The world is nuts!!!

Outbackjack · 20-02-2007, 10:58 PM

At the moment my wife and I are struggling with a situation at her school. (she is a teacher) She is facing "action" because of something she did last week. I will try and keep this short but factual. She teaches special needs kids. Not all the kids have something actually wrong with them, they are just behind the 8 ball because of their home life. One of these kids, perhaps my wifes favourite, has a terrible home life. The kind of thing that would make you cry and angry all at the same time. Anyway, this little girl, lets call her Betty, is really struggling with her school work, she is 7 years old. But, she is, even at this young age, a natural sportsman (girl). So when is was time for PE last week and she was having trouble running and doing what she normally excelled at, my wife took her aside and asked if she was OK. Betty said that her feet were hurting. My wife sat her down and took her shoes off to see what was wrong. She has huge weeping blisters due to the fact that her runners were way too small for her. My wife, knowing that Betty's mother would never get it together enough to get Betty new runners, took it upon herself to treat the blisters with some savlon. When Betty was still coming to school with the same small runners, my wife decided that the only thing to do was to get Betty some new runners. So, with my blessing, we set off and bought Betty some new runners. We took them out of the box and tried to make them look not quite so new..... We thought that this might trick the other kids in her class into thinkng that Betty wasn't getting some kind of charity. My wife said that when Betty got her runners she told her that she had never had new shoes before and was very gracious for a 7 year old.

A couple of days passed, Betty took to the playing feild again and all was good. Wrong. Betty's mother has lodged a complaint about her child being given charity without her consent. Now my wife is facing disiplinary action for what she has done. I told her to stick the job. But she will not desert her "little sweeties". She may be suspended or sacked. I, like her, am gobb smacked. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to care. Mind you, at least it looks like Betty will get to keep her new runners.

Vent over...... I have never put my laundry on a public forum, but I though that the public deserves to know what is happening at public schools.
Cheers all.

Tote · 20-02-2007, 11:06 PM

Ahhh yes, my wife teaches special needs kids too, the stupidity of the policies applied by those in charge is balanced by the care that the teaching professionals give to the kids.
My only suggestion is to ride it out, they tell me that life in a private school is better but none of the private schools in our locale run special needs classes.
Best of luck, I'm sure that your wife will display the professionalism that she obviously posseses regardless of the outcome.
Regards,
Tote

AU2PWR · 20-02-2007, 11:13 PM

Probably doesnt have enough money from the Centerlink payments to buy her smokes let alone Basic Needs for her Kids ..

DoreSlamR · 20-02-2007, 11:21 PM

its convenient to the parents that the girl keeps the shoes after complaining about it isnt it? It's hard to understand how people think sometimes, damn oxygen thieves

Scott · 20-02-2007, 11:25 PM

You're thread title says it all. The do-gooders might make things tough but hopefully recognition of good intentions wins the day. Good luck.

pertuan · 20-02-2007, 11:29 PM

Thats rubbish. Next they'll say that teachers can't give students a Kit Kat for doing well in a test.

rodderz · 20-02-2007, 11:40 PM

Crazy

You're right, the world and in particular Australia is becoming a bunch of whingers and nancy's. There's no acception of responsibilities of one's actions anymore, people sue over trivial things and in this case a parent isnt willing to be more responsible in creating a better life for an obviously gifted kid to get something as simple as a pair of runners

XRated · 20-02-2007, 11:51 PM

That is tough.

Whilst I don't agree with what's happened, as per your title, that is how it is in this sad world... Unfortunately it doesn't pay to be nice sometimes :(

1. You have a mother complaining about receiving charity and I can only guess why - she is a drop-kick wanting some monetary compensation and will use any excuse; like she is offended and her public image is damaged.

2. Other parents would/will kick up a stink if they found/find out for said reasons above: compensation because they're greedy and/or jealous.

All the best to your wife getting through this. There should be more people around like her.

Yellow_Festiva · 21-02-2007, 07:05 AM

Man what a situation... and a bloody joke!

I was teaching in public schools and lasted all of 6 months before quitting "the system" and almost leaving teaching....

If anything bad comes of this I would be calling every bloody radio station and TV station and geeeze will they just LOVE to have a chat with your wife.......

