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Original poster

Teacher ripping my sons work up even though he has a visual impairment

88 replies

Charl871 · 22/10/2023 18:05

Hi

My son has an eye condition which makes him visually impaired. The council assessed him at school and advised on all the equipment he needs to help with his learning.

The other day he came home from school and was upset as he said his teacher had ripped his work up twice in front of the whole class. He told me he can't see the thin lines to write on (which the council has requested to the school that he has thicker lined books) so his teacher ripped his work up saying he hasn't written on the lines.

I have got parents evening next week and would like some advice on how I can approach this incident with his teacher

OP posts:
topnoddy · 22/10/2023 19:48

Sounds like that teacher needs to be an ex teacher pretty damn quick to me !

Thewal · 22/10/2023 19:50

mamaof2girls · 22/10/2023 19:06

I don't understand as a parent why parents ask other parents what they should do etc! I would be straight in the school having a word with the teacher and head teacher not leaving until it was delt with and child felt safe and happy to go back to class. It's your job to protect and be your child's voice and not let anyone bully them cause that's essentially what that is!!

Read all the OPs updates, she has already complained as has scheduled calls. She just wants to know about directly confronting the teacher in question.

Original poster
Charl871 · 22/10/2023 19:50

It happened twice on the same day, I agree that kids can say things that aren't true, but I do believe him. His not the type of kid to lie, his very timid and shy and was quite upset over it

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CookieMonster25 · 22/10/2023 19:55

A teacher ripped up your visually impaired sons work twice and you're waiting till parents evening to talk to them about it and on here asking for advice?. seriously? This was a terrible thing to happen to your child and the school are aware of his condition which means his teacher is to, and even if they weren't ripping up a kids work because it's not right is humiliating. I'd never stand for this. I would have gone straight to the school and spoken with the teacher, the head, any member of staff and made sure if was correct and then if it was I'd make a formal complaint and do all I could to ensure this never happened again, not just to my child but to any of them. Sod calling them or waiting till parents evening?!! Your poor son

Original poster
Charl871 · 22/10/2023 19:58

Please read the rest of my posts!!! I haven't just been told about it and just left it!! Some people are just to quick to judge. I've come on here to chat to people about it because I can't not get it out my head, not have people judge me saying I haven't done this and that

OP posts:
LyndaLaHughes · 22/10/2023 20:03

Teacher here- that is despicable. Unfortunately, there are some teachers in schools now that really shouldn't be there- especially at Secondary level as schools are desperate for staff and will employ anyone at this stage. I really despair for my own children's education. I'm really sorry this happened to your child- it's unacceptable and don't let the school fob you off.

Original poster
Charl871 · 22/10/2023 20:12

Thank you. I won't let them fob me off. I just wanted to go to the parents evening and educate the teacher myself in regards to his condition. X

OP posts:
catherinewales · 22/10/2023 20:13

Wow that is shocking. My DD has a visual impairment. Although she manages well with very thick glasses and sitting at the front. She is very shy and timid. I'd of lost the plot if my DD had come home and said that to me. My DD can't stand up for herself so I have too. She is getting better with age. 10 years old is still young and it'll hurt so much. He's put so much effort into that work and the teacher thinks she can do that. I'm glad you've emailed the HT and VI. I would still go to parents evening and tell the teacher how upset you and DS are and you think what she as done is absolutely disgusting and how she is a teacher at a primary school, acting like that is beyond me. Hope your DS is ok.

Potterypot · 22/10/2023 20:16

Unfortunately it's fairly common in our primary settings. I have heard kids complaining of ripping out work and made to do it during their break times .I am not saying that this should be okay at all. I would say book an appointment with the teacher and ask her what happened and explain your situation. Try to get a fuller picture . I wouldn't wait for the parents evening as they are really short and only a quick progress.

