Would you complain about a lunchtime assistant not doing her job?

[Peaceflower]

A parent at school is a lunchtime assistant. She told me one day that she turns a blind eye to all the bad behaviour and bullying that goes on at playtimes, as children need to toughen up. My children have been bullied at playtimes and I think it's the lunchtime assistant jobs to supervise and look out for bad behaviour. After weeks of simmering over this, I feel like making a complaint to the headteacher. Would you?

Yes I would and yes I have!
My ds has been bullied really badly in the past with the worst things happening at lunch time. Our lunchtime supervisors really didn't do anything. I can understand their point of view (up to a point) Every 5 mins they have a child with a gripe and a moan but they tend to believe the worst of all the children i.e they're all lying. They dole out things like "just don't play with them" which is a bit difficult when you weren't "playing" with them in the first place, they were chasing you and pushing you to the ground and trying to strangle you.

I would too. I would be bloody furious if someone who was meant to be ensuring the well-being of my child told me that a bit of bullying would 'toughen her up'. Did you say anything to her about it at the time?

would you bother complaining if your children hadn't been bullied?

Yes. I would hate to see any child/adult being bullied and hope that I would do something to try to stop it.

I'm being extremely cowardly and still dithering about whether to complain, she's otherwise really nice and really believes in what she said. When my son joined in bullying another child once, I immediately told the parents of that child and put a stop to it.

I'm torn.....

Report it. End of. I drove to my dd's school a couple of days ago and arrived during her lunch break. The three teachers who were supposed to be on duty were sitting on a bench chatting while a little boy was being dragged around by his ankles and clearly not enjoying it. I know these teachers fairly well - dd was in the class of one last year, so I made a bit of a joke about A not enjoying his break. They looked up saw what was going on and put a stop to it. I happened to drop this incident into a conversation I was having with the head of school later on.
My dd was badly bullied and I would hope that someone would report on the bully's.

If she really believes in what she said, then she needs more training and support about how to do that job. I'm sure you could have a discreet word with the head teacher without her being aware it was you that "reported" her.

yes,i would, no question asked just mention it to a teacher. This women is in charge of your childs welfare and many others turning a blind eye is not the right answer towards bullying.

Definitely say something.
Sounds as if she needs some child protection training- the NSPCC do a distance learning module on it appropriate foe non-teaching staff- the school should organise it.

peaceflower, I work as a lunchtime assistant (am off at the mo but am going back in jan)
You definately need to say something as this is what she gets paid for ffs, its one of the main parts of her job description, she is there to look after children during lunchtime, they are under her care and they are her responsibility whilst she's in the playground otherwise whats the point of her being there at all? sorry for the rant but it makes me when people just see this job as a bit of easy money, its not. Ok rant over

Thank you all! I will try to work it into a conversation with the head teacher next time I see her. She periodically walks around the school just before start of school to greet parents.

Why is it that it's always the victims that feels bad when they protest about victimisation.................