My child was hit by a pen, thrown by a teacher

[Tiredallthetimelaura]

So my daughter who is in year 8 was in a lesson when her teacher 'cold called' her a question. My daughter responded she didn't know the answer and the teacher then threw a highlighter pen at her, hitting her on the arm. The teacher then did it again to another student, also hitting them on the arm. We have reached level 2 of a complaint, but it's always investigated by management within the academy. The school keep down playing what happened and not investigating what we ask. This teacher is still teaching, although my daughter isn't going in on the day of that lesson, which is greatly affecting her attendance. The school said they would move my daughter so she could do a different lesson (double Maths or double English), but we said no! This feels like a punishment to our daughter. She wants to do that lesson, just not with that teacher... and we agree.
Any advice on what/how the school legally should be handling this? Happy to answer any further questions Xx

I can’t imagine giving a shit about this. Highlighters are lightweight and blunt and near impossible to injure anyone with - you would probably do more damage with a tennis ball. If someone was hurt by a highlighter they would tell that story for the rest of their lives and people would marvel at the unlikelihood of it, She was hit on the arm - so what? Why does it matter even at all? What damage has been done? How has she been hurt by this? Why was she “shook up” by something that to almost everyone else in the world would be a complete non-event? Why aren’t you helping her with these wildly disproportionate feelings instead of making out she could have lost an arm if it weren’t for her blazer, What are you playing at winding her up into a frenzy about it and allowing her to miss TWENTY PERCENT of her classroom time over basically nothing? Especially as she’s been offered accommodation in another lesson. She is not unsafe - why are you telling her she is?
I don’t work in a school (but I did go to one) but I do work in an environment where we use pens and other equipment and it’s 100% not an “up before HR” to throw a pen and nor is it “assault”.

So glad most of the posters on here aren’t my parent .
Can you imagine if your child had thrown something at a teacher ther would be an uproar. Maybe even police called for assault .

It’s bullying
it’s assault

The bigger picture is a teacher who can’t handle their stress levels and needs to rethink their career. Clearly not able to control themselves. .
Whats next ?

Tiredallthetimelaura · Today 22:15

Hercisback1 · Today 22:02
What do you want to happen now?
You've avoided the question.

I've not avoided anything. I'm reading the responses. As that's why I posted, for advice. Sensible advice! I've not been hysterical as some have said, I've not embarrassed my daughter as some have said and I've not overstepped any boundaries as some have said. I asked for advice and got made fun of! No, I'm not being sensitive, or a snowflake, I'm being honest!

You are being utterly ridiculous and totally underhand in your behaviour. If you are unable to see that, and your DD emulates your behaviour, you're setting her up for a miserable life. You are being precisely what you are denying - a sensitive snowflake who has grossly overstepped boundaries. Grow up before you damage your kid any further. I feel sorry for you and your lack of resilience.

Shocked by some of the responses here..

Imagine you're sitting at your desk at work and a manager throws a pen at you because you answer a question incorrectly, then does it to another colleague for answering another question wrong...

Then you're told it's to 'test your resilience'

Apologies, I think I missed your response about what crime has been committed?

It means asking a child a question by choosing her from the class without warning.

I have experience of teaching adults, and some are uncomfortable with being cold-called. So I always ask people to let me know if they'd rather I didn't do that to them. It's surprising how anxious some adults can get in that situation. Some children are the same.

.

Are you pleased by this? That forcing an escalation above the head of the school caused a teacher to decide to leave teaching?

A child was hit by a teacher with an object . What is it called then ?

I wouldn’t be going to the police but I would expect more than lies and a cover up .
Id expect admission and apology and re assurance of it not happening again or esculating.

it was a pen,not a hand grenade. It landed on a blazer no injury sustained
Emotionally shook up?who,you the opportunistic parent loving the drama?or the child
Youre way over invested and your febrile reaction is inappropriate
You took statements? Inappropriate to be imposing yourself to extract the answer you want

Really, step back. Reassure your child and get some perspective

Well, obviously a grenade or similar. 🙄 I really find this so bizarre, no one was hurt, nothing of note really happened.

Teachers shouldn’t throw pens, but they don’t always do everything right and your daughter wasn’t hurt. You have blown this way out of proportion and you being ridiculous to encourage your daughter to miss school because of it.

I think people must be drunk or it’s all AI. The comments on this chain are bizarre

where do we stand on chocolate bars? Because I had one thrown at me because I was completely ignoring my boss talking to the team 😂

I am please to confirm I did not end up in A&E or traumatised for life.

I can, however, make a difference between a pen or chocolate thrown at me as a joke, and someone who would violently throw a mug at my head...

You know what would happen if a child had done it? Nothing.

Students physically assault teachers and the teachers have to continue teaching them. Don't believe me? Join a teachers FB group. Death threats from unhinged 16 year olds. Chairs thrown. Having to remove other students from classrooms because the dangerous child won't leave.

You have NO idea how bad teachers have it.

OP, I think this thread might be more productive if you told us what outcome you’re looking for?

Not all pleased about anything .
Lovely person . Teachers bosses were letting them down .
Class sizes getting too big. Stress levels going high . Teacher acting in a way they knew they shouldn’t . No support for higher up .
The said they couldn’t go through another year of intakes and it made them re think .

I think it takes a better person to take a look at themselves and know what’s right .

Or the reasons the school have given for saying it's not a problem in the detail she must have had from them. I very much doubt they've just said in 4 words "it was a game".

If someone frisbeed a pen at my arm when I couldn’t answer a question correctly, I would assume it a was a gentle ribbing that I really need to pay attention. I wouldn’t go running to HR to complain that my boss had assaulted me, unless they’d walked over to me and smacked me.

And you don’t think you added to that stress, off course you did, teachers have enough to cope with without parents whining over trivialities.

Some really daft comments on this thread....

A teacher who thinks it is OK to throw things at pupils has no place in a classroom.

For a start it is a really bad example to give to kids (I assume that teacher would not react well if one of them followed her lead and threw the pen back at her...) and it goes against the principle of health and safety that the teacher has to follow as part of her contract.

This isn’t tit for tat.

Nobody should be throwing at anyone .

I think the bigger picture has to be looked at. What’s happening with the teacher .
Can they engage their pupils ?
Is their personal stuff going on at home ?
Is their work load to high?
Do they Actulay like their career .

Clearly something I causing them to lash out .

One of my teachers used to carry a yard stick. So he could jab anyone not listening from three feet away. We just laughed at the kid getting jabbed.
Kids need to lean resilience, otherwise they will never cope in life and in work once they are grown.

Why on earth do you think it’s appropriate to throw a pen at someone?

Taking a step back from the actual incident, you say you are at stage 2 of the complaints procedure. If you feel that you haven't had a satisfactory response, you move to the next stage. You simply follow the complaints procedure, which will be available on the website or from the school office. It is not guaranteed that you will "win", of course, and at each stage you should try to read the response with a clear head and then decide whether it is reasonable and proportionate to proceed (i.e don't go on a personal vendetta).