I just need someone to give me a yes or no here please

[ThePerkyCoralPoet]

I have two weeks of my employment remaining. I handed my notice in a few weeks ago and I’m in my notice period. I work in education and I had an incident happen on Thursday I was teaching and a heavy object came in my direction forcefully and hit me. It’s claimed that this wasn’t supposed to happen and was meant to hit another student. Once the lesson ended I burst into tears and lots of pupils saw it while walking past. It’s embarrassing and I felt let down by the school response.

I spend the day talking to friends and discussing options. I really wanted to tell my students I was going to be leaving but I never had the chance and was leaving it until this Monday. Due to the nature of the incident. I’m not feeling up to returning and I and feeling really undecided about what I should do.

I considered taking time off this week and maybe returning next week to let them know I’m leaving. Or just taking the rest of the time off. Part of me feels to embarrassed to return (this has never happened to any other staff member) I also don’t want to hear the insincere apologises yet either.

Do I go back for the sake of telling the students I’m going (some of them I’ve had for 4 years) or is it just time to focus on myself and not go back in.

I would have called the police if I had been assaulted at work.

The union is correct in that it's up to you. It becomes RIDDOR reportable if you're off for more than 7 days as a consequence.

I'd either finish the contract if I needed to (reference), walk if I didn't (job to go to already/agency work so I choose) or one week off, fulfil the last week.

I once had a boy boot a ball at my head.
Claimed it was an accident.
Like hell was it.

I went ballistic as it hurt like hell (I cried) and I told SLT to take the student away which they did. I saw the student later and told him he'd really hurt me. He did apologise then. I had some chocolate (it was a sports day). I shared it with him (kill 'em with kindness). We moved on.

He has ended up excluded since then but you cannot take this personally. It's rarely personal. It's teenager reptilian brain/lack of thought/impulsivity.
Once you start thinking it's you, you do need to get out.

slt Said “I’m sure it wasn’t intentionally meant to hit you” but I was the only one in the area and I’m not entirely sure how that could make any sense.

No, you are absolutely not overreacting. Pupils in school should know not to assault anyone, and this poster has minimised what happened.

You have been physically hurt and not supported by those who have a duty of care. Since you have already made your decision to leave and they haven't been very loyal to you, you should do what's best for you.

However, if it's the case that most of the pupils and your colleagues are people you will miss, I'd say goodbye instead of letting this incident overshadow your time in the school.

If it were me, I'd be refusing to have the child back in my lesson at all (three days FTE, return to internal isolation for a day or two, plus withdrawal to another classroom for a few lessons would take nearly two weeks out in normal circumstances) and carrying on as normal with everyone else.

Then you ask for casework assistance and let the union take it on.

Manager has told me she’s written my reference, this was around 3 weeks ago. Problem is the slt response is poor. I was just told it’s not intentional well how do I know that. I’ve considered going in on one day this week I just want to say final bye to my students that I’ve carried through for years.

Has the child faced any consequences at all? I'd be tempted to self-certificate and then get signed off.

You wouldn't have the new job without the reference having been done!

I don't know what you should do.

I do know it's not ok for you to be assaulted.

And have a poor slt response. I had to get my back and say I’m going home. There was no way I could have stayed after that. I was in a complete state.

Yesterday you were gutted you had made the decision to hand in a sick note to cover your remaining time as you wouldn't be able to say goodbye to the kids, and awe the poor kids. Now it's them who've caused this incident? Very Strange.

I'd go in. But that's not necessarily the right thing to do (I've been in all of last week, despite being really poorly - sometimes martyring yourself does more harm than good).

Only you know your relationship with the school and colleagues and whether you can make it through to the end or not. I have (on supply) refused to return to a school I thought was Beirut. I have also refused to extend a contract when asked and left when I said I would be. The world didn't stop. The kids had a replacement. Sometimes you have to put yourself first.

You sound burnt out. You also sound like you'd make a good Catholic.

Do not feel guilty or a failure for wanting out if that's what your gut is telling you. You're leaving anyway. Your students will be momentarily be sad but they'll get over it quickly and by January you'll be yesterday's snow. You know this deep down.

How is that helpful?

To be fair to the OP, it sounds like one who's caused an injury, out of 240 odd that they teach. It only takes one or two to screw over a lesson or run amok. But teachers are increasingly expected to take the rough with the smooth for the sake of inclusion and the PRUs being full up. We've become punch bags.

I think you should go back in. It will be nice to end your time there properly, see the children and tell them you’re leaving etc.
What that kid did to you was shitty, but don’t let one child stop you from enjoying your short time left with the rest of them.

I think I will be off this week and maybe return jest week. Right now I just can’t see that I can face going in.

Stop feeling guilty. You have been sign off by the gp fora reason. Take the time off you need and if you feel well enough go in for the final week.

Are you ok? It isn’t pleasant to have something chucked at you, but an adult too afraid to go back to work after one incident is indicative of something more going on. Particularly as it was a kid who chucked it and not another adult attacking you.

I’m guessing if you’re leaving, that it’s probably one more thing in a long, long list of other things which have made you feel undervalued and unsupported. Do whatever you feel is right in your heart. Do you have another job to go to?

I wouldn't expect them to never go to school again because someone threw something that hit them. Op wasn't injured she was hurt. And yes unless my kids where seriously injured i would shrug it off but my kids aren't soft like that so i cant imagine they would think much of it 2 minutes later, its a classroom so your talking a rubber, pen maybe a book i doubt someone threw a bowling ball at her.

Glad I'm not the only one who thought this...

I can see from the spelling how much the original poster values education; I wonder if they ever get pulled for a meeting about their kids and if this is their stock response.

Bet they'd go apeshit if a teen chucked a stone at them or their family.

OP I would go in for the benefit of the many pupils who value you. If SLT are crap then that's just what they are; say what you need to say to get through. If the kid who threw the object tries again shut it down immediately with agreed channels - send a kid to get help so someone can escort the child out of your class.

I’m remaining at home this week I think I might return one or two days next week. I’m not entirely sure how I feel right now. I won’t be able to tell all my classes if I go in on certain days. But I will tell the ones I need to and I’m sure word will go around quick enough.

Too much drama from you. Just go back as normal. 🤷‍♀️

I really don’t think you understand the full picture here.

Don’t be embarrassed about crying and you are not the only one. I promise.