

[HallowedMimic]

Teacher's salaries are paid by the government though, and their jobs have a direct effect on peoples lives, so the public feel as though they have a vested interest.

It's the same with many civil servants, medics and people like that.

The government needs to show it holds employees to account.

[NeedACleverNN]

If anything, to me, that highlights how kids today have more rights than a teacher does.

No parent wants their children to be disciplined by a teacher in case it ruins little Jimmys creativeness

[NoahVale]

she claimed bullying.
I bet she was bullied

[Fairenuff]

Maybe the focus should be more on the fact that children think it's acceptable to throw chairs in a classroom.

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

Of course these things need to be reported, the public and parents need to know that sustained poor performance is addressed and rooted out. She had a crucial role and her wilful failure to do this to even a basic standard will imperil the life chances of those she taught. How would you feel if you child failed standard grade or higher English as a result of her actions? Would you be so keen to defend say, a surgeon who botched operations or a HGV driver who caused a motorway pile up due to bad driving?

This seemingly went well beyond not being good at her job and there had been measures put in place by the school to address and support this, which she hadn't engaged with and seemed to put little effort into her job. Any negative press she's bought on her self.

[BillSykesDog]

It was an unusual case, so it was of interest. It's also very much in the public interest to report as the public very much has a right to know how extremely poor teaching is dealt with (and that it is) and how standards are maintained.

There are also unique dangers involved in registered workers like doctors, teachers and nurses, frequently in the public sector having closed door unreported hearings. They lend themselves to cover ups and poor staff being allowed to continue to practice if panel decisions are not subject to scrutiny.

Absolutely right this was reported.

[NoahVale]

teaching sounds like a very stressful job now

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

I can't believe that's actually news and her name is included.

I think you were totally wrong to start this thread however good your intentions. I don't live that far from the place where it happened and I hadn't heard anything about it until I saw this thread.

[NoahVale]

the pupils threw chairs and somehow the teacher is at fault.
sack the parents

[JudyCoolibar]

If anything, to me, that highlights how kids today have more rights than a teacher does. No parent wants their children to be disciplined by a teacher in case it ruins little Jimmys creativeness

Nonsense. She was struck off partly because she failed to maintain discipline.

[callherwillow]

A surgeon who botches operations or a HGV driver who causes a motorway pileup have killed people!

Dismissals are fine. If they need to happen, they need to happen. But I am questioning the system where the press are involved. This makes moving on difficult both professionally but also personally.

[NeedACleverNN]

Kids are throwing chairs in class and she failed to maintain discipline?

Why the fuck are the kids throwing the chairs in the first place?!

[Fairenuff]

She was struck off partly because she failed to maintain discipline.

Do children need to be disciplined to know that throwing chairs is both wrong and dangerous though? Isn't that something that they should be taught at home?

[NeedACleverNN]

Says everything

[AprilLoveJ]

I would never have heard about this if not for this thread.

Unless you intend to do anything about the issue you are highlighting, then you are currently just doing the same job as the press right now. Sorry op.

[callherwillow]

Well I'll say what I always say when people take issue with a thread - you're very welcome to report it to mumsnet if you feel it breaches talk guidelines in some way.

I'm not going to apologise for the fact some of you haven't seen it. The point is, you could have if you wanted to. I think that's very wrong unless an actual crime has been committed. I have used this case as an example but there are numerous cases of policemen/women, social workers, teachers, being reported about in the press, sometimes vilified, for basically doing something wrong at work.

I'm not saying it shouldn't be dealt with but I'm querying the need for it to be reported.

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

A surgeon who botches operations or a HGV driver who causes a motorway pileup have killed people!

Dismissals are fine. If they need to happen, they need to happen. But I am questioning the system where the press are involved. This makes moving on difficult both professionally but also personally.

Non-fatal malpractice cases involving Doctors, HGV drivers, social workers, police officers,train drivers etc. are routinely reported in the press. It is because they have positions where the health and welfare of the public can be imperiled by their actions.

You also seem to be under the misapprehension that this coverage was about a sacking. It isn't. The teacher was found to be so deficient in her teaching that she was being 'struck off' and thus prevented from teaching in any school in Scotland. This needs to happen in public so that there is clarity and transparency and parents can scrutinise the outcome.

As someone up thread commented , closed door enquiries in occupations where there is a professional register would encourage accusations of the professional body closing ranks and looking after their own at the expense of the public they are supposed to serve.