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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:
NoseWiperExtraordinaire · 08/11/2013 11:26

Sounds awful OP, you have my sympathies in having to take this up with school, but I would certainly be talking to school as it sounds like (and must feel like) a punishment.

I don't know what the processes are beyond Yr2, but as DS1 is struggling I shall be watching this thread with interest.

I only remember pupils at school being not allowed to take part in extra curricular activities if they had been badly behaved, or behind due to extensive time off etc.

What are the "special measures" they have in place? Is he "complying" with everything else they are asking of him?

Original poster
whatevermaycome · 08/11/2013 11:35

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I should add that I know his handwriting isn't the best in the world, I was just surprised at the extent of the measures used. Thanks for your help/advice.

OP posts:
posheroo · 08/11/2013 12:14

Needs challenging seriously

Amy106 · 08/11/2013 12:28

To take a part away from a child because of his handwriting is crazy. There must be a better way of encouraging his interest in theatre and help him with his handwriting (which isn't that bad anyway).

TheSmallPrint · 08/11/2013 12:30

Blimey it's better than my DSs writing and he's year 5.

I wouldn't accept this from the school.

derektheladyhamster · 08/11/2013 12:31

It's better than my ds's and he's yr 6 Shock

ouryve · 08/11/2013 12:36

Banning a child from an activity they can succeed at because they find something else difficult is pretty poor. I would have words with school and ask them to explain

a) why they think he is struggling with his handwriting
b) what strategies they have in place to help him with it
c) how they are delivering this program
d) how the hell banning him from the play will improve his handwriting (I'm wondering if sessions are clashing with rehearsals, of if they deem that he is "not trying hard enough")
e) if they have equally banned children who are slow readers or struggle with maths from taking part in something that can potentially boost their self esteem.

NoComet · 08/11/2013 12:37

My DC would be being HE until they sorted it out!

ouryve · 08/11/2013 12:39

And agreeing that his writing is not bad. It's a bit spidery and not on the lines but looks like it is fluent and well spaced. It's hard to make out from the small picture but he may be pressing a bit hard, which would cause him to tire easily.

Bellebois · 08/11/2013 12:44

I am a teacher, currently teaching Y2 and that handwriting looks ok to me... (I have seen a lot worse). What the heck is 'special measures'? I have only heard this in relation to a whole school before, never a child, but I have not taught UK state for several years.
Where is the teacher from? Are they UK trained?
If you are worried about your son's handwriting, try 'eggy letters' app, it can be a bit repetitive but gets the formation right. Fwiw the size is consistent, yes, a bit squashed, but handwriting is hardly even looked at these days in terms of standardised assessments. It is hard to tell if the letters are formed correctly, and this (in my opinion) is important as when he goes on to writing essays for exams in the future he will need a legible, fluent style so as not to get cramps etc. it does not need to be beautiful script however.
If the school are so concerned as to limit extra-curricular choices, ask them what is being done to facilitate this - unless there is something else going on that you don't know about.
(Is this story just from your son, or backed up by the teacher, for example? Could anything have happened behaviour-wise to have influenced this? Double check before you go in all guns blazing, or you will look a tit!)

Bellebois · 08/11/2013 12:47

Plus also, a possibly simple fix, make sure he had a decent pen, not a biro, which flows and doesn't need too much pressure, makes a huge difference. If he is still using pencil, then try some triangular grips or a lamy-type mechanical pencil with the grip pre-set...
Good luck!Smile

Ihatepeas · 08/11/2013 12:47

Hugely wrong! Go and speak to his teacher.

paisley256 · 08/11/2013 12:48

My son is also y4 and doesn't write half as neat as your ds - it is really unfair of school to do this to him when he is trying.

CocacolaMum · 08/11/2013 12:52

My son is year 8 and has worse handwriting than your ds!

pudcat · 08/11/2013 12:54

This is so cruel for your son. It will not improve his handwriting (which was readable -even in the small picture). It will make him worse as he will be terrified and worked up about what will happen next if he doesn't improve. I used to have a head where I taught who thought perfect handwriting was the be all and end all of all work. Until the NC came in and a such a small % of marks went on it. Staff let alone children were getting stressed out by it as we had to give in a different set of books each week for her to go through. I would certainly find out more and would think of moving him if these are typical punishments. Wrong so wrong.
Just tell them he is practising to be a teacher.

pudcat · 08/11/2013 12:54

Ooops meant doctor not teacher.

thebody · 08/11/2013 12:56

outrageous and daft and counterproductive. complain.

manicinsomniac · 08/11/2013 13:00

even if the lessons do clash the school should find a way round it. He auditioned for the play and earned a part so he must have some talent which is so important to foster, especially with children who find academic work less rewarding.

I am just about to cast a boy in a major role in our school play who can barely read, can't spell HFW and has significant learning difficulties. But he's a superb actor and a good singer so he deserves it. It's just as (if not more) important for him than his extra academic lessons which we will just have to work around.

But then I am a performing arts teacher so could be a tad biased!

StanleyLambchop · 08/11/2013 13:03

I was expecting some terrible scrawl, but his handwriting looks fine to me, he is only Yr4 so has plenty of time to tidy it up, but I cannot see an issue so great that he is being denied taking part in a play- how have they connected the two completely different issues? I would speak to the teacher to get their side first, but definitely take it further!!

dietcokeandwine · 08/11/2013 13:16

Another one saying that just sounds wrong, wrong, wrong and please take it up with the school! Your poor DS. Could just about understand him not being allowed to take part in the play because of persistently bad behaviour...but not his handwriting (which looks fine to me-as others have said, not the neatest, but perfectly legible).

I would be asking the school what they plan to do to help him improve his handwriting. I have a Y5 DS who has Aspergers and struggles with handwriting - there are things school can do to help. DS is attending a handwriting skills class one a week, is given specific handwriting paper to use when doing his homework, and his teacher has sent home additional sheets so he can get some extra practise in. All of those things are sensible interventions that should help DS. Banning a child from a part in the school play is going to achieve nothing except damage to his self esteem.

dietcokeandwine · 08/11/2013 13:17

Once not one!

Nataleejah · 08/11/2013 13:19

Is the school SERIOUS???

pointyfangs · 08/11/2013 13:50

That writing is better than both of my DDs' writing (Yr6 and Yr8) and theirs is perfectly legible - no-one has ever complained about it. Your school sounds off their trolley, I'd definitely go and complain. Ask them how not being allowed to be in the play going to improve his handwriting, and ask them straight out whether this is a punishment. Because unless they can 'prove' that he is deliberately 'sabotaging' his own work by not writing neatly, this is punishment for something he cannot help. I'd be raging.

ArfurFoulkesayke · 08/11/2013 14:00

YANBU, sounds very peculiar, and I think your son's handwriting is perfectly acceptable fwiw (better than anyway Blush)

Rufus44 · 08/11/2013 14:05

If that's true and DS hasn't got the wrong end of the stick then that is dreadful!

My year five boy had dreadful writing, had real difficulty with attaching O to other letters. One spelling test they marked him 0 out of 10 even though he had spelt them right. I was annoyed because that should have been corrected long before year 5.

I think that the school should reconsider,