to think that this was a really crappy way to reduce school absenteeism?

[itsmeolord]

DD aged 9 came home from the childminders yesterday very upset.
There had been an assembly held in school headed by a lady from the LEA. She called the assembly "Lazy or poorly?"

She gave a talk on absenteeism and told the children that they were going to hand out fines to parents from now on for children being off school. (£50).
She then read out some names and called the children to the front, these children had 100% attendence this year and she told them they were going to get a treat.
Then she called out some more names including dd's. They were called to the front and asked to explain why they had missed school. After each explanation the woman asked the rest of the children to put hands up for "lazy" or "poorly".
DD said that she had missed a week because she had had german measles, she then burst into tears. Apparently quite a few of the other children were in tears as well.
Alot of children were putting hands up for "lazy", I think this is because they haven't got a concept of what is a good reason for absence or not and it wasn't properly explained.
The lady was counting hands up but not then saying, ok so we have x who think this is lazy , it is/isn't because x y z.
So dd was labelled as "lazy"
At the ned the lady then said something to the effect of "all children who were lazy this term are going to have to find a way to pay back mum and dad that £50...."

I'm really cross with this lady and the head as well for thinking this was a good way to deal with absence.

1. The school has very low unauthorised attendance.
2. There are a fair few children who have medical conditions which require regular time off school and will never get 100% attendance.
3. If there is am issue why not speak to the parents rather than make an example of children in front of their peers?

1. "Lazy or poorly" is a really shitty way to talkm about absence. People are absent for different reasons, bereavement, pre bereavement, family illness, whatever.

Surely there is a better way to differentiate between authorised and unauthorised.

Any ideas on what to do next would be gratefully received. I am thinking speaking to the head firts to clarify exactly what happened is best......

First check out the facts. Then:

Complain to a) the head b) the governors c) the LEA d) your councillor and e) your MP. The last two will be keen to respond as they want your vote this year.

This is completely unacceptable.

Totally unacceptable! Agree with the previous poster, find out exactly what happened (ask the teacher/head?) then complain based on the facts (as our children don't always get things exactly right, so best make sure you have it all straight).

If there is an issue with a particular child's attendance, the school should be taking it up with the parents, then referring it on if needed. In private, not in front of the whole school!

How appalling!

Definitely speak to the head! Today!

I can't imagine why she thought it was ok to haul kids out in assembly and then allow their peers to judge them. It's one thing to try and improve attendance rates (and yes, this might mean rewarding those with 100% attendance, even thoght this is not strictly fair) but this seems bizarre. I would definitely approach the head about it.

That is disgusting. The decision on whether or not a child is kept off school lies with the parent, so singling out and embarrassing the children for it is totally out of order. I agree that these issues have to be tackled where they exist, but surely a meeting with the parents to introduce the concept of fining would have been a better approach! These poor kids will remember this humiliation for the rest of their lives. I'd be having strong words with the school.

Oh yes, agree to check that this is the way it happened and then if it is as described - hit the roof about her humiliating children!

I've already asked this morning about an appointment, apparently there are lots of parents that have asked the same thing....

Wow! That's appalling! I bet they'll have to hold a parents meeting to deal with the backlash from that. What on earth were they thinking of?!

That is shocking!!!! I cannot believe someone would totally humiliate children like this and get other children to judge them on something that they have no comprehension of. I would definitely complain to the head and the LEA. Your poor DD, I hope she is ok!

That's absolutely disgusting! I would be in the (long line) of parents to discuss it with the Head.

This is absolutely appalling. Have you spoken to other parents? Good luck with speaking to the head.

Let us know how it goes. Your poor DD. Did she go into school ok today?

I bet the head is terrified of all the parent appointments. She was probably (hopefully) watching from the back through her fingers at the innocent assembly she agreed to by the LEA. That said, she must have wondered why the woman wanted the names of these children so maybe she knew all about it. What an awful day for your DD. I cannot believe anyone thought this was acceptable.

thats awful! I would be furious if this happened to my daughter. IF a child is ill its best for them to stay off school esepecailly at such a young age!

This amounts to bullying children, and I would be absolutely incandescent with rage had this been done to any of my children.

I will look forward with interest to seeing what possible excuse/explanation the Head can find for this behaviour, and to see how she thinks she is going to apologise to the children involved and their parents, and undo the damage caused!

COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN

I cant believe anyone in authority would humiliate children like that, i would be writing to my local paper, its an outrage

Your poor daughter! I have 2 9yr olds myself. If the school starts this kind of thing I'll definitely be complaining. You haven't been charged £50, have you?

Just imagine if that was done in the workplace!!

Agree you should get clarification, but either way your daughter was/is very troubled and the head should explain what happened.

Can you imagine if this happened in the workplace and your boss made you tell everyone why you were off work and then asked your colleagues to judge whether it was a good enough reason?

Absolutely appalling.

Heh, x posts, Huw!

Message withdrawn

Def check the facts - it seems unbelievable - but then again it doesn't seem like something you could make up!

Then explode with rage. (Well thats what I would do)

I would be fuming so muche there woul not be any snow left arround the school.

I agree with the fact that children do sometimes not understand things properly but if that was the case (your dd not understanding) I would complain anyway as surely, in a school setting they have some sort of experience on how to deal with children and getting their message actross without several children in the school being reduced to tears!

That's terrible, though I disagree about the workplace. There is someone off (again) today, who has barely made it in over the last few weeks. I personally believe it's a combination of lazy and poorly (possibly). Anyway.

However, for DCs this is horrific! You never know what might be going on at home. They could be absent because of family problems, illness, bereavement ... you never know, and having some barking bat coming and humiliating children does NOT help.

YANBU in any way, shape or form. Thats a disgusting way to behave and these people are setting an example to our children?!

Poor babies, how horrible for them.

If I were in your position I would speak to a few other parents and find out of their children had reported anything about this assembly and then go along and talk to the head/deputy/class teacher and say that a number of children were very upset and their parents are concerned, what went on?