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AIBU?

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Original poster

Frenzied attack on teachers

130 replies

howmuchdidyousay · 03/04/2010 18:35

Several weeks ago I started this thread about a scheme the school were introducing whweby children who had not been absent in the half term were entitled to non-uniform on the last day of the half term and those that had been absent had to wear school uniform.
Well, Thursday was the last day and several parents really lost the plot!.Yelling and jabbing their fingers at teachers in the playground and in the classroom.One young teacher was in tears and another I saw was penned into a corner by a furious parent and looked absolutely terrified.The children looked frightened and I think everyone was very shaken up.It really was horrible to witness.
Much as I think this was the most stupid, unfair,ill thought out idea I have ever come across in a school.And I well understand the parents reactrion, I am not sure that there can ever be justification for treating teachers like this.

OP posts:
claig · 03/04/2010 22:15

The psychiatrist is an expert in human behaviour and should be able to explain to the head that this is normal human behaviour to defend children from such harmful policies.

Jaquelinehyde · 03/04/2010 22:18

So if something makes me really angry, it is OK for me to then become an aggressive, nasty, intimidating, bully? All in clear view of your and others children?

Well whatever your response I can tell you this has happened to me, when faced with racism directed at my three beautiful mixed race children (I'm white).

Did I scream and shout like a lunatic, did I back the idiots into a corner waving my finger in their faces, did I seek to embarrass them like they did my children? No because all of that would have terrified my children and thgose of others around us.

There is no excuse or reason for the behaviour of these parents. What a load of nasty idiots, so glad I have some dignity.

strawberrykate · 03/04/2010 22:19

I was thinking about what Tatt said about the teachers' reaction to a 'finger'. I have found as a teacher that I found it more difficult to deal with agressive behaviour than in previous jobs as my own reactions are far more constrained. When I worked in a law firm I would have raised by voice and demanded the person leave. When I worked in a supermarket I would tbh have been pretty rude back and also had quick back up from security. As a teacher I can't give in to my natural reaction to get right back in someone's face and back them down in the same way as I would have done, and this in my early teaching career wrong-footed me in these situations. It's a skill you learn over time go deal with agressive behaviour within limited parameters and usually in isolation from other staff or at least without senior staff/ security to hand.

Original poster
howmuchdidyousay · 03/04/2010 22:23

I would just like to make clear that I don't thinmk the parents in any way threatened, or abused the teachers they were just venting about the policy although I am not denying that having several angry middle aged parents shouting at you would not have felt intimidating to a young teacher .I am not sure that there would be any grounds for involving police.

OP posts:
claig · 03/04/2010 22:25

Jacquelinehyde you didn't get mad, but other parents in a similar situation would have done. There is no right and wrong. Different situations trigger different reactions in different people. Injustice causes people to change their behaviour. The school caused the problem with their unjust policy and they got a reaction from certain parents. The reaction is even healthy because it will probably cause the school to think twice before it tries it again. If there was no reaction, what further lunacies would the school implement?

lowenergylightbulb · 03/04/2010 22:25

As someone who is 'job' I'd just like to point out that sometimes the senior management teams of schools can be comprised of total knobbers who make those of us on the frontline enforce rules/ideas that we know are shite.

However, we have to abide by what our overlords tell us to do. So please don't be too nasty to us!!

I agree with Strawberrykate. Sometimes I've felt very intimidated by angry parents and I've had no immediate back up. I've also been in the position of being followed home by 'angry' parents. It's not nice.

Original poster
howmuchdidyousay · 03/04/2010 22:30

The Senior management team consists of 1 person the HT who won't listen to anyone else especially the governing body and teh staff

OP posts:
strawberrykate · 03/04/2010 22:34

Claig-In this case there is no reaction in my opinion. A group of teachers who will have nothing to do with the policies at all have been shouted at. This will have little to no impact on the governing body/ headteacher who created the policy in all likelihood. If parents want a change this isn't something that will get it. Letters to the head/ governing body might, or parents turning up en masse to the next governors meeting, or letters to the LEA, petitions to the LEA might...moaning at those who didn't create the policy is ineffective though. The leadership of a school rarely think twice as the result of a one-off tiff at the gate which they don't witness which can be swept under the carpet. There's not even going to be a record that this ever took place even. As a parent if I have a complaint I do it properly, or I hold my tongue...I wouldn't see the point in scaring children because I was angry or being rude.

It still hasn't been explained why the parents haven't opposed this at the consultation stage. It does seem a little late.

LeQueen · 03/04/2010 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummiedearest · 03/04/2010 22:42

This is all so farcical. you know strikes me that in so many schools ,the worst attendance is THE STAFF. not uncommon at secondary level for kida to have a stream of supply staff, to cover long term staff abscence. (stress and the like) disgusting, not wanting to discriminate against genuine medical needs but hey wish I could join this gravy train and get paid 30- 40k for it. lead by example. thats what I say

lowenergylightbulb · 03/04/2010 22:43

Howmuch - there is always a line management route. I've not worked in a school where there isn't. The head says something and it cascades down.

