My sister-in-law picked up my 14 year old DS from school after a cricket match on Saturday and thought she smelled alcohol on him. She took over 24 hours to alert me to her suspicions but in the meantime told a friend of hers who also happens to be the school's Assistant Child Welfare Officer. The latter then went straight to DS's Housemistress with this piece of information resulting in the DS being talked to by the school before I had had a chance to have a heart to heart with him about dangers of drink etc. Furious with sister-in-law for taking this outside the family, particularly to someone who had the power to take it further. I am not cross that she eventually told me in the first place.
Have just had challenging conversation with the Assistant Head Master who obviously defends the teacher involved and says that anything she learns about a pupil has to be instantly reported in case the child is at risk. I would've hoped for at least a warning call from her (as she lives in my village and knows me) rather than what I perceive as a heavy handed approach. Oh, and when asked, sister-in-law denies ever mentioning this to anyone else. However, ACWO told Housemistress that sister-in-law had mentioned it to her. So someone is lying.
Am I wrong to feel that the ACWO should exercise a degree of commonsense, given her friendship and proximity to our family, or was she just doing her duty?
And breathe.