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......

And they should get the woman back into school to do another assembly where she apologises and explains what she did was totally wrong.

Then let the children vote on what to do with her. See how she likes it...

Hopefully this wasn't as dramatic as it appears. But your DD came back from school upset, whatever happened, which isn't right.

Agree with others who have said that the problem of 'lazy' absence is everything to do with the parents at this age, not the children. Maybe next time they could try this assembly with parents instead of children. Smacks of bullying to me.

Firstly, get verification of what happened.

Then go through the roof -HT, governors,councillor.

If that was my child I would be phoning the bitch from the LEA personally. If she likes bullying children I would bully her right back. Cow.

Good grief!

Your poor dd - and the other kids. Even those who weren't called will have had the fear of God put into them.

Agree re. complaining to your councillor and MP and council director of children's services but would also go to your local newspaper/TV and radio news. The adults involved in this deserve to be shamed in public - if it's good enough for innocent children, it is highly appropriate for badly behaved adults.

The head or most senior adult present should have stopped the Assembly. And the evil cow who led this farce should be made to come back to school and apologise to the children. (As well as having an official warning placed on her record, and that of whoever dreamt this up and allowed it to happen.)

I'd bet this contravenes Every Child Matters on every ruddy ground you can think of. (The key government policy for children's welfare that all councils are responsible for implementing.)

Oh and the local paper would be very interested in a story like this. Make sure they name her. A bit of public humiliation seems fair.

Can you imagine a kid being called to the front and asked this question. They reply "my mother died" and then all the kids putting their hands up for lazy.

One of the kids in dd's class lost their mum to cancer over the summer.

for you but do check out if this what happened as it's the most poorly thought out, shitty assembly idea, i've ever read.

YANBU, that's appalling. Your poor DD and the other kids. Please complain, and let us know how you get on?

That is terrible. I would be furious. Speak to the head ASAP.

Oh, and I'd add the secretary of state for children, schools and families (Ed Balls IIRC). Go to the top!

"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."

Well, he/she might be lazy/poorly but I would hope you wouldn't be asked to state to her face, in front of the whole workplace, whether you think she's one or the other.

As AvengingGerbil says - check the facts first. I'm not suggesting you're stretching the truth but even the best behaved of dc can, er, well you know.

And if you dc's story is borne out - then what an unbefuckinglieveably stupid and cruel assembly. I'd be effing

nothing to add to what other's have said - except do please come back and update us.utterly disgusting.

I'm feeling furious for you and for the poor kids.
I agree with caen that it may have been some overzealous LEA person and the head didn't realise what was going to happen but surely the head should have questioned why the names were needed and to have stepped in when the assembly content was obviously innappropriate.
I'd have thought there would have been confidentially issues over this aswell, I had quite alot of time off for medical reasons when I was at school and I certainly didn't want all and sundry knowing about it.
I would certainly speak to one of the Governers as they need to be aware of what happened, I would be surprised if they would have agreed to this.

"I would be fuming so muche there woul not be any snow left arround the school." that's a cracking comment, Gori!

I agree with everyone on this thread. I would be utterly furious. Agree check the facts and then storm into to see the head.

Honestly what a twat from the LEA. I agree go to the local paper re this.

Your poor dd and the other kids in teh school. It is utterly mortifying to be humiliated by people in power when you are that age. I remember only too well when I was in year 2 every sodding day us children would be asked to show the teacher their handkerchief. I never had a handkerchief (we neevr used them in out house) and a tissue wouldn't do. So I always got a black mark against my name on this stupid chart.

I remember being desperately wanting not to have a black mark, so a cut up a pillowcase at home (for which I was later found out and got into trouble) and took it into school - the teacher jeered at me and held up the scrap of fabric to the other children saying 'getorf is so DISGUSTING she doesn;t have handkerchiefs and even has to rip up old dirty (it wasn't dirty) rags. Isn't that DISGUSTING children'. Mrs Rolfe you were a nasty old trout.

I don't know why I am telling you all this apart from the fact I am squirming thinking about it 25 years later, and utterly hate the thought of children being humiliated and scorned by teachers in front of their peers.

Thanks GOML, It would be even better without the dozen of typos!

Bloody hell, that's outrageous.

Appalling and also inaccurate. I used to do failure to attend school prosecutions for a LEA. I am not aware of any power to penalty charge - each case would have to go before magistrates who decide what happens. Also illness isn't unauthorisde absence in any circs.

This is just so wrong on so many levels. Please complain.

If I were you I'd clarify the facts (but as your dd is 9, she probably has got the basics perfectly right) and report to a TES journalist or try and get someone at The Guardian Education supplement interested. I'm a fairly unshockable person but I would hit the roof if this happened at my dc school.

I would ask for an apology from the person who delivered the assembly - what an insensitive way to deal with the issue. Chances are she will have arranged to do assemblies at other schools so she needs confronting about her methods asap! I agree that this is bullying behaviour.

OP, next time your Dd is poorly, send her to school and see if they really really want her there

I'm appalled as well.

This is surely CLEARLY unacceptable

Which LEA is it btw, if you feel able to say?

How utterly horrible for your DD and the other children. I'm afraid I would be considering trying to get this person out of a job asap, she can't be allowed to continue with this approach. What an absolute bitch.

I'd be queueing up to get it sorted too. Please let us know what happens.

Good point about this appalling woman trying the same thing at other schools, mitford.

Itsmeolord, please do come back and let us know what the head says!

No child should be made to stand up in front of their peeers and say why they were absent from school then have it voted on. As others have said check all the facts then kick up one hell of a stink. If my Dd had been made to stand up in assembly and do this then I'd be outraged and wouldn't just be seeking an appointment with the head.

My mouth is hanging open!