Daughter injured in high school

[loopylou6]

Yesterday dd came home from school with a cut right below her lower eye lid. She told me that a boy (who's known for bad behaviour) had chucked a ruler at her face.
I phoned the school and asked to speak to head of year, was told she was busyand would call me back, I gave details of the incident and asked that she call me as soon as she had finished with her phone call.
An hour later I'd heard nothing, so I called back and spoke to someone else and was told this teacher had gone home she asked what the issue was, so I told her, she said she would flag it as urgent and make sure the HOY calls today.
So after hearing nothing today, I've called back yet again about fifteen minutes ago only to be told by the receptionist that HOY has passed this to the teacher of the class in which this happened, who apparently will be calling today
So, AIBU in feeling that this isn't being dealt with properly and also being pretty pissed off that this woman couldn't take five minutes of of her day to ring me back as promised?

I agree with calling the police. If a person in the street, a colleague or a person in the library threw an object at you which cut your face surely you would report to the police. Why on earth is a senior school child allowed to do this?

If the posters husband had done this to her there would have been thousands of cries to call the police. Why is it different because the victim is under 18 and the boy is a classmate?

Having seen this thread, I have to ask why anyone is suggesting dicking around with class/year/head teachers. They've had their chance, and demonstrated by their actions, they have no interest in the matter.

Next step, police.

(In)actions speak louder than words. Or they did when I were at school.

If the posters husband had done this to her there would have been thousands of cries to call the police. Why is it different because the victim is under 18 and the boy is a classmate?

It's interesting how all big institutions appear to have been under the illusion the law didn't apply to them (e.g. BBC, Houses of Parliament). It's easy to see where they got this idea

'Dd assaulted in school grounds. Police involved'^

That will get their attention

Absolutely this is a police matter!

My DD was hit over the head with an implement some years ago. The school did little. I wish I'd have called the police as it was an assault. The school wanted us to believe it was an accident and it was all brushed under the carpet.

Having seen this thread, I have to ask whyanyoneis suggesting dicking around with class/year/head teachers. They've had their chance, and demonstrated by their actions, they have no interest in the matter

oops pressed by accident

I often wonder what people think.it is that schools can do..they don't have special powers

especially as if it's git to the point where people are getting injured chances are the usual ports of call have failed already

I think YABU to at the HOY failing to return your call last night; presumably it would have been some time after the end of the school day, meaning that they may not have had time (for perfectly valid work or personal reasons) to return your call last night.

Whilst I don't for a moment believe that it's acceptable for your daughter to have been injured in this way and I can understand your frustration, it is entirely possible that the class teacher involved may not have had time without a class to call until this sort of time of day. It probably would have been better if the HOY had just picked up the phone however there has at least been acknowledgement that there was an incident and that they will be contacting you about it.

YANBU for being upset and expecting action, and if this has not been resolved by tomorrow morning I would definitely be taking it further (email to head as suggested probably) but I would probably give them until then. It could be as simple as the class teacher wanting to make sure they had their facts right before calling for example, or that they could tell you what action had been taken to ensure there would not be a future occurrence.

Secondary school is not like primary unfortunately and it can take longer to get a response - purely as a result of the larger number of pupils involved.

Personally I would go down to the school. Make it clear to whoever you talk to that if the matter isn't satisfactorily resolved in house- you will be going to the police.

The police will take it seriously. I did something similar when I was in school (she actually did deserve it) and the police came to my house to take a statement from me and were prepared to take it very seriously- but decided it was a matter of tit for tat and left it alone.

Schools have police liaison officers who are a middle ground - prevention better than cure and all that!!!

They aren't criminalising children!! A stern officer can be the difference between right and wrong choices!!!

Don't get why people think it's OTT, because this young man needs to modify his behaviour!!

Am I the only one that thinks it's an overreaction to involve the police? This only happened yesterday and the OP has yet to find out how the ruler thrower was dealt with. It's likely he was suitably punished by the school. It's not clear how old the children are in this post but in the eyes of the law they are minors so any reprimand should come from their guardians. It is annoying that your call hasn't been returned but surely you would chase that up first?

I don't think.its an overreaction at all.

the bigger they get the stronger the get and the more serious the potential injury.

at some point you have to say enough is enough surely. to the op the cut by the eye is her limit and who can blame her given the fact that she could have seriously been hurt and suffered vision loss or damage to the eye.

either the school need more support in dealing with this child, in which case police involvement could help or the schools methods aren't working and it will potentially get worse and worse until someone does go the police route.

either way, expecting children to put up with stuff that in any other venue would be deemed unacceptable and police immediately called is not on.

Right I have sent a strongly worded email ( thank you kitkatmonster I used a few of your sentences ) so it's a waiting game now to see if I get a reply, if nothing tomorrow should I follow my threat and keep her home?
Ilostit they are nearly 12, and no, my dd tells me the ruler thrower has not even been spoken to, let alone dealt with. Apparently the HOY has toldher today that she is unable to deal with it because it happened in a lesson so that teacher has to deal with it. I have been chasing them, that's why I came on here asking what's best to do now.

Absolutely Giles. The Op has given the school a chance to communicate with her. I'd give them to 5pm and then log the incident with the police as it seems the school aren't taking this seriously.

Keep her home Monday that should of said, sorry.

I just don't think police should be given the responsibility of handling bad behaviour in a school. They're stretched to the limit anyway. Admittedly I attended a large inner city secondary school, but a thrown ruler in class was a fairly common occurrence not a police matter.

Well I'm really not prepared to stand by and let this go unchecked, it could of been a lot more serious.

Am I the only one that thinks it's an overreaction to involve the police? This only happened yesterday and the OP has yet to find out how the ruler thrower was dealt with. It's likely he was suitably punished by the school.

I don't see it as an overreaction to common assault, which is a criminal act. What do you do when you see a crime ? Call the local library ?

It is disgraceful that the school have not dealt with this immediately and are fobbing you off.

And what is it you think school can do.

you think the kids give a shit about detention. or styling in at break. there is nothing the teachers can physically do to prevent a child from just getting up and walking out. they have no authority what so ever.

I just don't think police should be given the responsibility of handling bad behaviour in a school.

I agree with you. However, I'm quite keen the police should continue to have the responsibility to deal with criminal behaviour wherever it happens.

What we are learning about the 60s,70s and 80s suggests there were times when more people thought like you.

loopy sorry, didn't realise the offending pupil hadn't been punished. You're right to complain about that but I still maintain that it's a school matter, and the class teacher in question needs to be pulled up over how he dealt with it.