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AIBU?

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Original poster

Personal items stolen from me by a pupil in my class

70 replies

annieprue · 05/02/2015 09:25

Valuable items were stolen from me (4 USBs with personal/school info on) by a child whose class I taught. She admitted the theft eventually. Nothing was done. My contract ended shortly after and I wrote to the head - nothing! I have since written to the Chair of Governers to ask what has been done and apart from one short reply I have heard nothing and my emails and letters go ignored.

This school is in special measures, the original head was ousted out and the place is in a shambles. I was loath to report it to the Police but considering the way they have handled it (rudeness to me, the child not reprimanded in any way, lack of support, extreme stress for me) I am now considering doing so. What so others think?

OP posts:
skylark2 · 05/02/2015 10:25

I don't think you can expect to be told how a minor is disciplined when you now have no reason to know.

You do need to be more careful with sensitive information - leaving it somewhere where the child's only crime was taking it (as opposed to, say, smashing the lock on a desk drawer to get at it) definitely would not count as taking appropriate precautions. It's all very well for people to wail "victim blaming" but being careless with other people's personal details is a major disciplinary offence in many jobs.

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 10:28

wanderings

No, but be assured lessons have learned, and that every precaution is taken in the handling of sensitive data, that this is taken very seriously, any breach of policy willioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioiohvsd;ka\nseWEGFTWEweg

skylark2 · 05/02/2015 10:28

"And haven't MPs been known to leave memory sticks lying around on trains, containing the entire data of the citizens of the UK?"

No.

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 10:28
  • sorry, fell asleep on my keyboard. Where was I ?
OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 05/02/2015 10:31

So did you get the sticks back or...?

SoonToBeSix · 05/02/2015 10:33

Police no , oh wait yes attempt to ruin this child's future because you were careless.

MidniteScribbler · 05/02/2015 10:34

We don't know what the consequences for the student have been. The school is likely to have taken their own sanctions against her, but the OP is not privy to that information, nor do they have any right to know. I very much doubt the student has got off lightly.

Data protection in the classroom should be an automatic thing. Leaving the classroom - turn the password on the laptop, lock the laptop and any reports/sensitive files in the desk drawer, lock the door behind you. It simply must be automatic, the type of information that a teacher has about a student can lead to many levels of consequence for the student if it becomes public.

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 10:37

MidniteScribbler

Data protection in the classroom should be an automatic thing. Leaving the classroom - turn the password on the laptop

That's the encrypted laptop, of course. Otherwise anyone stealing the laptop can/will hoover the data off the disk without logging in.

TooHasty · 05/02/2015 10:41

Op I think you need to give us more details
Whether they were returned to you, where they were stolen from .Were the USBs mixed personal/school data.What sort of 'school' date ie was it lesson plans or educational/personal student information which would have fallen under the DPA?

MidniteScribbler · 05/02/2015 10:45

That's the encrypted laptop, of course.

I would certainly hope so LH. I'm not sure what the system in the UK is, but ours most certainly are. We're also not permitted to keep any personal or identifying data on USB sticks/portable hard drives.

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 10:49

MidniteScribbler

Well, by example in the main, nothing bad happens to people who are spectacularly careless with sensitive data. As long as lessons are learned. Certainly no criminal charges will be bought against anyone losing data.

TwinkieTwinkle · 05/02/2015 10:49

'Police no , oh wait yes attempt to ruin this child's future because you were careless.' - Is this for real?! Even if OP had left them lying on a desk etc, why does that give someone the right to STEAL them? Why does that make OP the bad guy? What a warped way of thinking! If you left your car unlocked accidentally and it was stolen would you like the police to do bugger all? Not bother arresting the person if they caught them? Because by your logic, you would be destroying their future because you initially did something silly.

Jeez...

MidniteScribbler · 05/02/2015 10:51

Not criminal charges, but would be a termination of employment here. Which I would consider 'bad' as I like to be able to pay my bills lol.

OfaFrenchMind · 05/02/2015 10:52

Poor kid, her wicked teacher tempted her with her luxurious USB sticks...
Seriously, the girl admitted she stole things and she doesn't even have to give it back?

OutragedFromLeeds · 05/02/2015 10:54

'oh wait yes attempt to ruin this child's future because you were careless.'

That's the stupidest thing I think I've ever read on here.

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 10:57

MidniteScribbler

Not criminal charges, but would be a termination of employment here

you're in the wrong job - should be a civil servant or a policeperson.

crocodiledundeelady · 05/02/2015 11:00

What do you reckon is going to happen if you call the police? If she admitted the theft immediately I'm assuming you go the items back? In that case the police are likely to take the view that there has been no intention to permanently deprive (an element of theft) and therefore that no crime has been committed. Also, if you're sending numerous letters to your ex employers over a trivial incident that was immediately resolved, you are making yourself look bonkers.

Altinkum · 05/02/2015 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UncleT · 05/02/2015 11:00

'Careless' - wow, again, based on what?? There is nothing to support that conclusion, unless you assume that every victim of theft is automatically careless and worthy of blame.

TheComfortOfStrangers · 05/02/2015 11:12

I am absolutely agog at the the posters blaming the OP, and implying that it is OK to steal things left lying around (not that we know that they were). Quite acceptable to just pocket whatever we like if we see it, is it? I agree, victim blaming!

As a sometime teacher /suppy teacher myself I've had nowhere to lock anything!

OP, you should have had support from the school and measures should have been taken, but as they weren't, it's best just to move on and forget it.

Did you get the things back?

skylark2 · 05/02/2015 11:22

"I agree, victim blaming!"

Don't be ridiculous. That's like saying that suggesting people lock their car means you think car theft is OK.

There are many jobs and many types of data (and yes, the sort of personal data that schools hold on kids is one of them) where failing to take basic precautions to prevent it being stolen is a disciplinary offence. The OP needs to be aware of this - and so do you.

UncleT · 05/02/2015 11:23

Why do you assume the OP isn't aware? Why do you keep assuming she's at fault without the slightest knowledge of the circumstances?

TheComfortOfStrangers · 05/02/2015 11:27

Don't be ridiculous. That's like saying that suggesting people lock their car means you think car theft is OK.

Actually my point was the opposite: that stealing is wrong even if the stealee has been careless. To blame her is, well... victim blaming.

How do you know she failed to take basic precautions?

NancyRaygun · 05/02/2015 11:29

This school is in special measures, the original head was ousted out and the place is in a shambles

so you can see WHY they haven't dealt with your complaint. Obviously you feel aggrieved - your things have been stolen. But calling the police on a kid who took a teacher's USB stick - well to be honest I think that is madness.

Why are you writing emails and letters to the Governors? What exactly do you want to happen? I think you sound like you are being a real pain about what is essentially not an expensive item and the child has owned up. Sounds like they have bigger problems to worry about at the school.

winewolfhowls · 05/02/2015 11:29

woah there - the op said personal / school info on - this could be powerpoints, or handbook for visitors etc rather than any personal data referring to students.