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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to go on the warpath over something this teacher said.

129 replies

SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 09/05/2012 16:34

This happened last week but I only heard about it today.

DD1 takes German with the DD of a friend. Today I was at this friends for coffee and she asked me if my DD had told me about something that had happened in German last week. DD hadn't, so my friend informed me that according to her DD, the German teacher was poking fun at people with Aspergers, referring to them as retards and slagging off a 'friend' of his who has Aspergers, and reading out texts this friend had sent him encouraging the children to laugh at this poor bloke. He also referred to Aspergers as a disease of the brain.

I have spoken to DD and she confirms that this happened and said she wasn't comfortable at all because her brother, DS1 has Aspergers. DS1 as it happens, also has this teacher for German

It happened last week, but WIBU to make a big fuss to the school over this?

OP posts:
RetiredDJ · 09/05/2012 16:35

hell yeah.
I'd go in all guns blazing if I were you. How dare he!!!!!!!!!!!

WorraLiberty · 09/05/2012 16:37

I'm stunned actually

Of course you should make a big fuss to the school

But then I expect you know that

DameHermione · 09/05/2012 16:37

Fucking hell.

In writing to the head, governors and the LEA.

Which school and what is the teacher's name? I'd like a word too.

TheUnMember · 09/05/2012 16:37

He should be sacked for that.

Jakadaal · 09/05/2012 16:38

YAdefNBU. This needs to be addressed by the school asap as it is discriminatory Angry

DameHermione · 09/05/2012 16:38

And newspaper if he isn't sacked.

Keanu · 09/05/2012 16:39

God.
Of course YANBU!

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 09/05/2012 16:41

Worra yeah I did, still - doesn't hurt to get a second opinion.

What would be the best course of action, phone the school and make a complaint, or ask to speak to the head?

OP posts:
Bucharest · 09/05/2012 16:41

YANBU.

He will be sacked, surely?

LeeCoakley · 09/05/2012 16:41

Why hasn't your friend already gone in!

ABatInBunkFive · 09/05/2012 16:43

I would put it in writing, it can't be ignored then, what a fucking disgrace he is. Angry

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 09/05/2012 16:43

Friend doesn't like confrontation. She's worried that if she makes a fuss then the other teachers will take it out on her DCs at school.

OP posts:
Jakadaal · 09/05/2012 16:44

Go to Head, Chair of Governers and if necessary Director of Education at your LA. When you speak to Head make it clear that your expect to be kept informed of what action is being taken and when. If they can't give you that info then you go to Director of Ed IMO

ABatInBunkFive · 09/05/2012 16:44

I'm willing to guess that they'd be relieved a parent has complained about him.

Bremusa · 09/05/2012 17:02

YANBU. But not liking confrontation is a piss poor excuse for not complaining about the teacher.

complexnumber · 09/05/2012 17:07

Please don't go in 'all guns blazing', it's never a productive approach, and you don't know the full story yet.

However it is a serious allegation, and does need an explanation.

So please do take it further.

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 09/05/2012 17:08

That's by the by. A complaint will be made to the school.

OP posts:
Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 09/05/2012 17:09

Err, to Bremusa

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 09/05/2012 17:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EclecticShock · 09/05/2012 17:10

I would make a really big fuss, if you can prove it without doubt.

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 09/05/2012 17:26

I wasn't planning on going guns blazing, but I'm not going to be fobbed off either. I want this to be investigated fully.

Eclectic, what do you mean by prove it without doubt, so far two students who were in that class have give similar accounts of what was said by this teacher. Is that not enough to make a complaint?

OP posts:
StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 09/05/2012 17:38

stuns me that only one parent is considering a complaint. what are the rest that know about it doing, I would be asking them for backup tbh

ABatInBunkFive · 09/05/2012 17:41

I agree you should never go in full guns blazing even with proof it just gets backs up but i''d rapidly escalate to full blown blazing state very quickly depending on the reaction. Wink

(Not that i thought that the OP was going to go in AGB)

MilitaryWag · 09/05/2012 17:43

ABatInBunkFive And that's when you would be asked to leave

igggi · 09/05/2012 17:43

Doubt very much other teachers would take this out on your dcs - they are probably as fed up with his attitude as anyone, if this is how he normally behaves. It's actually a lot easier for a parent to complain than for a colleague to complain. I would say you owe this to your ds to do it.