To raise a formal complaint regarding school isolation

[HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend]

Last week a group of 20-30 kids were throwing acorns at each other in the school playing field, a child who also throwing the acorns, got hit in the eye which I've been led to believe required medical treatment, teacher asked who hit the child and DS said he believed it was his acorn, and that he was sorry, and did not mean to cause anyone harm.

He was given a days isolation plus after school detention, however on the day with only 10 mins notice.

His head of year called and said as he admitted it was him, they had no choice to follow the isolation process, however admitted they thought it was harsh, however rules and rules which we will adhere to and support the school with.

DS has NEVER been in isolation.

My AIBU is, Ds was made to sit in a 2 by 4 booth, being made to sit upright and face a white wall for the whole of the school day. NO SCHOOL WORK WAS GIVEN AT ALL

He could not tell the supervisor he had no course work as he isn't allowed to talk while in isolation, and tbh nor should even have to ask for course work, its the supervisors role to ensure DS has course work, which is the policy in DS school.

Only one teacher called the isolation supervisor to ask if DS was present, however did not send course work, not one of his other 4 teachers called to ask if he was present.

The isolation supervisor has confirmed all of the above is true his HOY has advised us that they have passed it on to the isolation manager who will be calling me, however even after chasing it up everyday for the past week and leaving messages for them to call me I am still awaiting the phone call.

My own DS ended up requiring medical treatment as he endured a headache with sickness and sensitivity to light, ds has never had a migraine before isolation, which the A&E doctors advised was the cause.

I am finding it infuriating that despite several posters - including you and me - describing in some depth the current situation in schools, the response is that schools are no better prison/torture and that we should cease and desist.

That exact same argument was used when corporal punishment was banned in schools.

Every generation insists that "youth these days" are horrendous compared to them. Said youth somehow grows up, works, raises families just like their parents did.

You can’t compare a boring day in a cubicle with being beaten.
Schools have hundreds of students. They have to ensure safety above all else. If students are disrupting lessons or placing others at risk then what would you like them to do exactly?

I don't see the value of making them stare at a wall with no work to do

Students should have something they can get on with. Revision, HW of even a book to read.
If exclusion is planned in advance then teachers should be able to send some work. If this occurs during the school day then teachers are teaching. Should they postpone the learning of 30 odd kids to sort out work for the one? Also worth remembering that some lessons involve practicals, group work, discussion or materials it isn’t possible to share in this situation.
Makes me cross when the focus isn’t getting kids to get on with work and be pleasant to each other but rather criticising the school for how they deal with poor behaviours.

Nobody is saying that there should be no discipline in schools. And personally I find some descriptions of how isolation booths operate properly in some schools not bad.

But punishments should fit the crime and should never be cruel, bordering on torture.

A child who owns up to their misbehaviour probably still deserves a punishment but should know that their honesty is to their credit.

Torture?! Really?
Jeez. Only onMN.

I cant see a single post on here of anyone claiming there should be no discipline in schools. Not a single one, you cant discipline and generalise all children the same for the bad behaviours of a minority.

What my son was forced to endure is ABUSE! I was a Social Worker before I left to work in Social Housing, if a parent punished a child the way mine was, there would be serious intervention needed, and the hospital would be making a safeguarding referral. But hey, its ok as schools are underfunded and cannot cope with a minority of pupils poor behaviours so know what lets abuse the children

The schools own policy is that teachers are required to give children isolation coursework, if they cannot adhere to that then they need to make changes.

My son could not dispute his treatment as he was not allowed to, its complete abuse of authority, and I see no one has yet again said they would allow their children to be subjected to what my child was forced to endure

Forced to endure?
Seriously?
You demand the school change? How exactly! How are they to magically provide appropriate work without notice? What should the other students in the class do whilst they are sorting things out for the one who has behaved poorly and so is excluded from the class?

What should the other students in the class do whilst they are sorting things out for the one who has behaved poorly and so is excluded from the class?

Have you actually read the thread or at least the OP's posts about what happened?

Yes.
Child did something and admitted it. Placed in exclusion. Seemed an overreaction but that’s not the OP’s point.

OP you have said that another student who harmed your DS was put in isolation as punishment. Did you complain to the school that this was abuse of the other child? Abuse of authority? That this child should not have had to endure this treatment?

Or is it only unacceptable as it has now happened to your child?

Thats not my issue Wolfe!, are you deliberately choosing to be obtuse? its the school policy, if they cant adhere to their own policies, and children are made to suffer, then you can bet your arse I am going to be complaining.

If teachers cannot provide work for what ever reason, then there should be additional work available for the children to do, not made to sit and state at a blank wall.

and YES forced to endure, he was forced to be in an environment that resulted in him requiring hospital treatment, just because the school cannot adhere to their own policies!!!

I dont have an issue with isolation, MY ISSUE IS HOW DS WAS TREATED

So how would them adhering to those policies have ended up with him not in hospital?

That exact same argument was used when corporal punishment was banned in schools

Every generation insists that "youth these days" are horrendous compared to them. Said youth somehow grows up, works, raises families just like their parents did

ODFOD. If you read my posts I have said nothing that demonises young people.

Really Wolfe do you really need someone to spell that out for you

Honestly can’t see how having work would stop him being unwell. But go on a witch hunt at the school for subjecting your child to mental torture and physical suffering and make their life that bit harder.
So glad I’m not a teacher.

So you condone the abuse of children because it would make those who are inflicting the abuse lives harder?

FUCKING HELL!!!

So All the other expectations of the isolation room- such as being in a small booth, not talking, sitting upright - were not the problem?

Your ds not having work to do was the abuse?

I fail to see how sitting quietly is abuse.

Evidently!

I'm still pissing myself at the idea that any wall in a state secondary school has a bright white wall!! More likely scratched, scuffed magnolia bought in bulk in East Berlin following the end of the Cold War. It certainly won't have been repainted in the last 5 years or more.

I haven't read the whole FT but I agree OP that this punishment was outrageous and I wouldn't let it go if it were my son. Like you, I would generally support the school on all matters and, in fact,, think they should be much stricter a lot of the time, but this was just hideous and clearly deeply affected your poor DS. Try and ignore the ludicrous posts suggesting your are over reacting, you aren't.

So you condone the abuse of children because it would make those who are inflicting the abuse lives harder?

Well that escalated slowly and painfully.

You are using hyperbole for effect, right OP?