Meeting at the High School

So today I had a meeting with the head teacher at my daughters high school to discuss Erin and also to discuss my blog.

Erin isn't actually feeling too great today so I said I would take her home, as a result Erin came along to the meeting with me. I am glad she did because Erin could give her opinions and when the head teacher mentioned a point the P.E had said she said, Erin was there to say 'She didn't say that.' So I was glad for that.

It was decided that it would be best all round if Erin does not take part in P.E except for swimming. He also suggested that I write a letter documenting all of Erin's conditions and medications etc. so they have up-to-date records. It was also mentioned that a meeting be arranged between myself and Erin's new guidance teacher. I have spoken to her once and sounds lovely but it would be nice to put a face to the voice and get a rapport like I had with her former guidance teacher.

Moving on to my original blog post. The head teacher is not happy about it, still. He has negative thoughts about the whole social media thing due to seeing what happens amongst children at the school who use it. Okay I want to put this out there, just so you all know, I am an educated adult who is wise/stupid enough to make my own decisions. If I want to make a blog I can and I will. I do not make blogs to spread b.s. My blog is for me to be me. It is a place for me to come to share my thoughts, opinions etc. Some people may not agree with everything I say, but that is their choice and I respect that. I write factual and heartfelt pieces of information. Some are personal and some are not.

Now the head teacher mentioned about what if hypothetically there was a sub teacher who did this. I replied with then there wouldn't have been a blog about the incident. I wrote the blog because firstly this has happened before. Now let me discuss that first incident. I mentioned how the head of P.E did not make an apology to Erin. He did however bend over backwards to try and accommodate Erin, even if he did brush it under the carpet. Now I don't know about you, but growing up I was taught that if there is an issue it isn't always best to brush it under the carpet. I felt back then that the Head of P.E thought Erin was lying and refused to listen to her. Now he could have approached her and said

 'I am sorry that I made you feel this way Erin. This is how I felt. Let's see what we can do to rectify this.'

But this wasn't done. I chose to ignore this even though, if I am honest, it pissed me off. How are we expected to teach our children to be mature and responsible when teachers can't show them how to act this way.

Now to move to the recent event, why did I choose to write the blog? Okay, so when this first happened I was told there were things in place to ensure this wouldn't happen again. I understand little slip ups happen. Along the way there have been incidents, such as teachers not giving Erin the work she missed etc. but that was quickly rectified. When incidents like this has happened I have always called the school and they got sorted. So why make a blog now? The teacher in question knows of Erin's conditions. She also knows of what happened last year. She has apparently been working at the school for 8 years. She has also approached Erin herself to ask if she could take part in certain sports. Erin has told what she can and can't do and if things she did take part in got too sore she would sit them out. So yes this teacher was well aware. She also asked Erin a few weeks earlier if she will be able to do Rugby. Erin has said no with it being a contact sport. Erin had also explained that she is in pain etc. Now Erin is in constant pain and she doesn't always voice these issues as she hates being a burden or getting into trouble, which leads us on to the fact that this teacher, who knew everything about Erin and what happened last year still wanted Erin to walk around the rugby pitch. It was mentioned, as a way to use it as an excuse, that Erin walks around to and from the classes - there are no lifts and she hates using aids (that's a different matter entirely) - and the fact Erin sometimes walks outside with her friends. Now we all know Erin has issues with people after what happened in primary school so the fact she has a friend she wants to make an effort, instead of sitting indoors. Yes she is in a lot of pain because of it. 

So basically I wrote my blog because it had happened again, and the teacher clearly knew all about Erin but chose not to act correctly. May be she was stressed with other pupils, may be it was pregnancy hormones, who knows. I do know that it shouldn't have happened. But me writing this blog has brought to my attention that Erin is not the only child. I spoke to one parent whose child had a broken foot or ankle and was told to walk around the pitch. That itself makes you wonder wtf?

My child's welfare will always come first. It will always come before the school and teachers reputation. If I am not the only parent who feels this way then may be the school should be looking at how they deal with matters.

I will also continue to blog and share my thoughts and opinions and if people do not like that then that is their issue not mine.

The head teacher said that there needs to be a good rapport between parents and the school. I agree. I have a fantastic rapport with my youngest primary school. But I will not be told to not blog about my feelings on issues that should not be happening

Update on yesterdays blog

So today my daughter had the day off school to go to hydrotherapy. It took 4 buses to get there. 4! un-bloody-believable.

Anyway on my way I got a phone call from the head teacher at the school who was concerned about his teachers 'feelings.' o_O He asked if I would take my blog post down or he would take legal action. Quite hilarious considering it would be laughed out of court. Some people need to realise that there is a difference between 'Defamation of character' and 'Definition of character' as my lovely friend Andrew Kuligowski says ;) He goes on to add 'it's really embarrassing when libel and slander suits are dismissed when the defendant proves that they're TRUE!'

Nothing I said on yesterday was false. Everything I put was factual.

The school do know about my daughters conditions. We have also had this problem before hand when I assumed we had come to an understanding. You know what they say about assumption and all that.

