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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask you how to deal with idiot teachers?

371 replies

DaysDragonBy · 25/10/2018 11:59

Fuming right now. Had all sorts of shit from the school, but this takes the biscuit. DS has broken his wrist. It is in a cast and in a sling. He is under instructions from the doctor not to hold anything in his affected hand for three weeks. He is not to take the sling off at school.

His teacher knows this. His TA knows this. He has SN - ADHD and ASD.

He had art today. The art teacher told him to hold something in his hand. He said he couldn't. She took his fucking sling off and made him hold it in his hand with the broken wrist whilst he did something to it with the other hand.

I am absolutely furious, he said he told her he wasn't allowed to and she told him he has to anyway. Half way through the class his TA came in and took it off him thank god. But why the fuck do teachers think they know better than the injured child? I've told him, if anyone ever says that to him again whilst he has his cast on, he is to refuse, be as rude and he wants and tell them to call me.

In the interests of honesty, there is a bit of conflict with the school over this teacher at the moment.
It is the same teacher who has a tendency to waffle when giving instructions and complains when DS can't follow. When I requested that she made a bullet point summary at the end of her instructions I was told it is not fair to expect teachers to change their teaching style because one child in the class has SN.

OP posts:
DaysDragonBy · 25/10/2018 12:01

He's home for lunch today. That's why I know now. I am in half a mind to go storming up to school right now, but this may not be the most productive way of dealing with it.

I don't want to cause too much trouble as she is DD's class teacher on Fridays.

But fuck me, I want to go and tell them what I think of them right now!

OP posts:
continuallychargingmyphone · 25/10/2018 12:03

This won’t go well, I bet

Wallabyone · 25/10/2018 12:04

I would speak to his 1:1 to get a better understanding of what exactly happened, and then I would send a careful email to the assistant head/deputy. I'm a teacher, sometimes children don't communicate situations exactly as they happened (I'm not saying that is the case here, just that it might be a bit different).

AnonaMouse1 · 25/10/2018 12:04

They are not'idiot' teachers!!

Have some respect ..... find out the truth first

blue25 · 25/10/2018 12:05

Well I certainly wouldn't deal with it in the aggressive manner you've posted this. Be calm, polite, don't say "fuck" and you might get somewhere.

DaysDragonBy · 25/10/2018 12:05

continuallychargingmyphone. so you'd be happy if this happened to your child?

OP posts:
Clandestino · 25/10/2018 12:05

Wow. I would complain big time, straight to the principal.

continuallychargingmyphone · 25/10/2018 12:06

I was sympathising with you op actually

Mosschopz · 25/10/2018 12:08

Go storm! Chuck some weight about with your half a story. That’ll work.

AnonaMouse1 · 25/10/2018 12:09

Lol at 'storm' up to school

Who do you actually think you are OP?

DaysDragonBy · 25/10/2018 12:09

They are not'idiot' teachers!!

Because removing a sling from a child in a cast and insisting they hold something in their injured hand is a glaring sign of common sense?

OP posts:
AnonaMouse1 · 25/10/2018 12:10

You don't know it happened!! Your kid could be spinning you a line here.... find out the truth

tillytrotter1 · 25/10/2018 12:12

They are not'idiot' teachers!!

Same as one deals with 'idiot breeders' maybe?

JustOneCornettoooooo · 25/10/2018 12:12

Oh dear... I think you need to calm down a bit. Holding things probably relates to weight bearing rather than physically holding something like a paint brush. If it didn't hurt, it probably hasn't done any harm.

You sound like you have a big attitude problem with the school. If you and your child aren't happy, then move them. If you don't want to do that then you need to build a relationship with them. You're not going to be able to do that if you think they are 'idiots'.
Teachers are professional people trying to do their best. You need to be a bit more respectful.

DaysDragonBy · 25/10/2018 12:13

Why would he be "spinning me a line"? He was quite indignant that she had removed his sling and was told he had to hold something. I have no reason to disbelieve him and also why do you assume that if the teacher is caught out doing something foolish that she won't lie? Or are teachers the fount of all truth in your world and children automatically deceitful little brats?

OP posts:
florafawna · 25/10/2018 12:13

Teachers are just people.

HarrySnotter · 25/10/2018 12:14

Go in to school and ask for their version of events. I understand that you're angry but you need to handle this sensibly as, if it's as your DS says, it's actually quite serious. I would also be very unhappy about the 'changing teaching styles' comment too. There's absolutely no reason why the teacher, or his 1:1 cannot give instructions in bullet points to help him. In my school, the 1:1 would write them on a wowo board for him. There are lots of issues here.

DaysDragonBy · 25/10/2018 12:14

Holding things probably relates to weight bearing rather than physically holding something like a paint brush

He was specifically told he is not to hold anything in his hand for the next three weeks. He mustn't put the wrist under any strain.

OP posts:
LegalEagle99 · 25/10/2018 12:14

Did you put his medical instructions in writing to the school the first day he was back after the accident?

Theknacktoflying · 25/10/2018 12:15

How old is he?
How did you tell the teacher and TA about the wrist?
Going in in an antogonistic way is not going to help matters ...

NewGrandad · 25/10/2018 12:16

If this has happened as your son said then the "idiot" tag is correct for this teacher.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 25/10/2018 12:19

I might have titled this thread "How do I deal with this idiotic thing ds's teacher has done?" - because what they did was utterly stupid and irresponsible - and your title may get some backs up, as it could be read as saying all teachers are idiots, which is neither fair nor true.

It may be true of this teacher - we don't know - some people are complete idiots - but even if this teacher were utterly sensible and a brilliant teacher all of the rest of the time, they have still definitely done something stupid today - and that does need to be addressed.

@DaysDragonBy - I think I would write a letter to the HT, and hand it in to the school when you take your son back, outlining what happened, and that you are very cross about it, and stating that the unequivocal medical advice is that your son must NOT hold anything in his hand or take off his sling, and requesting that his teacher and any other relevant staff are reminded of this. And I would make a point of seeing the teacher and reminding her in person.

Chocolateandcarbs · 25/10/2018 12:22

Write down what your child has said to you, talk to the TA and if you’re not happy, show the headteacher your child’s version of events. This needs addressing as your child could have been hurt. I would definitely be pursuing an explaination. Also, regarding the problem of the ‘waffly’ teacher, follow up with the SENCO because making bullet points etc is the TAs job so they need to be given lesson plans in advance in order to make reasonable adaptations for your child.

BertrandRussell · 25/10/2018 12:28

“How do I deal with this idiotic teacher?”

Fixed it for you, OP.

Kickassbitch · 25/10/2018 12:29

My son has ASD too OP and he speaks very honestly but takes things very literally, is it possibly that something has been said and he has taken it too literally resulting in the TA realising this and correcting the situation.

My son has spoken truths before but on asking other people it hasn't been the same version due to him taking it literally and others being able to read between the lines. Worth double checking the facts before you go storming in, could be so easily sorted out.