To make a complaint…

[Roui]

So my DS13 and I have had a rough time and we have been living in a womens refuge for 3 weeks now. The cockwomble I was seeing basically made a lot of comments about my sons sexuality and in the end (along with loads of other stuff) we left.

Son is a very anxious lad with low mood. He only hangs around with girls and that’s what makes him comfortable and he has a great group of friends. He’s currently on a reduced timetable at school but when I picked him up today he was stressed out but wouldn’t really talk about it. Anyway tonight he has opened up and said a male teacher had overheard his conversation with a friend who was asking if a girl he’s talking to is his girlfriend and this teacher said “xxx a girlfriend? I thought you were into boys??”
My son was really angry and upset about the comment as I am as his sexuality isn’t up for discussion in a classroom or anywhere else for that matter!

I am going into school anyway tomorrow to speak to his pastoral lead but I am wanting to make the complaint… any thoughts on this? Would you be offended if it was your child??

Yes I would be fuming! Totally inappropriate for a teacher regardless of what anyones sexuality is and a form of bullying! Anyone student who overheard that exchange could then use that to bully him, after all if a teacher is saying it why can't they!
Defiantly call school and complain!

I'd certainly go and see the Headteacher - bang out of order.

Offended? No, of course not.

Angry that he'd upset my child and that it's none of his business? Yes, definitely.

Disgraceful thing for a teacher to say and yes I would absolutely complain. Is your son actually struggling with his sexuality or are people just assuming he’s gag because of his friends/persona? If he is struggling there are lots of great organisations that can help him manage his feelings around it all and help him realise it’s fine to be who he is. Poor lad sounds like he’s had it tough.

Yes, I would complain. I'm not straight myself so it's not about the suggestion of homosexuality itself being offensive, but I'd be bloody offended by the fact that a child's sexuality is even a point of discussion or debate by teachers. It's none of their business and so unprofessional. And for someone who may still be figuring out whether they're gay or bisexual or not come to terms with it yet, that situation can be outing which is horribly uncomfortable. And if other kids overheard what the teacher said, whether true or not, it can lead to bullying. Just the whole thing is bloody weird. I'm so sorry this happened and your son is upset/angry about it. I hope your complaint is taken seriously. The teacher sounds immature.