The head teacher thinks that because my child attempts to go out and walk in the playground then there is nothing wrong with her walking around the rugby pitch o_O <----- yeah there were lots of these. Considering my daughter has only recently made friends then this is a huge step for her. This does not mean she is in any pain. She is also not being ordered to go walk either.

I have a meeting with this head teacher on Tuesday morning, but the same will happen as last time. He will side with the teachers and they will say it won't happen again because everything is in place. Yup I have heard this before o_O

I think they expect parents to sit on their arses and do nothing. I am sorry but I am a very loving and protective parent. The first time round I went through the right channels and it quickly got moved along because I threatened to go to the Education department. This time I did contact the school, so they were well aware of what had gone on. I just decided that this time I would share it a bit more vocally. Don't worry, if this does happen again it won't just be a blog I will be making ;)

As a parent who also is qualified in law I am telling all you parents now, if you are upset and are not happy with how things are being dealt with there are channels you can go down to get these things resolved. Don't ever feel belittled.

I am educated and I am one with my words.... obviously lol. I am also fiercely protective of things, especially things that I love. Most people know the back story of how my Erin the Fire Goddess series came about. I don't purposely go out of my way to campaign against no bullying for the good of my health. I will also not allow my children to feel as though them going to school causes them more pain. Teachers have a duty of care to their students. To put a students health in jeopardy means that the teacher is failing in their duties which means they are incompetent. I don't giving a flying hoop if one is pregnant and one has wont awards. But I want to go back to that issue. When I mentioned the head of the department I did not say anything bad about the guy. I said he did not apologise to my daughter. We all know if the shoe was on the other foot things would be different ;) I did however state that he has been nothing but helpful and bending over backwards to try and help my daughter. Where in that entire bit did I bad mouth him? The female teacher? well if the shoe fits. I am not the only other person who has been saying these things, I am just a little bit more vocal. My daughter often says that she found this particular teacher moody and just kept telling herself that it is pregnancy hormones. Could well be, but teachers need to remember where they are and leave their personal issues at home and not take them out on the students.

The head teacher asked what have I achieved by doing yesterdays blog? o_O I brought it to their attention pretty quick. It became a talking point. I had messages from other parents showing their support. I also tweeted the blog directly to the school because I am the type of person who will say what ever I have to say to the person directly.

I have had minor issues with other teachers that got resolved very quickly and these were an oversight on their behalf and I respect that.

With my daughters primary schools I have always maintained an excellent relationship with them, apart the from bullying issue that was eventually resolved beautifully. Communication has always been excellent.

I will be doing another blog about this issue after my meeting with the head teacher. In the meantime stay smiling people :)

High School Incompetent Teachers

Before now I have mentioned about my daughters condition. Last year the head of the P.E department made her walk around the astroturf for the entire P.E lesson because Erin didn't bring her gym kit.... why? because she had a medical note saying she couldnt.

At that present time my daughter was under going tests to determine what was wrong with her so the Dr had written a note saying no P.E until further notice except swimming, but the head of dept ignored this. Of course I was livid and even though it was sorted out the head of department,  did not actually give my daughter an apology of any kind. He did however bend over backwards to try and rectify what he had done and tried to put my daughter down for extra swimming where there were slots available.

So everything was in place. My daughter got her many diagnosis's and everything was going smoothly.

Start of year 2 in this high school everything was still going well, but she couldnt do double swimming because there was a primary school class using those slots. Fair enough. The next session was basketball and my daughter wanted to attempt it, but she knew if she got sore she could just sit it out.

Basketball session was up and the next one was Rugby. The teacher who was taking her  asked Erin is she could do it and she said she can't do Rugby with it being a contact sport. We thought this to be fair enough. But no. Mrs High and Mighty decided to make my daughter walk around the rugby pitch. Really? Was she not there last year? Or had she not been informed what had happened or about Erins condition? Of course she had but she doesn't actually care.

It is a shame when you get teachers like this who ruin it and put a bad name to the school for their incompetence.

I do have to say that I am annoyed at my daughter too. She walked around the rugby pitch. She could have said no or walked away, but my daughter is a good girl who strives to do her best and not get into trouble so teachers like this take advantage.

Am I angry? Too right I am. I phoned the high school and they refused to let me speak to this teacher. I also refused to get off the phone until I spoke to someone. I got one of the guidance teachers though, who was helpful and said she is angry on my behalf too because this is an ongoing thing. My daughters condition is a lifelong condition. I do not need someone who thinks that because they are a teacher then they are above it all. The holier than thou attitude does not fly with me.

I have demanded something be done about this teacher because I am fed up. I have had enough. As a parent you want to protect your child whilst encouraging them to grow.

My daughter has a lot of time off school due to all her medical problems and due to the fact she is in constant pain, but still she thrives in school. She is one of the top in her whole year because my daughter purposely ensures that she is on top of all her work and ensures she has all the work she has missed and she tries to get any homework done, even those she missed, handed back in on its due date.

This teacher should be ashamed of herself and the school should be ashamed for employing someone like this.

Someone is planning on calling me tomorrow. In the meantime I decided to write this blog to share with people, because last time I said I was going to the education dept but then it was resolved, but for it to happen twice...... yeah enough is enough.