I've spoken up about things at times, I've got the union involved and it can be a nightmare professionally when you are the lone voice making a stand - even when behind the scenes 90% of the staff agree with you but are too 'scared' to say so publicly!!

I do supply now, I go in and out of schools and do not get myself involved in internal politics.

claig · 03/04/2010 22:44

strawberrykate, I think you are right. Unfortunately when the parents are mad they take it out on the frontline staff who they come into contact with. It is similar to when trains are cancelled, it is the railway staff on the platform who bear the brunt of the public's anger rather than the management safely ensconced in their ivory towers. I hope the teachers will tell the head that they think the policy is unjust and tell the head that if he/she continues with it, that the anger of the parents is likely to increase and will affect the regard in which they and their children hold the school.

strawberrykate · 03/04/2010 22:44

howmuchdidyousay- in that situation if parents' feel very strongly the next step in a formal complaint to govenors, which MUST get a response after the next meeting, if this is not satisfactory it should be escalated to Local Authority level.

Or option B is for every parent to ignore it en masse and send all children in non-uniform. It would be interesting to see what the head did in this situation. In may interest you to know that legally school uniform is not complusory, it's a school policy.

lowenergylightbulb · 03/04/2010 22:45

mummie - it took me over 10 years to get paid 30K and it was like selling my soul to the devil. An interesting fact is that out of all the professions teachers tend to cark it the soonest after retirement...

Original poster
howmuchdidyousay · 03/04/2010 22:49

The governing body apparently cannot be involved in how the HT runs the school.He takes no notice of their views/concerns.It is a much wider problem than this one issue

The policy i should imagine will not continue any longer, if the parents won't suppprt it by sending their DC in uniform, it can't work.

OP posts:
tethersend · 03/04/2010 22:58

"wish I could join this gravy train and get paid 30- 40k for it. lead by example. thats what I say"

Pssst... mummiedearest... you can!

Have a look here

gorionine · 03/04/2010 23:03

A bit asside from the subject but there was an interesting bit in BBC news tonight about how underminded teachers feel by pupils being panels in their (teachers)job interviews. I did not know this was done and do not know if the practice is really widespread. I suppose pupils do not get the final say of course but surely it will give them the feeling that they have got "rights" over the teacher IYSWIM?

It must indeed be really hard to be a teacher nowadays if parents and pupils think they have all the autority.

mummiedearest · 03/04/2010 23:06

low energylightbulb im sure you do feel like youve sold your soul to the devil. Point is this all smacks of double standards. NOt an excuse for badly behaved parents but Why make an example of a child if they havent achieved 100% attendance. tbh if my child was singled out for circumstances beyond their control, id be pretty hacked off too. and whats that about anyway non uniform. pretty crap reward if you ask me. far beytter to be rewarding positively where there is an underlying attendance issue.

Quattrocento · 03/04/2010 23:06

A few parents sounding off doesn't amount to a frenzied attack, now, does it?

Of course the parents should behave but many don't. I'm sorry for anyone putting up with rude and belligerent behaviour but surely teachers should take this in their stride?

mummiedearest · 03/04/2010 23:10

question.

anybody NOT know a rude and belligerent teacher ?

lowenergylightbulb · 03/04/2010 23:19

TBH, I can't understand the attendance thing and why it can't be handled with some empathy/sympathy.

Most kids who have poor attendance are either a result of poor health or poor parenting - and it's not their fault that they don't attend!!

There are some teens who do willfully bunk off- but twas always such and they are a minority.

mummie - I don't earn 30 - 40K anymore. I've taken a step back/down and I now feel that the time I spend in school is actually meaningful. I might only be 'supply' but I'm not going goggle eyed over spread sheets every night and worrying about targets.

strawberrykate · 03/04/2010 23:25

mummie-
I've met a rude shop assistant too, a rude postman, a rude policeman, a rude bus driver, rude strangers, rude hildren, rude prents, rude elderly people, rude mothers....
and?

tethersend · 03/04/2010 23:28

Hmmm... rude and belligerent, eh?

Are you sure you don't want to hop on that gravy train, mummiedearest? It sounds right up your street

Quattrocento · 03/04/2010 23:31
mummiedearest · 03/04/2010 23:32

tethersend was referring to the "authorised absence" aka SKIVING so prevalent in the "Teaching Profession" dont mean to tar everyone with the same brush but long term staff absence is highly disruptive, especially at secondary level. doesnt seem right to try instill reliability in the next generation when this so overtly contradicted by teaching staff. They have a name and a charge to go with this in H.M. Forces Its called MALINGERING. The tax payers and all our children are paying the price for this.
Spoke to a mum today who said that in assemmbly on Friday only 2 teachers and TAs present.(and Head on long term sick!)Approx 100 children on roll. so what message does that send out? no wonder teenagers dont see a reason to get up. Role models CBA.

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