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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take it further with the school because S1 has been banned from extra curricular activities due to his handwriting (start of year 4)

88 replies

whatevermaycome · 08/11/2013 11:06

S1 recently auditioned for the school play and got a part only to be told by his teacher that because his handwriting was so far below standard for his age he was on special measures and so could no longer take part as it was an extra curricular activity. AIBU to question this with the school ? I accept his handwriting isn't brilliant but is it really so far below standard for the start of year 4. Before I take it forward and make an idiot of myself any feedback from teachers/parents with experience would be welcome. Photo of this weeks homework on profile page. Thanks.

OP posts:
CaptainSweatPants · 08/11/2013 11:07

Appalling school :-(

ladyrainy · 08/11/2013 11:07

Are you 100% sure that's the reason given by the teacher...Could ds be confused?
If so that's appalling. Shock

Crowler · 08/11/2013 11:07

That sounds fucking ridiculous.

But handwriting is not high on my list of priorities.

manicinsomniac · 08/11/2013 11:09

what??? Are you sure that's absolutely right. He should be allowed in the play if he couldn't write at all, let alone poor handwriting. The two things are completely unrelated. YANBU at all.

scaevola · 08/11/2013 11:09

This sounds wrong.

I could buy into it if the school was running a handwriting clinic and they wanted your DS to attend that and there was a timetabling clash. But not a blanket ban on extra curricular activity - which is valuable in its own right and, of a ban in place, would tend to stoke resentment and make handwriting a bigger issue than it needs to be.

Original poster
whatevermaycome · 08/11/2013 11:09

Definitely the reason. I don't have any experience at what is expected at this age which is why I'm asking. Just a normal city state school.

OP posts:
Beccadugs · 08/11/2013 11:09

I would have thought no matter how behind your son was with anything stopping him from taking part in the play is really unnecessary.

School is about all of the experiences. Either they are punishing him for not having fantastic handwriting (wow) or they are hoping to use this time to catch him up. Either way I still think he should be allowed to take part in the play.

DowntonTrout · 08/11/2013 11:10

I don't think his handwriting should have any impact on whether he can be in the school play, or to take part in extra curricular activities.

Unless he has extra lessons at the time the play will be rehearsed? I would check with school. He mustn't feel he is being punished for not having good enough writing.

antimatter · 08/11/2013 11:10

ridiculous reason not to give him opportunity to take part in school play afaik!

I would contest it.Write to school for explanations. Was there any concern from that teacher about his handwriting?

MyCatAndI · 08/11/2013 11:11

I would that's horrible, your poor DS.

Some people have good handwriting some don't as long as it can be read I don't think it matters how neat it is.

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/11/2013 11:11

That's absolutely disgusting!!!!

Your poor Ds. You cannot remove the "rights" to activities for that kind of reason. Messing about, not doing homework or being naughty maybe but not because someone academically or physically can't do something :(

That's just awful :(

TheWickedWitchOfTheWest · 08/11/2013 11:12

Wow! The teacher is completely out of order! I'd be raging. His handwriting looks absolutely fine to me. My dd1 is 10 and my 7 year old dd2's handwriting is better than her's. DD1 is Dyslexic but she wasn't diagnosed until she was in year 5. If the school had done what your son's teacher has I'd fuming. You should definitely take this up with the school.

Mumsyblouse · 08/11/2013 11:13

NO justification at all, what an odd thing to do? My dd's school withheld the pen license (getting to use a pen!) with my oldest until her handwriting was better and she was the last on her table to get it, but that is directly related to the issue!

I would be very upset if my child was taken out of a play because of this, however, do remember to ask for clarification and go in willing to listen just in case there has been a miscommunication. If there hasn't, I would ask them to justify this.

ladyrainy · 08/11/2013 11:13

School should be putting something in place to help ds to improve his handwriting as they have identified it as an issue - not punishing him for it.

Poor ds.

Teacher is a bully.

Plus I don't think his handwriting is that bad having looked at your link.

