Teacher arrested for attempted murder

[Bottomofthebarrel]

This week a teacher at my DD’s secondary school was arrested for attempted murder. He stabbed a woman in the head and neck in broad daylight, and I believe he was only unsuccessful in killing her because other people intervened. She is in a critical condition in hospital, so he could be looking at a murder charge. This has all been in the news, including the BBC.

This man was teaching my own child until very recently. She was given an after school detention by him for being very slightly late to his lesson, and the detention was just him and her sat in a room. That sends shivers down my spine now. I can’t get the whole thing out of my head.

This must be so disturbing for all the kids at the school. I feel that the school are potentially going to struggle more with behaviour control from now on - this man was employed as one of their role models so I can’t help but feel they’ve lost the moral high ground. Not to mention the effect on those who are in their exam years and are now minus a subject teacher.

How the fuck does someone like that become a teacher? I must say in the last 9 years since my DC started secondary, I’ve come across a few - all of them male - teachers who have got my back up and seem to be definite ‘power tripping know it all’ types, and not particularly bright to boot. There’s another male teacher in another local school who was in the news, having to pay £200,000 damages to his neighbour after a childish bullying campaign which went on for years.

Is this the best we can do? I get teaching isn’t the most attractive profession, but it actually terrifies me that these people are supposed to be guiding and leading our children, sometimes on a one to one basis. My worry is that with the current shortage of teachers, and desperation to fill vacancies, the standards are going to sink even lower.

This isn’t a general teacher bashing thread, there are many truly wonderful ones out there, and I know it’s an incredibly difficult job. Just feeling very shaken by what has happened this week. My DD really didn’t like this man and I assumed it was her being a stroppy teen, now I feel awful for not taking her seriously.

Open your mind a bit more. Do you honesty think you're going to get an A class education if you leave it up to the teacher???

His profession might not be relevant to the jury but his profession is relevant to the OP and to me. We do expect a higher standard of behaviour from those who have vulnerable people in their care ( teachers, nurses, doctors , care workers)
Obviously there are people who fall short of the standards but we try to ensure that those who care for the vulnerable have ethical standards so it IS more disturbing when a doctor or teacher etc commits a crime .

When I read stories about a 5 and 10 year old passing their Maths GCSE what does that tell you about the system?

Pretty much nothing. Are you suggest that many 5 and 10 year old children should be passing GCSEs?

Read my other reply and think again. 5 and 10 year old passing their Maths GCSE.

I agree. In certain professions one is expected to have a high standard behaviour professionally and personally. It is very disturbing when doctor,police,teacher commit crimes. Given the responsibilities of their roles and then implicit trust placed in them

@Limesodaagain what sort of crime though, I assume everyone doesn't expect or want anyone to stab another person no matter what their job?

Why not their parents are ambitious enough to do it.

I read your reply. It is nonsensical and my reply remains unchanged and I won’t be rethinking your post

Absolutely not, because even the best teacher is going to find it difficult to combat poor attitude and disengagement in students who have no support at home, or who are actively encouraged to disengage, something that is far too prevalent.

Yes obviously but people are blaming this on the standard of teachers today. You get what you pay for. At the pay teachers receive, literally anyone could be standing in front of your children today, whoever they can get!

Parents and carers are also arrested for similar behaviours and so are children. It is all so very disturbing but sadly reported incidents seem to be increasing.

Thanks for giving me some head space. It's not for everyone.

Then you should lower your standards. There's a reason certain people choose to work in environments that they have close contact with vulnerable people. These stories aren't uncommon of police, teachers, nurses, drs doing unthinkable things, Abuse in care homes, hospitals, police stations and schools. What this teacher did is awful however it was in his personal life and not his work environment, so the fact he's a teacher is irrelevant

Does their paid for education involve teachers? Do they know how you view them?

