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

So if a student was tossing pens around that would be fine would it? Obviously not. Teachers should be modelling the behaviour they want from their students and under NO circumstances, should they ever be throwing anything! Wtf

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I don't know. It seems like a major over reaction. Stepping it through, what injury can be sustained from a thrown highlighter? Potential collision with face from light object - doesn't sound like potential of injury to me. Elsewhere on the body is a non event. A pen or pencil would be more dangerous due to the hard pointy end.

Given that, why does your daughter not "feel safe"? She is in no danger and after your overreaction the teacher won't be throwing things again. Personally I'd be mortified to have that mum and be too embarrassed to go back to class after she's gone off over a non event.

I don't know, if a student starts frisbeeing pens while doing a presentation to mark a point, it could be amusing.

It won't be, because of all the parents of snowflakes who will make a fuss, but I am sure the kids would find it funny.

Unlike some posters on MN, most kids know the difference between a bully and someone doing things for fun

Pitching it full force, directly into their face in a fit of rage? No.

Tossing it at them to get their attention? Absolutely.

And you accept the OP's version of events, even though she wasn't there, over the school who have clearly said on more than one occasion there's no problem.

Do you think the OPs version of events based on her year 8 daughter is automatically going to be more or less accurate than the school's, based on the teacher?

Because, and I'm boring myself saying this again, the school have looked into it and have said they don't have an issue. So there is a dispute as to what happened.

If a child was throwing pens around in class they’d be removed from the lesson. I don’t abide by double standards.

Haven't read the full thread but whatever happened in the 80s doesn't mean it's OK to happen now. I was at school in the 80s and had books and board rubbers thrown at me and this was normal and so something I can now laugh about. In the 40s my dad got caned and laughed about that but I didn't think it was funny because things had moved on. And now I wouldn't find a teacher throwing a pen or anything at my child funny because things have moved on again and we know it's not right. Even if it doesn't hit the child, done in a particular way (the way of board rubbers being thrown) it's humiliating and it shouldn't be happening.

Resilience is spoken about a lot in regards to children because it is pretty important and it IS lacking. It's not about 'put up and shut up' but responses like this give a better understanding of WHY it seems to be missing from so many children these days, including the OPs child
Resilience is an essential skill to teach our children, but ones that's made even harder when parents have never developed it 🤷‍♀️

Tossing it at them to get their attention?

Teacher already had the child's attention, child had already said she didn't know the answer. Next excuse?

Well, here you go, OP. I confess. I used to hit boys over the head.

She was traumatised by a game which involved throwing a highlighter pen at her blazer sleeve which didn't even hurt?
You have gone very, very wrong somewhere op!

My response was to the poster I quoted asking if I would be happy for a teacher to throw a piece of chalk at my child, not in response to the OPs situation.

Thought that would have been clear, what with the quote response.

If a child was throwing pens around in class they’d be removed from the lesson

No. Of course they wouldn't. They'd be asked to stop it off and then usually they would.

Oh! for goodness sake.

My question if my child was in this situation would have been had the teacher already discussed this subject did you not listen.

Children have no choice but to go to school why aren't they resilient what is missing in schools. Honestly I thought schools was for learning and inspiring young people not bully them. My dad left school at 14 and went straight to work. My partner was caned and it turned him violent. Now and then he tells me a story of how girl got into a fight with a male teacher at school. In the 90's there was no threats of fines or prison if your child didn't go to school. Why is the new system not working should they bring back the cane?

Glad you are teaching your child resilience

If kids fear going to school, it's almost never anything to do with the teachers. Kids who fear going to school fear going to school because of the other kids. The less teachers have in their arsenal to deal with kids who make other kids lives a misery, the worse that gets.

"My partner was caned and it turned him violent. "

Is that his excuse?

quite.

The child could complain that they do not like or accept to have highlighter sent like a frisbee, that would be reasonable. Left feeling humiliated and embarrassed, and refusing to go to school? Come on.

Teachers these days have no powers. Some even struggle to control their class.

I think your comment about “taking statements” from other pupils scuppered your chances for a bit of support. That and the “emotionally shook up” comment , and your daughter claiming she no longer feels”safe”.

It was not a pleasant thing to have happened, but I think you are taking things to extremes and for your daughters sake you need to rein back and discuss with the school how to go forward.

And by the way, asking children questions in class is a perfectly normal way of teaching, asking questions is a quick way of checking on learning, understanding and attention. Cold calling is when a totally unknown person or company phones you up and tries to sell you insurance or broadband or double glazing. See the difference?

Thought that would have been clear, what with the quote response.
Ah apologies then velmy, I thought you were drawing a parallel with OP's case, it was a digression.

It sounds like people with your opinion feel like any form of discipline should stay in the past. Is it any wonder pupils about to leave school think they can literally get away with mayhem. The fact is punishment has gone far too lenient to the extent Teachers can't look at a child the wrong way far less throw a rubber.

No he had to deal with racism in the 60's and 70's. Life improved after the London riots. Police couldn't beat up black people. The racists knew they couldn't fuck about with black people.