DazzleU · 08/11/2013 11:14

I'd be having a word with the teacher and finding out why - a time table clash with extra help I could understand otherwise it doesn't sound right.

Though be careful what help is offered if there is a clash. My DD1 is currently having extra help and is missing class time because of it but I don't think the extra help she is getting is relevant or good practice.

ClayDavis · 08/11/2013 11:16

Regardless of his handwriting he should be allowed to take part in the school play and any other extra curricular handwriting. I was expecting the handwriting to be much worse than your photo. Think massive great year 1 type writing. Granted, its not the neatest year 4 writing I've seen but it's far from the worst and I wouldn't say it was way below standard.

ReallyTired · 08/11/2013 11:17

In England it is not normal to punish children with special needs. Infact in England there is a disablity discrimation act that makes such behaviour illegal. Are you sure that there has not been some misunderstanding?

It is one thing to select children on the basis of acting ablity for a play, but handwriting is irrelevent. If your son has been punished for poor handwriting then I would take it up with the goveners, the LEA or scottish equivalent.

scaevola · 08/11/2013 11:18

I've just looked at the handwriting. It's not that dissimilar from my year 5 DD's. It could be improved, but it's legible and clear - just erratically sized, not always on the line and looks as if the spikiness might interfere a bit with the flow, and therefore speed (compared to a more rounded hand).

I would have thought encouragement to improve, and old fashioned writing patterns to improve formation/flow would be helpful, but not exclusion from a play when he's won a part fair and square.

HairyMaclary · 08/11/2013 11:18

I've had a look at the sample and it's not too bad, spacious a bit of an issue though. Unless they stenogfrong to support his handwriting by providing classes during rehearsal one etc then it's not appropriate imo to not let him participate.

For various reasons my two have appalling handwriting, DS1's, also in y4, is much worse than that. We do regular practise at home, they both went to an hour's handwriting group every day over half term and we have support from school and OT. It is all designed to boost confidence but also genus made to redo any work done in substandard writing. This is working very well but I would be furious if he was banned from participating in anything because of it.

Imo handwriting is v important and in your circumstances I would be asking school what they are going to do to help, even that means directing you towards a program to do at home.

HairyMaclary · 08/11/2013 11:19

Sorry for all the typos, on phone and it's hard to check!

exexpat · 08/11/2013 11:20

If rehearsals clashed with extra help he was getting for his handwriting, then that might (almost) be fair enough. But being excluded from extracurricular activities as a punishment for struggling with an area of school work is mind-bogglingly unfair.

My DS had (undiagnosed) dyspraxia and appalling handwriting (which the school offered no help with, beyond arranging to transcribe his Sats so it wouldn't affect their results...) but he was never excluded from anything.

I would challenge the head, and if necessary take it further.

NoisyDay · 08/11/2013 11:21

What they ^ said. No way should you allow this to happen.

bundaberg · 08/11/2013 11:23

wtf???? that's outrageous!

i would be absolutely fuming.

btw his writing is far superior to DS1's, he is also in yr 4!

Floggingmolly · 08/11/2013 11:23

Doesn't look too bad to me Confused. Why would being on special measures affect extra curricular activities, anyway? I could understand them not wanting your ds missing class time to rehearse, but after school?
I'd read them the riot act.

veryconfusedatthemoment · 08/11/2013 11:24

How very sad. But I had a similar conversation yesterday with DS teacher - he is also year 4. Just diagnosed as dyslexic and under terrible pressure at school. His school sets daily homework but also expects daily reading, spellings, timestables - all too much for DS. So I had agreed at the start of term that he would do 1 piece of school work per night. This week he got 0/10 for spellings so she said he needed to do more. DS is now doing a couple of afterschool clubs eg art, cubs and these are hopefully going to be good for his self-esteem and supported by the senco. So I had to say to the teacher that these clubs were at this moment a higher priority than spellings. I never in a million years thought I would prioritise art over English but right now that is best for DS. In your case, I would speak to the teacher but very quickly see the head - it is inappropriate on many levels that participation in a school play is driven by writing ability. Some of our children will get there but in their own time and way.