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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that that the lazy cow who is my son's teacher should read IEPs

71 replies

Reallytired · 04/10/2007 21:58

My son is in year one and is hard of hearing. Infact he wears hearing aids.

My son's class is taught by two teachers and only one teacher was at parent's evening. Both teachers teach 0.5 of the time table.

Only one of the teachers was there. The teacher who was there did not realise my son was on an IEP. God knows what sort of job she is doing at meeting his needs. She ranted on about how he didn't listen in class. I pointed out that his hearing aids aren't jewelery and she needs to realise that he is likely to miss what is said.

My son has been seen by an occupational theraphist and a report has been posted to the school. The lazy cow had not bothered to read the report.

If teachers choose to have a job share then I think they should put in the extra effort to make it work. (Ie. attend parent's evening) I have had no opportunity to meet the other teacher.

I know several unemployed primary school teachers. If these teachers aren't prepared to do their job properly I think they should be replaced with someone who is a bit more committed.

Last year my son had a fabulous teacher. The difference stands out a mile.

OP posts:
popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:33

Exactly MB - although I attend EVERY parents' evening normally, and every INSET when most fall on my non-working days and receive no payment.

popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:34

Oh gosh - I need to walk away from this thread.

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:36

I actually did use to attend parent's evenings on my days off at first. But got fed up. I would make an 80 mile round trip, take 3-4 hours out of my own evening, with no additional pay, have to ensure someone was there to look after DD (DH at work when I needed to set off), etc. And way too often so many eparents just didn't show. Worst time only 3 out of some potential 60 parents turned up. Never again.

hana · 05/10/2007 20:36

I think there is such an overwhelming amount of negative threads on mn about teachers.
imo

(although I think the teacher should have picked up on this one)

imo

popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:37

I agree the teacher should have picked up on it. I am furious about the rest though.

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:41

Agree with Popsy. But it is the SENCOs responsibiluty - so I would be looking there rather than teacher at this stage.

ScummyMummy · 05/10/2007 20:46

Teachers on this thread- I get the you feel picked on thing, really. Honest. I am a social worker after all. But I have to say I'm not surprised that Reallytired is ranting, even if her job share comments are unfair. It's inexcusably shit, crass and unacceptable to rant about a child not listening when the said child has a hearing impairment and wears hearing aids. I would be utterly livid, frankly.

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:48

Iagree - be angry yes, frustrated yes - but make sure you blame the right person by finding out what has really happened re lack of communication first. And the comments re job share and parents evening, etc - not fair.

jaz2 · 05/10/2007 20:50

Reading this thread I don't think that it's anti-teacher, it's just the venting of frustrations of a mother who wants the best for her son. I can completely understand and empathise with Reallytired's comments.

Surely everyone with a child gets nervous for them at the start of a new school year? With a child needing special help (probably not the pc way to say it - sorry), I would imagine one is even more worried. To find that something so fundamental hasn't been noted for weeks must be incredibly frustrating.

I'm really sorry you've had this experience Reallytired. I'm sure that you'll soon get to the bottom of what has/hasn't happened - but probably not as quick as you'd like. And there may or may not be a reasonable explanation. But it doesn't mean that you are not entitled to have a jolly good rant in the meantime - it's only healthy to do so!

popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:53

Scummy - I agree on the whole.

But I am sorry - far too many people have far to much to say about part time workers, most particularly teachers. I hear it in DS1's playground to right in front of me.

edam · 05/10/2007 20:54

Well said, Scummy.

Pisses me off because I've come across something analogous. Too many cases of teachers complaining that kids are lazy/thick because 'they can't even copy from a blackboard'. Helloooooooo? Every heard of short sight?

I know most teachers are good at their jobs but I think Reallytired is entitled to rant. As someone would if they were treated badly by a doctor or other professional.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 05/10/2007 20:55

Four weeks into the school year is a long time. By the time the teacher gets up to speed with the IEP and any extra awareness of how to improve communication with a HI child, it will be half-term. Half a term of lessons missed is a lot to catch up with and it will be Reallytired and her son needing to put in the extra work. And I imagine getting the IEP wasn't a walk in the park either.

popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:56

Edam, I agree with you too.

