Why Is The Civil Service Incapable Of...
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School Punishing My Son For Not Doing P.e
76 Answers
Right. This is quite a long one, I'm afraid.
My son was complaining of a bad headache last week, and was off school on the Monday because of this. On previous occasions this had been due to him not wearing glasses, or needing the strength of the lens changed, so I made him an appointment for the opticians, which is this week.
I sent him back to school on the Tuesday, but wrote him a note further on in the week asking for him to be excused from the P.E lesson as he was feeling unwell and I was awaiting a doctors and opticians appointment.
He came home from school on Friday (the day of P.E) saying he had handed the note in, but he was told he was still going to be punished, and would miss his lunchtime break on Monday.
I called the school yesterday morning at 9am, and asked about the note. i explained the situation and she said she would look into it and have a word with the teacher, who would "probably overturn the decision as she may not have been aware of the note". She said she's get her to call me back.
Still no phone call at 11.45 so I called back and said I appreciated she was probably busy, but I just wanted to know what the situation was, as lunch break was fast approaching. She said she still hadn't spoken to her, but as she finished teaching in 15 minutes, so would make sure she phoned. Fair enough.
Another 45 minutes passed, with the pupils now being halfway through lunchtime, and still no call.
I called once again (third time) and was told by the person covering the phone, she would pass on the message and get her to call. Aghhhhh!
So, I finally received a call from my son's teacher, and she explained that she had never received the note and was only aware of it now. Turns out they had a supply teacher that day, and another teacher for P.E and this is who my son handed the note to. He was then told to sit on the sidelines whilst the rest of the class did P.E.
So anyway, I explained all this to her, and said my son shouldn't be punished for a decision that I had made. He had not "forgotten his P.E kit", but I had requested him being excused due to medical reasons. She said again that she had not seen this note, but as I pointed out to her, surely that is the fault of the supply teacher that day, and the P.E teacher? She said no, it was my son's fault.
She then went on to say that "even if I had seen the note, he would have been made to do the class anyway". I asked her why if a child is, potentially, unwell they should be made to do it. She said, and I quote, "that child would be made to participate in the P.E lesson until they felt too ill to continue".
Sorry, it may just be me, but I find that remark astonishing! When is a child "too ill"? When he/she collapses??
Sure, it may just be a headache, but who knows. I would rather wait until a professional has seen him, than let his teacher decide if he suddenly becomes "too ill" to continue.
Do I have grounds to make an official complaint? He's already been punished, so it's not as if she can give him back his missed lunch break. I just want to voice my annoyance and frustration, and also my concern over the comments regarding a child being made to do P.E until they were "too ill to continue". I also have issues with the "punishments" she dishes out, which seem to depend on whether or not she got out of the wrong side of bed that morning!
I'm looking for answers from parents, specifically.
Thanks.
My son was complaining of a bad headache last week, and was off school on the Monday because of this. On previous occasions this had been due to him not wearing glasses, or needing the strength of the lens changed, so I made him an appointment for the opticians, which is this week.
I sent him back to school on the Tuesday, but wrote him a note further on in the week asking for him to be excused from the P.E lesson as he was feeling unwell and I was awaiting a doctors and opticians appointment.
He came home from school on Friday (the day of P.E) saying he had handed the note in, but he was told he was still going to be punished, and would miss his lunchtime break on Monday.
I called the school yesterday morning at 9am, and asked about the note. i explained the situation and she said she would look into it and have a word with the teacher, who would "probably overturn the decision as she may not have been aware of the note". She said she's get her to call me back.
Still no phone call at 11.45 so I called back and said I appreciated she was probably busy, but I just wanted to know what the situation was, as lunch break was fast approaching. She said she still hadn't spoken to her, but as she finished teaching in 15 minutes, so would make sure she phoned. Fair enough.
Another 45 minutes passed, with the pupils now being halfway through lunchtime, and still no call.
I called once again (third time) and was told by the person covering the phone, she would pass on the message and get her to call. Aghhhhh!
