to take action against school for daughter's back pain?

[ghi]

My daughter attended a school where it was compulsory to sit bolt upright at all times like in the Victorian era.

You would get a detention if you didn't, and if a teacher allowed you to sit naturally, and a manger came in, the teacher would be told off in front of the class

This was teachers being made to impose a rule, with no medical or physiotherapy training, and the person that invented this rule was a deputy head who was a modern language specialist

This started when she was in year 10, and continued throughout year 11, and she is a tall girl, and started getting back ache from the first few weeks.

I really wanted to change schools, but it is a very difficult thing to do in GCSE years. I wish I had now, because your health is more important than your GCSEs

Anyway, she is at university now, and still gets lower back pain every single day, and it isn't improving - Gp can do very little except pain killers and physiotherapy exercises, but agrees this is likely to have been caused by the rule to sit bolt upright for hours every day, while trying to read and write.

I am so angry that a stupid, ignorant MFL teacher has done this damage to my daughter, but what can I do about it now?

Can I take some sort of legal action? I don't even know where to begin.

I would like to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience,

thank you

Any lawsuit for personal injury needs to be taken within 3 years of her turning 18 so you may be time barred anyway that is assuming you are able to prove causation which I doubt.

I'd be angry about this too. I think you should have done more at the time (such as complain) but shoulda, woulda, coulda. Do you know if the teacher is still at the school? If so, you might prevent this happening to others. If not, I think you may have an ultimately worthless fight on your hands.

she is still under 21 and the teacher is still at the school if that makes any difference, but I think you are right, there is likely to be little we can do.

we did complain at the time, but nothing changed, and my daughter just got issued with detentions for not wanting to comply

Isn't sitting up straight much better for your back?. Surley 'sitting naturally ' = slouching Would be more likely to cause lower back pain.

Sitting up straight is unlikely to be medically proven to damage her lower spine.

As a person who has chronic back issues even known events are very challenging to be linked medically.

Mine was definitely impacted by the weight of school bag carried each day along with falls on steps but no doctor was willing to put it in writing. Perhaps you might be more fortunate.

What school was this, for goodness sake?

This is a wind up right?
Was she planning to spend the rest of her lift hunched over like a quaver because she's tall?
Jesus wept

Sitting up straight with good posture gave your daughter a bad back?

Can't believe this sorry.

You didn’t like the policy? Move schools. Not as potentially lucrative though eh?

sitting with a ramrod straight back isn't natural or healthy, it is just a victorian value of what is aesthetically pleasing

What does "sitting naturally" look like?

To be able to take legal action you would need to be able to prove that sitting upright caused chronic back pain in your daughter, and if you were looking for monetary compensation you would need to demonstrate the extent of financial damages to be remedied (for example has she had to pay considerable out of pocket expenses to access healthcare, has she lost a job due to her back pain affecting her performance etc).

Given that an upright posture is generally considered good for back health I think you would have a very hard time proving causality.

I would be interested to know if any other schools have insisted on ramrod straight backs at all times, all day, assembly and lessons....

Has anyone else had this rule?

Im also struggling with the link with sitting up straight, which is good for your spine and back muscles (within particular parameters obviously) and her current back pain

I would be amazed if your GP puts it in writing that this is the cause.

Go to tabloids with your sad face, OP.

I have back issues. I'm in my 50s. Definitely caused through poor posture. Wish i had sat up straight as a youngster.

Is this a state school?

i doubt your GP is correct about this causing chronic back pain

within what parameters?

I am really struggling with this, I have spoken to the physiotherapist, who agrees it is an unnatural position to be forced into, but I am finding it difficult to find much clarity in how unnatural, and how potentially damaging this can be

yes, it was a free school, then became a MAT school

I'm struggling with sitting up straight being unnatural. I thought it was what we were all meant to do!

Not for decades. It went out of fashion just before more kids started getting bad backs.

Core muscle strength and an awareness of good posture at all times, such as when sitting for prolonged periods, is a key part of treating the majority of chronic back pain.

You can't sue a school for your daughter's weak core muscles.

Well for example, if someone has curvature of the spine already then their 'sitting up straight' position will be different to someone who doesnt have that condition. Same with any physical disability that could affect it, thats what I mean. And they would have to sit in a particular position thats best for them

Why are you looking for someone to blame for an achy back, most people have achy backs, backs have to work hard, most people have had or will have some back niggles in their lives. Good stretching is good for backs, follow the physio's advice on how to resolve it

What do you mean 'its an unnatural position to be forced into'? What was she doing, handstands?

Sitting up straight us not an 'unnatural pisture' if you're aiming for a Daily Mail sad face pic crack on if you're serious in wanting to help your daughter start regular yoga or pilates. It seems far more likely that growing pains or stooping for smaller friends is the cause of her back pain than good pisture in class.

Bloody I and u my phone always picks the wrong one!