Judgement day
Well is been a while since I’ve last posted... way too long to do a full recap as my memory is nowhere near that good. So, just keeping to the recent...
The last 2 weeks have been horrendous in work, but today brings that to an end. When you are training as a teacher there are a few things that you are warned might happen to you in your career, this is perhaps magnified as an RE teacher where you regularly talk about sensitive issues (such as Death, abortion etc.) I have had a few of these things happen already - pregnancy scares, a pupil breaking down over a parents terminal illness and there are systems and guidance to follow. (Though the fact that you can’t give them a hug is sometimes heartbreaking).
But a couple of weeks ago I had one of the things any teacher dreads happen to me. A pupil accused me of ‘Strangling him’ in class. Obviously, if true this would be bad for the career prospects, liberty prospects and a CRB check would be somewhat difficult. It is, needless to say, a Career Killer. Of course there is a system in place for allegations such as this, introduced recently to avoid the old method of suspending the teacher while the complaint is investigated with the implication of guilt that that implies.
So instead of the school itself investigating, it goes direct to a ‘focus group’ made up of a representative of the school (someone from senior management), the Police (it is assault), children’s services, a school governor and the Local Education Authority. This panel compares statements from the pupil and myself then one of these people takes charge of the subsequent investigation (so if minor, the school deals - if serious, the police).
This story has a twist though as our school, shiny and new, is fitted with CCTV. So the panel decide they will look at this before going any further. Two weeks of waiting for this to happen (for long and boring reasons) Where I have been worried that it wasn’t caught, that the incident was out of frame, that it was misleading and so on. Constantly thinking of what else I can do for a job? Could we deal with a drop in income? What would happen to my GCSE classes when there is no other specialist in the school... on and on.
Today was the meeting to be informed of what happens next. The CCTV is perfect - so good in fact that I have been praised by the panel for how I dealt with the situation. Massive relief, completely exonerated, need to decide if I want to sue the little git. (This was presented as an option.)
In other news, ended up stepping in to the Y11’s production of Romeo and Juliet as Montague after a drop out. I’m much more comfortable behind the scenes and had done the stage backdrop and some choreographing, However quite enjoyed it and the Kids excelled themselves, they were FANTASTIC! Juliet in particular.
I, and a bunch of other equally stupid staff, have been roped in to modelling some of the ‘creations’ of the Textiles students. This fills me with dread. Only increased by the knowledge that it is wedding wear (actually the phrase used was ‘bridal wear’ but I’m hoping there is groom type stuff as well, otherwise i will let you know when you can come and see me in a wig and attractive lacy number. Blingfolds provided on request.)
Okay, that’s enough for now - catharsis achieved.