Can I just cut and paste what I thought was a particularly unfair line from the OP?

'If teachers choose to have a job share then I think they should put in the extra effort to make it work. (Ie. attend parent's evening)'.

All of the teachers I know who job share do SO much to make the job work. More than you will ever know. It works IN SPITE OF management giving little support what so ever.

popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:57

ANd I will now go.

Reallly tired - I hope you will get the answers you want. Criticise the teacher by all means - but please don't make blanket statements and assumptions about teachers' workign relationships and circumstances.

lilackaty · 05/10/2007 20:58

IME IEP's are reviewed half termly; mine are due in November.
She should have been aware that he had a hearing aid but why should the other teacher have been there - that makes no sense

Blandmum · 05/10/2007 21:00

I would also hope that the teacher should have read the IEP/ been given the IEP to read.

I would be concerned that the teacher was not aware that there was an IEP.

I would be very worried at the lack of effective communication between the staff.

The part time comments were ime a little out of order. I understand RTs frustration and annoyance.

ScummyMummy · 05/10/2007 21:03

I honestly think you should go straight to the headteacher with this one, Reallytired. Your son has been let down.

The thing I like least about it is that it blatantly shows that the teacher Reallytired spoke with had made no effort to see if there were reasons behind her son not listening, despite the fact that he wears hearing aids. In a year 1 teacher that level of non-child centredness is stunning and certainly not my general experience of infant school teachers. Warrants a big complaint in my book.

theFlyingEvil · 05/10/2007 21:03

Reallytired - my ds wears hearing aids and is in Y4. he has the same teacher this year that he had in Y2. she did not endear herself to us then as she complained to us that ds constantly looked up instead of focussing on his work. we explained that he will do that as he relies mainly on lipreading (he is the profound end of severe, iyswim).
at parents evening earlier this week she distinguished herself further by taking us through ds's IEP - only when she moved her hand did we all realise that in fact she was discussing with us the IEP of a totally different child.
you have my sympathy in what can be a very frustrating situation.
for the record - i am by no means having a go at teachers - dh is one and i have a high respect and regard for the profession. however, i do have a problem with this particular teacher. i believe the OP was also ranting about a particular teacher and not teachers per se so while i realise this is a v sensitive subject, please don't jump on her.

ScummyMummy · 05/10/2007 21:07

Sorry- x posts. I can definitely see why the p/t thing rankles, popsy. I just think that I would be so cross that i might be unfair too in Reallytired's situation.

popsycal · 05/10/2007 21:08

fair point scummy.

Blandmum · 05/10/2007 21:12

I agree, I can see RTs point.

I also see how the 'comittment' comment would rankle.

I've gone part time because of dh's illness. I don't go to parents evenings on the days I'm off work, not because I'm lazy or disinterested, but because I need to spend the time at home.

RT has the right to expect good quality teaching for her son, and following the IEP is fundimental to that. The parents evening is a different issue IMHO

CristinaTheAstonishing · 05/10/2007 21:17

I had no idea how PT works for teachers and that they don't have to attend parents' evenings on their non-working days, I'd have probably made similar comments to RT. Now I know better but still don't think it's a good arrangement.

popsycal · 05/10/2007 21:32

BUt the point is: all the part time staff I know attend ALL paretns' evening AND go into INSET days on days they don;t work - and in my case, I go to do a days work, don't get paid and have to pay the childminder. So to be told that is not putting wnough effort in is slightly infuriating.

But I guess I should start my own thread.

Blandmum · 05/10/2007 21:32

I would always make myself available to a parent who has concerns or worries. But I don't go into P/T meetings on days on which I do not work. I also do training days on a prorata basis.

In secondary it is common for staff to 'share' a class. We also do things like not both writing reports. I share a class with a chemistry teacher. We sit and chat about the children and agree on repot comments between us. I'm sure from the outside it may look as if we are being lazy, but the reality is that we are not.

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 21:34

I only ever did training days scheduled for the days I worked too. Was unable to get childcare for the days I was off so had no choice. It was the teaching union who advised this.