If anyone can offer any advice I'd be grateful!

Basically since Jamie stated school again in August there, he has been crying to go to school.  He is now in P4 and has been fine in the previous 3 years.  He says his teacher shouts a lot, not at him, but in general at the class and he does have a thing about teachers shouting.  I think he is a sensitive boy, he doesn't want to do the wrong thing at school and would be worried about a teacher giving him a row, which he doesn't actually get because he is coping fine with work and is a good boy in class, in fact the whole class are a nice class with no trouble makers or anything.  I have heard from various other parents and a teacher who used to work there, that they have had problems with said teacher too, her attitude and way she speaks to kids is terrible and she's the wicked witch of the west.  To cut a long story short, at parents night last night she was a cheeky bitch to me when I mentioned this issue so I went to see the head teacher today.  Took my dad with me thankfully as DH was working, it was like being thrown into the lions den.  Head teacher, deputy head and said class teacher. They all stuck together, made it sound as if jamie was just too sensitive and has to toughen up as teachers do shout sometimes.  I said that if that was the case and he was too sensitive, how come I have heard from lots of other parents their child was the same in said teacher's class and why was he fine the previous 3 years. They said that it was the first they had heard of it, no-one else has complained and some parents have actually requested their child go into her class!  (as if, honestly, I can't begin to tell you the amount of parents who have told me their child hated her)  They made me feel like a piece of sh*t and even suggested there might be problems at home which was causing him to be upset at school!!!  (which there definately isn't!)  So now I'm in the situation that short of moving his school, I'm going to have to force him to go to school till next June daily with a teacher he doesn't like.  Do I tell him he will just have to toughen up?  He's my baby, alright he's 8 now, but in our house we encourage him to open up and tell us if something is wrong and we will sort it.  We're not the kind of parents to push him into things and tell him to just get a grip.  I feel there is a genuine reason for him being upset.  What would you do?  Anyone with older kids had anything like this?  Thanks in advance!  Feel like bawling my eyes out!  I have a big knot in my chest and it feels tight with worrying about this. xxx

Hi Hun

dont know if its any help but here at 8 which is yr 3 or 4, the kids move from key stage 1 to key stage 2, Its a big change as key stage 1 is still focused mainly around learning through play, whereas stage 2 is more sit at desks and learn, maybe taht and a strict teacher are cuasing him to be upset.

Could you have a word with one of the parent reps for the governers as they might be able to help and support you.

liz

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Thanks so much for your reply!

I'm feeling much more positive again.  Took the kids to a birthday party this afternoon and was speaking to another two mums there who I have not spoken to regarding this situation before.  Both of them had children who had problems with said teacher and both of them 'did' complain to the school!  So I'm now feeling positive again, basically the school made me feel yesterday like I was causing them a big problem for nothing, making a mountain out of a molehill and that my son was over sensitive.  Now I 'know' they were at it as they know fine well that they have had plenty of complaints about this woman but instead they decided to put it on me as if I was neurotic.  What I'm going to do is get a list of names of people who have complained/wish to complain and take it to the school.  I'm not taking this lying down.  Thanks again! xx

Hi Fiona

it is my experience that schools tend to be very reactionary and will indeed close ranks if one of their own is "threatened". I'm glad you smelled a rat and didn't blame Jamie for being "too soft". I'm of the opinion that teachers should not shout except in extreme situations.

Jamies school will have an education officer assigned to it by the local authority, this will be dependant on the area you live in and also where your "local" High School is- the education officer should be your next port of call. You should be able to find out how to contact the EO just by calling the council education dept. you could arrange to meet face to face or you could write to him/her (hand deliver to nearest council office- get a reciept)You might also wish to speak to the chair of the school parent council. If you can convince other affected parents to contact the education officer too that would be great.

In the meantime, keep a note of the things Jamie is reporting to you, don't give him any hint of the hostility you feel towards the school or it's staff but reassure him that you're dealing with the problem.

HTH, If there's anything else you think I can help with then let me know.

Zoe

xxx

Oh Fiona, that's terrible. Poor lad getting upset every day over a teacher. Bless him. Let's hope you get it sorted soon.

I had a word with my hubby, he works for the education dept, and he suggested going to the head of the board of Governors, they can will try to sort it out for you from there. It's just not on that they are all 'closing rank' protecting this teacher. I'd carry on with the list of parents that you are doing, and let the Head of Governors know. I would also contact the Education Officer too, make as much noise as you can about it all. Hopefully then something will get sorted for him.

I totally understand where you are coming from and would be exactly the same as you with the knotty stomach. Bless him, he's only 8, there shouldn't be any reason for teachers to be hollering and hooting, my eldest (who is nearly 7) would be the same i'm sure. How dare they try to tell you there's problems at home making him upset - cheek.

Let us know how you get on and what they say! Good luck.

Jo
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