Criticism from parent

[ChimneySweepLiverpool]

Hi all,

I'm quite upset as today was my last day finishing up for Christmas and I, like all of us, was feeling pretty wrecked. I was speaking with four children who had upset another child and two teachers had already spoken to them about their behaviour.

As head teacher, I took the children aside to understand the situation. I said 'boys, I'm trying to resolve this but I'm struggling to understand what happened' as they were straight up denying their role in this.

The boys are 10. This was at pick up time. A Mum of the child approached, seeing this situation, and took me aside. I explained what was happening. She said I wasn't speaking appropriately to the boys and she was very surprised this was happening. She has put a complaint to the principal.

Both class teachers have given statements about it, supporting me and the principal is supporting me but I'm doubting myself and feeling it wasn't appropriate for her to have that conversation with me in a busy school yard.

I should point out she's also a teacher

Sounds like she's on the defensive - we have a couple of children at my school whose (teacher) parents have been known to do similar. If you have the backing of colleague and your principal, pay it no mind. With any luck, it will all be forgotten by the new year.

I suppose the playground at pick up time wasn’t really the appropriate place to have the conversation. Both from a teacher’s perspective and from a parent’s perspective, I’m wary of other (nosey) parents looking in on what’s happening and making assumptions/fuelling gossip. But that’s probably because both the school I work in and my DC’s school have problematic ‘WhatsApp group’ cultures and gossipy, meddling parents.

But your principal and colleagues are supporting you, so I wouldn’t worry too much. Maybe next time just take these sorts of conversations indoors.