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......

Hey Cory, so glad new school is actually supporting dd properly, unlike that bunch of bullies at her old one. They way she was treated was disgraceful.

Any news from Itsmeolord?

Pitchounette: "there was an article in our regional paper just before christmas about a child who wasn't allowed to a 'disco party' held for pupils with 100% attendance. That child had missed school twice for a few days during that term. The first time was when his dad died and the second was for his funeral.... "

Within the last year one of the schools near us did something similar - or even worse. A teenage girl died. Two months later the school sent the grieving parents a letter to say that because of her poor attendance record she would not be allowed to attend the school prom.

Yes, have you met with the head yet itsme?

This is appauling.
YANBU
I agree, complain.
Do they not realised that a miserable, traumatised child is likely to have poorer attendance?
And encouraging bullying? It is cruel and mindblowingly irresponsible.

Hope your daughter is reassured that this is not her fault and that the grown ups were out of order, not her.

I got this poster mixed up with isitmeor the other day and asked her to please come back and update us! Only, it was someone else.
I'm very curious to find out how this situation ends up.
I actually think the children all deserve an apology from the lady who came to do this - she should tell them that she was wrong to do this. If she's unwilling to do that, she should apologise at least to your daughter. I know people will tell me I'm BU for thinking that, but children deserve respect, too. And when adults mess up, they need to fess up.

I got this poster mixed up with isitmeor the other day and asked her to please come back and update us! Only, it was someone else.
I'm very curious to find out how this situation ends up.
I actually think the children all deserve an apology from the lady who came to do this - she should tell them that she was wrong to do this. If she's unwilling to do that, she should apologise at least to your daughter. I know people will tell me I'm BU for thinking that, but children deserve respect, too. And just like children, when adults mess up, they need to fess up.

I was wondering about this today. Any update?

I hope it has been sorted out now, and someone has had the bollocking reprimand they so richly deserved!

Oh rats! I thought there might have been an update when I saw this pop up again.......