Original poster
Charl871 · 22/10/2023 20:19

His as ok as can be, I'm just trying to find ways to build on his confidence at the minute as his only just returned to school after I pulled him out due to bullying.
This is why I wanted to talk to this said teacher face to face, but wasn't sure whether I should, as when it comes to my kids, my professional head goes out the window x

OP posts:
mamaof2girls · 22/10/2023 20:21

@Thewal but wouldn't the first thing you do is go and speak to said teacher since they are the ones that should be getting told it ain't right! Yes go to headteacher also but I would be going direct to the problem

Mama2six · 22/10/2023 20:26

I’d be inclined to rip the teacher a new one if that happened to my child with extra needs! Definitely go and speak to the headteacher asap, he must have felt so embarrassed too. Disgusting behaviour on the teachers part

lolomoon · 22/10/2023 20:30

Charl871 · 22/10/2023 20:12

Thank you. I won't let them fob me off. I just wanted to go to the parents evening and educate the teacher myself in regards to his condition. X

Apart from anything, and your son's difficulties aside. It is completely unacceptable to rip up his work in front of him, and extremely damaging to a child! How awful. I'm so sorry to you & your son. Hope you get the situation resolved, an apology, & the help your son needs.

Original poster
Charl871 · 22/10/2023 20:31

Thank you x

OP posts:
Moneyordream · 22/10/2023 20:34

As a mother of a VI teen I just want to post to say I'm sorry you having to deal with this. Unfortunately I have had to fight to ensure my son is treated correctly by staff, even when they have his specific needs told to them. I recommend to ensure you keep a record of incidents, and definitely update with his VI teacher (ours is lovely).
My son recently couldn't do rugby due to his glasses, so his PE teacher decided it was best to make him remove them for the lesson!!!

Original poster
Charl871 · 22/10/2023 20:42

Thank you for your kind words.

Oh no, I'm sorry your son had to go through that. It really does anger me x

OP posts:
StaunchMomma · 22/10/2023 20:57

Don't wait for parents eve - ask to speak to her asap. And confront her outright.

If she isn't following guidelines on thick-lined paper then that's not good enough but no matter how bad a child's writing is she shouldn't be ripping up work, especially in front of the whole class, and especially for a sight-impaired child!

Talk about Draconian methods!

StaunchMomma · 22/10/2023 20:58

Charl871 · 22/10/2023 20:19

His as ok as can be, I'm just trying to find ways to build on his confidence at the minute as his only just returned to school after I pulled him out due to bullying.
This is why I wanted to talk to this said teacher face to face, but wasn't sure whether I should, as when it comes to my kids, my professional head goes out the window x

You're trying to build his confidence back up and the main person who's supposed to look out for him at school is merrily tearing it down!

Plain nasty.

Doormatnomore · 22/10/2023 21:00

Another parent to a VI teen here. Honestly, we struggled with a school getting the right equipment, making changes, keeping him safe and bullying. I worked with the school every which way I could. So many tears (his and mine). We moved house and moved school and ffs, 4 weeks in he was a different child.

i would always have advocated for working with the school and the VI team but now I’d say move them to a different school. Ask the VI teacher where does it well, other parents and move.

are you part of a parents group?, lots of specific conditions have them, as well as RNIB and Look specifically for parents of school pupils who will have been through it too.

Flipflopflopflip · 22/10/2023 21:04

Holy shit I'd be furious. I feel so sorry for your son. Definitely follow up on your complaint and demand an in person meeting with the head to discuss.

lunar1 · 22/10/2023 21:06

Bullies should never get through their teacher training. I can't imagine how angry id be.

Primproperpenny · 22/10/2023 21:08

My child would not be going back there.

MariaVT65 · 22/10/2023 21:15

When you contact the school tomorrow for an update, i’d also explain to them that your son won’t be doing any further homework until the matter is dealt with. No point in doing homework if it will be ripped up. Disgusting behaviour.

Covidwoes · 22/10/2023 21:20

Oh my goodness, I'm a teacher and that's absolutely AWFUL. I'd be reporting this straight away.

TheCurtainQueen · 22/10/2023 21:38

annonymousandlikeit · 22/10/2023 18:24

I think you need to say to the head that you are making a formal complaint, as so are not prepared to sit down with this teacher and don't want your son in their class anymore. The head can arrange a different member of staff to sit down with you and update you on your son's progress, but personally I would not be attending a meeting with this person.

How old is your son?

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I think cornering the teacher at parents evening is appropriate (as well as speaking to the head tomorrow). I would want to hear from the teacher exactly what they thought they were playing at.