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’m just having major difficulty making a decision on what to do. This week I feel I need a moment to think about what I do. It looks like there’s a high chance I won’t be in this week. Then may return on Monday as respect for my groups annd let them know that it’s the final week and may not be going back after. I just feel let down in so many respects by the school

Just go off sick and then get signed off until the end of term , why do you need to tell the pupils you are leaving .

"
I don’t feel like I am over reacting as there have been multiple incidents that have happened over the few weeks within the school that just left me frustrated and annoyed."

What happened?

You sound as though you have decided to stay off next week and go in the week after. Which is absolutely fine. As for crying in front of the students- I had a colleague who used to do this regularly in front of primary school aged kids. It wasn’t professional, but she was just a very emotional character. No one really cared all that much.

It doesn't matter that it's a kid, not an adult. It's a personal attack.

When you work in a space on your own with thirty kids, trying to do your best for them day in and day out and had one of them turn on you, it' can be dangerous.

They can be adult sized and just as strong, but with the backing of parents or senior staff and a mob mentality around their friends, alongside underdeveloped impulse control and an overdeveloped sense of entitlement.

If the workplace can't guarantee safety, or take action in the case of assault, there is an additional problem. But kids growing up thinking they can get away with assaulting adults, while some adults minimise it, is a wider problem for all of society.

Has SLT, or a Head of Year or Key Stage (assuming this is secondary), spoken to the pupil concerned, OP? Whether or not the pupil intended to throw it at you or another pupil, they deserve some form of sanction - at the very least, a detention / contact with parents, if not possible suspension / exclusion. Are you suggesting that SLT did nothing with the pupil concerned?

Also, has the school said that they expect / don't expect you to return in this final fortnight, OP? You type as if the ball is in your court as to whether you return, but in the schools I've taught / currently teach in, any prolonged absence, planned or otherwise, involves a conversation with SLT or the Head - they would need to know in terms of cover and supply arrangements. Has the school been silent all this time?

I was shaking and not in a fit state to finish and went home. I’m actually anxious and dealing with a lot of stress since this incident. There have been other things that have taken place in the academy that have shown that they don’t really care. The ball is in my court. My mental health needs to be in one piece.

If things are this bad then no you shouldn't go back for your last 2 weeks

I wouldn’t bother. In my experience life moves on very quickly in schools and while students might profess to be upset initially they generally don’t give you much thought after you’ve gone (depressing but true!)

As someone who worked in a school for years... Sadly this is so common and SLT do not care. Get signed of and dont go back your mental health is more important than a notice period (which you will get paid for in full)

No they just don’t care. One of them said “I’m sure it wasn’t meant to happen” just don’t lie to me. I’m not interested in it.

Just leaving without saying goodbye is maybe not how you want to go, but it is absolutely fine not to go in again.
Let’s be honest - the students might be sad for 5 minutes and then will go on their Christmas break and forget about you.
You don’t owe them or the school anything, look after yourself!

But what did you say in response to this member of SLT, OP? Did you submit a report of the incident to your line manager / pastoral team / SLT, detailing exactly what happened? They have a duty and obligation to follow up on it.

I don't think it's a big deal either way. My teens have teachers coming and going all the time. Usually they come home with some big rumour in your case it would probably be theperkypoet has left, she's been sectioned, she had a breakdown after John hit her in the head with an apple, it's definitely true, Mary saw her crying in the hall.

Sometimes the rumour is followed with a it's a shame, I liked her but they really don't care if a teacher says bye or not.

Honestly its disgusting. A close friend of mine siffered a bad head injury they didn't even call her an ambulance, shes been off for over a year seeing neuro specialist and the school didnt even reach out to make sure she is ok. Schools are the most toxic environments, I have worked for the council for the last few years instead and its a much better environment to work in. Good luck with whatever you decide x

my department did text me however wider slt never bothered. It cemented my decision there and then

Oh wow. How disgusting.

A heavy object was thrown at another student (but missed) - and you are saying g this teacher overreacted?

She probably has PTSD fgs, from working in a hellish, dangerous environment with no support from the school "leadership".

Totally agree. How disgusting to not finish your job as a role model to children because an accident happened at work where it didn’t affect you to return to that job just because you didn’t want to.

I take it you meant my post but hey that’s how I read it.

I genuinely can't believe people think it's acceptable to have stuff thrown at you at work and there be no consequences for the thrower. What does it matter if its a child or adult throwing the item? I teach primary and I can tell you I know many grown women who would throw with less force than a Y6 (or younger) lad. How can people possibly think schools can function if this sort of behaviour is allowed. Talking and giggling are disruptive to learning; if items are being thrown it's just a complete waste of time anyone being there at all.

@ItsBehindYouSequinsAndStilettos

It's not teenage reptilian brain.

It's psychopathy.

Yes to this.

It's horrifying that anyone who isn't a police officer or a prison officer has to deal with criminal behaviour in their everyday work.

No teacher (or hcp) is paid enough to deal with that kind of shit.

What?! Ae you seriously saying that op.should put up and shut up with violence at work? How about the school showing up as a role model to show there's consequences for being a violent little shit, and the school excluding them? Oh no! We MUST think of the children!

PTSD. Give over. That’s pretty inflammatory.
its the same catastrophic language I hear all the time.

Unkess the OP has been clinically diagnosed I would suggest not. And for reference, yeah I do know what it is having someone close to me who has been clinically diagnosed with ‘sever PTSD’.

its not a migraine but a headache.
Its not clinical depression it’s sadness.

Absolutely these conditions exist and are serious but let’s not exaggerate to make a stronger point for the sake of it.