“When I read stories about a 5 and 10 year old passing their Maths GCSE what does that tell you about the system? “
Not sure why you think these outliers are a) desirable or b) tell you much about “the system”?
I’m sorry you have negative views of school. Don’t lump them all into one - there are some very good schools and very hardworking committed teachers out there.
I know maths is very important- but so is empathy and kindness. If you are interested in raising children who are fair, respectful and well balanced I would suggest you don’t tell them their teachers are just glorified baby sitters .

The term 'cool girl' means (among other things) a woman who will never criticise a man and ignore or find excuses for their worst behaviour. That's a bunch of quotes showing that. You asked, I gave you the examples. I'm not going to sit around debating whether those examples are apologia for male violence, because they are.

"Why don't you become a teacher?" is a classic MN response every time a poster criticises a teacher. That someone has used this cliche in the context of "if you're so perfect and never murder anyone, why don't YOU become a teacher?" is weird.

Nobody's expecting teachers not to be human. But we are expecting them not to knife people to near-death in broad daylight.

If there was a Sarah Everard thread full of police officers and others discussing how the police have such a hard job, they are only human and are allowed to make mistakes and the public have nothing to fear from them because it's only one murder and it gives the public something to gossip about - I wonder if it would be allowed to stand?

Do what?
Are you suggesting that many 5 and 10 year olds would pass Maths GCSE if their parents were ambitious enough? Then surely it’s the parents’ lack of ambition that is standing in their way.

I wouldn't expect anyone to be stabbing anyone regardless of their job!

With regards to teachers behaviour in general - I would expect them to behave professionally while they're on the clock, but what they do in their free time is largely irrelevant.

My job carries a great deal of responsibility and expected standards of conduct. On the very rare occasion someone has behaved in a way that does not befit the responsibility and status of our roles, I would be the very first to hold them to account. It would not occur to me to defend the indefensible. I am wondering how teaching as a profession as attracted so many happy to collude and make excuses for even attempted murder.

You can see how sexual and violent abuse has/ had free rein in boarding schools if the culture is as prevalent in real life as it is on here.

@FKAT I don't expect anyone to knife someone to near death, either my DS's teacher, dentist, cleaner.

Obviously, if someone has previously committed that crime then they would be prevented from working in a school, but to be fair I wouldn't want them near me in any walk of life

The fact he’s a teacher isn’t evidence of causation eg he did not do this because he’s a teacher. But, teacher allegedly perpetrating a violent act is noteworthy as he has a professional code of conduct and is expected to demonstrate high standards in behaviour and demeanour

I do agree, unfortunately, those with a predatory nature do seek out roles which give them access to vulnerable individuals. I genuinely don’t think you can ever extinguish people with predatory nature and unsavoury behaviours from entering professions where they encounter vulnerable people. All professions draw from society and society unfortunately has a small minority people whose behaviours and demeanours are violent cruel or manipulative. One would hope that the checks and screening upon entry to a to a profession are robust and through continuous CPD and monitoring and 360° feedback Any concerns or potentially picked up.

I was absolutely not sticking up for this man my comment was to op about how it won't have this significant impact on her child's education she seems to think it will as everyone has a story of a teacher in their school who have committed crimes

I am only paying for small classes the hard work is at home. To answer your question I feel the same way.

This is why every OFSED visit checks safeguarding procedures.

No - I am not going to lower my standards thank you.
I have been a teacher for thirty years and haven’t yet worked with an attempted murderer.
It is OK to be shocked and disturbed by shocking and disturbing things . I was shocked and disturbed when I heard of a teacher in our area who was accessing child porn on a school computer. Disturbing to hear about anyone- but the fact that he was a teacher does , of course, make it more disturbing.
A teacher whose emotional regulation is so poor that he is arrested for attempted murder is very upsetting to hear about - particularly for parents and children at the school. I think it may have an impact on the levels of trust and respect pupils have for the adults at the school.
The “It happens ..”shrug” response is not helpful.