Teen DD called a ‘cunt’ during a lesson by her male classmate: advice, please.

[EmmatheStageRat]

Well, the title says it all really. Y10 DD told me this evening that the boy who sits next to her in Biology called her a ‘cunt’ today, for no apparent reason. DD has to sit at the front of the classroom as she is registered blind, among other disabilities, and the boy, she thinks, has to sit at the front so teachers can keep an eye on him because he is a known troublemaker (my words, not hers). The boy insults my DD under his breath for the duration of each lesson and is generally disruptive.

Now quite apart from the fact that I personally loathe this misogynistic insult, I am annoyed that DD’s learning is being so disturbed by having to sit next to this boy. As well as being blind, DD has ADHD and autism and she is adopted and currently on a Child in Need plan with children’s services due to her complex needs and mental health difficulties. If anyone needs all the help they can get to fulfil their potential, it is my DD as the employment odds are stacked against her.

She is too concerned to email her Biology teacher direct so I would like to do it and request that the boy is moved. DD cannot be moved as she has to sit as close as possible to the teacher and board in order to maximise her remaining functional vision.

So, my question to teachers is, how do I go about this? And would you think it a bit pathetic of a Y10 student’s mum to be raising an issue like this on their behalf?

I think you should ring the school asap if I’m honest and have your daughter tell her teacher. If you ring them it’ll hopefully escalate much quicker. Don’t let them brush it under the carpet! Make sure it gets dealt with. Also if nothing is dealt with then ring again and again until it is.

Any child using that language in my school would have a spell in isolation. Call and speak to the head of year tomorrow first thing. Moving him is not the next step, but he needs to be dealt with first.

@MrsHamlet , thanks for your advice. I’ve already emailed the Director of SEND but I will also phone to speak to the Head of Year tomorrow morning. Can I ask why you think moving the boy is not the next step?

@Snowflakewater , thanks so much for your reply. Yes, you are right, I will get onto it tomorrow. As the parent of a child with such significant disabilities and issues, I feel like I’m always onto school about something or other. Also, sadly, DD says that the boys often call the girls ‘cunts’ so she is ‘meh’ about it because she is used to it. I could weep for the world our children live in.

It’s disgusting behaviour and needs to be dealt with. Who cares if you’re always onto them. This is your child ans you shouldn’t have to feel worried when you drop her at the school gates.

Can I ask why you think moving the boy is not the next step?
Because moving him in that class is only about that class, not about his disgusting language and attitude. Of course he needs to be moved, but his overall attitude needs dealing with first.

Could he have Tourette’s and or ADHD hence why he would sit at the front?

Soz looking up something else re autism and stumbled this. Just noticed old.