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.

" power tripping, and not too bright to boot" but this isn't a teacher bashing thread, of course it is and particularly nasty at that. Your attitude shows a complete sustain for teachers, it won't benefit your child.

It must have shaken all of those who had regular contact with him. But people who do bad things, come in all walks of life and careers.

Sadly there is no test that can see into the future to see if people are going to snap or if they are doing illegal things without yet being caught.

It should not effect the reputation of the school, unless they ignored evidence of agreesion or bad behaviour. The best of people can go on to do terrible things. Sadly.

I would always listen to a child who was telling me of a dislike for an adult, it doesnt mean they are all violent or murderers, but i do take it on board and keep a close eye

Don’t worry- we get plenty of criticism 🙄and scrutiny ( Ofsted is pretty gruelling you know)
Of course no one should be protected from criticism but if parents don’t model a supportive attitude then it is not surprising that pupil behaviour in schools is often so challenging.

Ask what their experience was in the education system when they were young. Then ask about their children's experience. You might be surprised don't dismiss people's trauma because of how you feel.

I can see both sides. I understand her shock as her daughter has been in close contact with this man. However, statements like “they have lost the moral high ground” or “is this the best we can do?” Or suggesting male teachers are all on power trips and untrustworthy. Are probably what some teachers are becoming defensive about because it feels like everyone (even the innocent staff in her daughter’s school) are being tarred with the same brush as this man.

MN does prioritise free speech but it also leaves individuals to take personal responsibility for what they post. For example, if someone posts a libellous comment about another person, it's them who could get sued, not MN.

The minute a person is arrested, reporting restrictions apply under the 1981 Contempt Of Court Act. I'm suggesting MN takes it down because it's legally dodgy now. This isn't a case that's had widespread media attention, but millions might have read this thread now. A good defence lawyer could seize on the speculation about the suspect's mental health etc to say he can't get a fair trial, he's been pre-judged.

Don’t be ridiculous - it was on the BBC which has a far wider reach than mumsnet FFS

Don’t be ridiculous. Every day is there are hundreds of threads about cases pending court proceedings.

This is a real misrepresentation of what I’ve read. People are telling the OP that, while it’s distressing, there is no need to be stressed about her daughter having been taught by the man, or to worry about other teachers. Yes, he may have had a mental health issue as mentioned by a few posters (but not as an excuse). The murder appears to have been domestic - the point being made is that it wasn’t predicated on or enabled by his profession. Nobody is saying it’s ok, just that it means it’s nothing to do with his job.

So now the braying mob have realised how damaging their posts are. They want the thread taken down. Unbelievable!!!

Nope, nope and nope. You really are hard of reading, aren't you.

But children shouldn't be taught to trust just anybody. Children in a secondary school probably spend about 2/3 hours a week with a specific teacher they know absolutely nothing about them outside the school environment they are basically a stranger to them so their shouldn't be this big impact of loss of trust

The only mob and the only braying is in your head.As mn threads go it’s not that contentious

What an awful thing to happen. However, It's ridiculous to blame the school, the first time someone does this kind of thing is the first time and most times there are no telltale signs.

There is no "moral high ground" for them from employing him. DBS only flags up if someone has been caught not their potential for violence, what do you expect them to have done exactly?

I bet it is a domestic violence situation.

Is that what you believe parents don't support you?

"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."

Or just a male teachers bashing thread? Do you think your kid had some special foresight, could she perhaps give a hint on the lottery numbers?

Very hard for children to feel safe in school if they don’t trust their teachers.
Very hard for children to learn and develop if they don’t trust their teachers .
Trust is very important

Wow you are a piece of work

Trust is never absolute. Teach your children they can and should speak up if they have concerns

i was raised to have absolute trust in authority figure eg teachers, priest, nun, doctor. That is not a good position, it confers too much power and authority. Fortunately these days people, do tend to not have absolute faith or trust

Do you also include parents in your role models? Surely parents should be the most important role models to their children or is that another job palmed of onto schools?

I didn’t say “absolute trust”
Of course children must speak up about concerns and be believed and supported.
I said that trust is needed for children to feel safe and learn and I stand by that.

What is the point of this facetious comment?
Can’t you empathise with the parent’s feelings? Isn’t it understandable that the parent wishes she had taken her daughter’s comments more seriously given what she now knows?

And I assert that trust needs to be contextualised, don’t just confer trust to individuals or organisations
Trust is required in certain relationships esp were there is power imbalance . Teaching is one such example

Exactly, if anything kids often look down on the failings of teachers, not up to them as role models. There’s usually only one or two in a student’s career that manage that! The gossip will be disruptive no doubt, but that will be teachers and students alike!

There's different levels of trust if your teaching your children to trust people based on their job your putting them at risk. Children need to understand aswell as adults after reading this thread that a job title has very little to do with a person's, personality and morals and just because someone works in a caring role does not mean they are a caring person. I think this is actually a good lesson for kids to learn if their acting shocked because their teacher has done something. It's a good opportunity for parents to explain the realities of life and trust in others and how well you actually think you know someone