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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:
Nanny0gg · 08/11/2013 15:06

I've seen much worse.

Go to the HT. That's an appalling attitude.

beecrazy · 08/11/2013 15:40

Writing looks fine to me, much better than my granddaughter also in Year 4 ( compare it to that of most doctors and it's tons better!)

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 08/11/2013 15:45

I've worked with very successful people who have worse handwriting than that. DS1's (Yr6) handwriting is slow and hard to read at times (dysgraphia) so the school are offering typing classes but he is not banned from any activities. Confused

Oblomov · 08/11/2013 16:04

OP? What have the school said?

BrandybuckCurdlesnoot · 08/11/2013 16:08

I work in a year 4 class. I would say out of a class of 31, less than 10 have neater handwriting than your son's. Removing the opportunity of extra curricular activities for this reason is wrong. I would definitely speak to the school.

mitchsta · 08/11/2013 16:17

Erm... if that is definitely the reason then YANBU. Ridiculous.

Original poster
whatevermaycome · 08/11/2013 16:41

Thanks again everyone for all your advice. I have spoken to the headmaster and because part of the rehersal time is on a Thursday afternoon they feel his time would be better served practising his handwriting. I did try to argue that he isn't a particularly confident child and so it will help with his individual development but the school feel that it isn't a priority. Such a shame but I guess that's how the education system is going - all about meeting their targets and everything else comes second. Only two years left to go at least - hopefully the local secondary school is a bit less restrictive. Thanks again, at times like this I'm glad I grew up and went to school in the 1970's !

OP posts:
NewtRipley · 08/11/2013 16:45

That is terrible. Terrible. And I agree. This is a consequence of the target-driven nature of the education system. Or at least, your school's interpretation of it. Is the school under particular pressure at the moment? OFSTED coming up, or recent inspection?

NewtRipley · 08/11/2013 16:47

Tell them you'll practise handwriting at home with him and that he is not to be effectively punished.

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/11/2013 16:47

:( but he may never have good hand writing. Will they keep him from ALL activities the whole time?

Bloody mean

harticus · 08/11/2013 16:50

They are punishing your child because of his handwriting?!
The absolute arseholes.

Couldn't agree more about growing up in the 70s/80s OP.

ladyrainy · 08/11/2013 16:50
Sad poor boy
NewtRipley · 08/11/2013 16:52

sorry that should have read "he is not to be (in effect) punished"

NewtRipley · 08/11/2013 16:53

P.S his writing is FINE

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/11/2013 16:55

From the pic it looks done. But handwriting was never my strong point either, was never good enough for school. He can't be kept off everything for doing his best just because it's not "good enough" for them

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/11/2013 16:55

Fine not done

Retroformica · 08/11/2013 17:35

It would be great for his confidence, I don't understand why they won't let him be involved.

wispywoo1 · 08/11/2013 17:42

oh that's awful and that's coming from another teacher! I teach secondary and I've seen worse than that. Have they offered extra help? Do you practice at home? Does your son try to improve his handwriting or is he not interested in it at all?

pointyfangs · 08/11/2013 17:45

I'd be looking for another school at this point, and possible naming and shaming in the local press too, but then I'm vicious.

BackforGood · 08/11/2013 17:57

I'm not generally one who calls for things to be taken further with rash abandon, but I really would write a letter to the governors about that - it really is shocking that they would ban someone from taking a part in the play because they happen to have poor handwriting.
At the start of Yr4, my ds's handwriting was appalling - it was a bonus therefore that his school was a normal one, and encouraged him to follow his interests and become the lead in a couple of school productions - he's now doing drama at A- level.
At the last school I taught at, we had a girl join us in Yr2, who couldn't read or write at all. She was severely dyslexic, and her writing (at the end of Yr6) was nowhere near as good as your ds's, but she took the lead role in the end of Yr6 production, because we'd worked hard on her confidence, and she had a lovely singing voice, and it was something that gave her a chance to shine, in a way that reading or writing never would.
Surely that's what education is all about - helping dc to fulfil their potential (whatever that may be) rather than punishing them for having one aspect of their work that might be a bit weaker than the rest? Confused

TheArticFunky · 08/11/2013 18:47

You have to challenge this. Write a letter detailing why this is a bad idea as it is quite clear the Headteacher needs some guidance!

Strumpetron · 08/11/2013 18:49

You have to challenge this. Write a letter detailing why this is a bad idea as it is quite clear the Headteacher needs some guidance!

Do it in the worst hand writing ever.

Justforlaughs · 08/11/2013 18:53

I wouldn't accept this if my DCs wanted to take part in the play - for what it is worth his handwriting looks better than my 20yo and lots of the managers where I work as well! I'd be tempted to look for a drama group for him to attend after school.

teacherandguideleader · 08/11/2013 18:53

That is terrible. I always think it is important to encourage children who struggle with one thing to do something that they can excel in whether it be art, sports whatever.

I don't know what the school are doing to help him but I went to a conference a while ago that suggested drawing a highlighted line above the printed line (so the bottom of the highlighted line touches the printed line) and then the child puts the bulk of the letter in the highlighted bit with just the sticky up/down bits (sorry I don't know the technical term) outside of the highlighted space. The results were quite amazing - might be something you could try at home.

NoseWiperExtraordinaire · 08/11/2013 18:59

That is really sad and a bad reflection on the school.

Did you manage to ask about what is in his IEP/special measures (or whatever they're calling it)? You don't have to detail it here but if he has (or is on) one, then you should have a right to speak to the school SENCO about how you and he feels about taking part in the play being important to his self esteem. They may be able to give weight to your argument (if they're any good) and structure his IEP to take this into account, and may also support a letter to the governors (possibly?).