My sons teacher .

[jonah hart]

My son is dyslexic An obvously really struggles with his school work. His head of year sent a memo out to all his teachers saying DO NOT make my son read out in class! The other day his history teacher asked him to read out my son said he didn't want to so again she said stand up an read again he said no my head of year said I don't have to. She insisted he did so he left the classroom embarresed and in a panic when he left she turned to the class and said what a FREAK!!! Am obviously fuming and went up to his school to confront them . I've been told it will be looked into . Is there any thing I could or should do about this situation? To me it's discrimination against my dyslexic son and I want her job for this . Am I going over the top here ? Any advice please ? ..

[buildersmate]

Is there any thing I could or should do about this situation? - Yes, wait for the outcome of the internal investigation, then comment.

Am I going over the top here ? Yes - examples as follows:
......... went up to his school to confront them
......... and I want her job for this

[andy-hughes]

Your son's teacher may not have been advised of the instruction that he is to be excused reading out loud in class, but her subsequent remark is clearly unacceptable.

Leaving aside your justifiable anger and desire to protect your son, a dispassionate appraisal of the circumstances will conclude that dismissal is an unlikely outcome of this incident.

What you, and more importantly your son, are entitled to is an appropriate apology, and you should certainly press for this to be given in fromt of the head Teacher, together with an assurance that there will be no repeat of this occurence again.

That would be an appropriate outcome, and that is the minimum you should accept as a consequence. If the Head Teacher does not pursue this course of action, your next call should be to the Chair Of Governors to act for you.

[jonah hart]

Thanks andy :-) the teacher is aware of his dyslexic he had her last year an they got on really well I have asked that she apologize to my son for her comment .. I was told the school would get back to me yesterday they haven't yet which makes me mad as I feel there not taking it seriously ... Maybe I am going ott and my anger is taking over it's just so frustrating that we struggle every day to keep my sons confidence up an 1 remark from a TEACHER can knock him back down is so unfair she's paid to help my son not knock him down. Think I will have to put my frustrations aside an see what happens. Thanks :-)

[pink-kittens]

I too, think you are behaving a little OTT using the same examples as buildersmate

your son, unfortunately, is going to come up against many more comments about his abilities, both negative and positive. Calling him a freak, which may have a misheard comment because yr son is bound to have been sensitive after being asked to read in class, is definitely not teacher like behaviour, obviously and he should indeed receive an apology if the teacher did say that. I suspect it will be his word against hers

I also suggest you await the outcome of the investigation and then decide what is best for your son, not what you feel is best to achieve what you feel you want - and that is the teachers job, that is unlikely to happen

[bednobs]

i am not sure what in law you would expect to be able to do?

[jake-the-peg]

What if the Child had been physically handicapped - say a hare lip or a witherred arm.

Would you people be suggesting that Jonah was going over the top then?

I suspect not

[cazzz1975]

I agree with jake.

[China Doll]

He'd left the class when the teacher made this comment? Are you sure the teacher made the comment and other members of the class are not winding your son up?

[jake-the-peg]

nope I'm just drawing the comparison between a visual physical handicap (excuse the phrase) and an invisible mental one.

It's so much easier to sympathise when the physical one is there staring you in the face.

It's a bit like the people who think ADHD is "just naughtiness " because you can't measure it or it doesn't show up on an x-ray.

I'm certain the teacher wouldn't have said that of a child in a wheelchair and I think fewer people would imply such a child should just "learn to live with".

Telling people they should just learn to live with something - implys that it's not worth trying to change behaviour and attitudes

Do you think black people should just learn to live with racial abuse?

Where there is unacceptable behavior like this you have to stand up with it otherwise the behavior will continue.

Doing nothing means they win

[Seafarer1966]

Get onto your Local Education Authority (LEA). This is usually your county council or your London Borough depending on where you live. This is who the headmaster answers to. I'll bet the head of your sons school will try and keep it all quiet. If all else fails get the press involved. An article in your local newspaper will go down a storm.
Get the bitch sorted out anyway. My godson has learned to cope with dyslexia all his life. He was bullied at school because kids thought he was stupid. When he fought back the school tried to expel him. Last year he got a first class honours degree at university.
Good luck and best wishes.

[jonah hart]

THANKYOU jake exactly ... I believe I'm a little OTT wanting her job for this however having thought more an more about it it's a serious matter there is discrimination here and having not heard from the school after 2 days I'm thinking there either not taking it seriously or trying to brush it under the carpet I'm not going to let this happen .. His teacher didn't mumble it under her breath she said it out loud and the entire class laughed he's been called FREAK by all his classmates today .. And this is the school that when 1 pupil called another a p$ki he got excluded which was too right so what's the difference here? Thankyou 4 your support guys :-)

[jonah hart]

Thankyou seafarer :-) and well done to your godson x

[DEN53]

Hi jonah - I don't think confronting the teacher is going over the top - I would do exactly the same thing and also put it into writing to the head teacher (which I am sure you have done). Humiliating children in school is never a clever move by teachers, but I know from personal experience this does happen. The majority of teachers are lovely, caring individuals who do an excellent job. There will always be the odd one who likes to play god and this person has to be spoken to by the head teacher.

Keep on their case jonah and make sure it is not swept under the carpet.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh one more tip about these sorts of situations.

It may sound obvious but decide exactly what action you would like to see taken and ask for it clearly and unabiguously

Often people complain "generally" about things and don't like what happens.

[jonah hart]

Thankyou again jake an den :-) my sons just come home an told me that he as to go see this teacher tomro so she can apologize but she also expects an apology back for him walking out on her !!!!! No no no no .. I will be with him tmoro an I'll take it from there ... Can't thank u all enough for your advice & support :-) x

[jonah hart]

No I'm definatly not the type to go on all guns blazing I am reasonable ( yeh I'm angry ) but I no how to get my point across without raising my voice.. I've had to go into school alot over the years for my son.. But for nothing as bad as this .. I don't think there's anything more powerfull as your feelings for your kids and I won't let this 1 teacher bring my sons confidence back down but it will be in a calm manner.. :-)