So, I finally received a call from my son's teacher, and she explained that she had never received the note and was only aware of it now. Turns out they had a supply teacher that day, and another teacher for P.E and this is who my son handed the note to. He was then told to sit on the sidelines whilst the rest of the class did P.E.
So anyway, I explained all this to her, and said my son shouldn't be punished for a decision that I had made. He had not "forgotten his P.E kit", but I had requested him being excused due to medical reasons. She said again that she had not seen this note, but as I pointed out to her, surely that is the fault of the supply teacher that day, and the P.E teacher? She said no, it was my son's fault.
She then went on to say that "even if I had seen the note, he would have been made to do the class anyway". I asked her why if a child is, potentially, unwell they should be made to do it. She said, and I quote, "that child would be made to participate in the P.E lesson until they felt too ill to continue".
Sorry, it may just be me, but I find that remark astonishing! When is a child "too ill"? When he/she collapses??
Sure, it may just be a headache, but who knows. I would rather wait until a professional has seen him, than let his teacher decide if he suddenly becomes "too ill" to continue.
Do I have grounds to make an official complaint? He's already been punished, so it's not as if she can give him back his missed lunch break. I just want to voice my annoyance and frustration, and also my concern over the comments regarding a child being made to do P.E until they were "too ill to continue". I also have issues with the "punishments" she dishes out, which seem to depend on whether or not she got out of the wrong side of bed that morning!
I'm looking for answers from parents, specifically.
Thanks.
Answers
That's exactly what she is doing. Too stubborn to just say, ok, an error was made and he'll not be missing his break.
Anyway, I have to go now, but thank you all again for your answers. It has made me step back a bit, and I will review my letter this evening and shorten down just to highlight the main facts and concerns that I have.
Thank you :-)
Anyway, I have to go now, but thank you all again for your answers. It has made me step back a bit, and I will review my letter this evening and shorten down just to highlight the main facts and concerns that I have.
Thank you :-)
The facts of the matter are that a letter was written and misplaced and/or ignored.
Whether you would or would not have written a letter are irrelevant.
But, unless you are a radically different breed from any other Consultant Surgeon that I have ever come across, then I bet if you had written a letter and made some calls, you would have been hopping mad if you had been ignored and that someone would be quaking in their boots.
Whether you would or would not have written a letter are irrelevant.
But, unless you are a radically different breed from any other Consultant Surgeon that I have ever come across, then I bet if you had written a letter and made some calls, you would have been hopping mad if you had been ignored and that someone would be quaking in their boots.
Teachers are terrible for thinking they are always right (in my opinion). Beware, as soon as you step into that office you will turn into a blithering idiot who can't string a sentence together. Be clear about what your issue is and stick to it, try not to get upset (easier said than done, I know) and good luck.
Before you go into this meeting check to see if the school has any policies. Nowadays schools have a written policy on almost everything. If you go in armed with hard facts and stick to them, you are less likely to become emotional. Try and detach yourself from how you feel and instead concentrate on the outcome.
You say you are not really "expecting anything", but you need to have some answer ready when you are asked that question. Are you perhaps looking for clarification on the policy in these circumstances or the application of that policy?
You say you are not really "expecting anything", but you need to have some answer ready when you are asked that question. Are you perhaps looking for clarification on the policy in these circumstances or the application of that policy?
All I would do is write to the school asking that they ensure that letters get through to the right people, adding that you take it that it is not the policy of the school to punish children for seeking to comply with a parent's request communicated to the school but,if it is,would the head care to explain when, and in what circumstances, this policy is applied.
I agree with NJ and Sqad that,in itself,this incident is too trivial to complain about and what is done is done, but I'd been keen to point out failings in the sending on of messages and demand that these be rectified. Such failures could have serious consequences.
I agree with NJ and Sqad that,in itself,this incident is too trivial to complain about and what is done is done, but I'd been keen to point out failings in the sending on of messages and demand that these be rectified. Such failures could have serious consequences.
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