Thoughts for the day:
How can a teacher who has left a school under a cloud get a job in another school just up the road, in the same local authority, and ruin the lives of more children?
Can it be a coincidence that two teenagers, who have been in the same forms for four years, in two different schools, both have severe mental health problems?
Why do schools never believe that they have a bullying problem?
Why do teachers always blame the family first when things are going wrong, rather than look at what is happening on their own premises?
Answers on a postcard please.
6 comments:
I think all well run schools realise there's bullying everywhere and that every school must have an effective bullying policy which leads to appropriate action as soon as bullying is reported.
The governors will have a copy of all those kinds of policies and have to take action even if the head is useless.
beta mum...yes of course the schools have antibullying policies. The problem is that the psychological bullying is so rife that kids are too scared to disclose it, therefore parents can take no action.
Sorry if that sounds cryptic...there is a whole lot of history here which unfortunately I don't feel able to blog about at the moment.
One day, in the distant future, perhaps we will educate our children differently. Schools are very much the lowest common denominator. Unfortunately this flawed system is the only one we have right now. I shall be so glad when we are out of it. Nearly there.
You're obviously referring to something close up & personal here & I hope it gets resolved satisfactorily. For what it's worth, I believe that bullying is very much a function of the authority structures in schools. The apartheid notion of teachers as directors & pupils as drones within a processing plant is bound to promote alienation & a culture of separation.
I taught for 30 years in 'progressive' schools, all three of which were run by teachers & pupils working together through school councils. Teachers were called by first names & the emphasis on informal collaboration rather than traditional authority roles largely obviated bullying.
Not much help, I know, since the revolution doesn't seem to be just around the corner. But food for thought, maybe...
I was really interested in what Dick said about schools, not only as a parent with an atypical child, but, by a twist of fate, as an employee in a school.
The apartheid he describes is rampant also in the staff hierarchy and is something I have problems with. Bullying amongst staff is also rife. This is something that I struggle with daily and would be the reason why I may not be able to continue. Good comment.
Dick and Marianne, that is fascinating. We know that verbal bullying by staff has played a HUGE part in our issues...not just by staff on pupils but also by staff on staff.
Oh and welcome Dick, nice to 'meet' you!
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