People know the difference between a real gripe and a winger thats for sure..

pb02 · 21-02-2007, 08:18 AM

I get mixed emotions from reading this. First it's nice to see that you and your wife actually care enough to go beyond your responsibility and help others. You should both be commended for this, especially your wife.
Secondly, I can't help but think that Betty would be better off without her mother! Sounds harsh but she obviously isn't looking out for her daughter or even interested in what's best for her.

My Grandparents have worked most of their lives helping the benevolent society. They organize and deliver many things from food hampers to clothing and furniture all for free. Most of these people are refugees and the appreciation they show is fantastic. Maybe we should be sending Betty's mother to these refugees countries so that she can appreciate what she has here and the kind of people most of us are.

Ringo · 21-02-2007, 08:34 AM

Sounds like Betty's mother is a professional whinger who has just been shown how poor a mother she is...

Common sense will prevail in the end....surely....the people with the power will no act on it.

PS - In high school I got dragged over the coals by our powermad school nurse for offering my friend who had a migrane (and went home later in the day) a panadol from a packet I kept in my locker. She told me I wasn't a chemist...I said you can buy this in a supermarket...Then she said I wasn't a doctor....hmmm

PS I am a believer in karma....you should still believe that this wonderful gesture (however mistaken it has been by betty's mother) will come back to you in some other way...

robjh80 · 21-02-2007, 08:38 AM

What a Joke, that is absolutely ridiculous, I really feel for both your wife and the little girl, people like your wife do the most fantastic work for very little if indeed any recognition at all and then the education dept has the hide to put this on her as well!!, what a bunch of morons, it's no wonder that teachers and education professionals are running away from what is one of "the most important professions in the world."

Good luck to you and your wife getting through this difficult time, let us all know how things go.

"Oh.........and the mother for the record imo should be neutered, jailed and the key thrown away!!"

GXL078 · 21-02-2007, 08:38 AM

Your wife won't get in any trouble for that.

Ghiadude · 21-02-2007, 08:38 AM

this sort of thing ****es me off. if your wife cops ANY action id be with the media within seconds. Your wife did more than the right thing. I wish there was more like her in the system

Kommandant · 21-02-2007, 08:45 AM

And people wonder why teachers don't care anymore (i'm not saying your wife doesnt, obviously she's one of the good ones).

Its situations like these, and all these politically correct and bull-**** rules that have made them stop caring.

Woz · 21-02-2007, 08:48 AM

First of all, I applaud the actions of your wife and yourself. In a world where no one has any consideration or appreciation of others, the two of you have done a wonderful thing.

Secondly, I agree with pb02's comment being that as harsh as it sounds, 'Betty' would probably be better off growing up outside of the home she is currently in. While I admit that I don't know the exact details of her 'terrible home life', I've seen some examples in my fairly short years and heard of plenty more. Depending on just how bad things are (they're not looking too flash, that's for certain), the kid's probably better off somewhere else.

It's disgusting that people can kick up this sort of a fuss over the kindest of gestures. While it's a shame that not enough people are reaching out for each other like your wife and yourself have, with clowns like this it's not hard to work out why people are rapidly giving up on being generous.

People are a joke. My best wishes to your wife, Outback. No matter what happens with her job, the two of you have done a beautiful thing and have made one little girl incredibly happy, aswell as ridding her of unnecessary pain.

Perhaps a word to the Herald Sun or somewhere similar may be in order. The job may be a lot more secure if a poll or similar returned a bit of support for your wife and her actions?

jimmy_c · 21-02-2007, 08:58 AM

That was the whole aim at school to be given lollies for doing well. I would have been stoked if i got given a pair of shoes !!! *not that i needed anything*

You guys were sweet enough to care and got slapped in the face. I would report the mother to community services.

If you look into just about anything the **** bags know how to leech the system.

DJR David · 21-02-2007, 09:06 AM

As others have said, you wife should be congratulated. the improved self image for the child would have been a wonderful thing to see.

the mother should be .......... well the obvious

if it goes further don't forget the power of the media. A current affiar would have a field day with this. only as a last resort though

don't you just hate some so and sos......

Casper · 21-02-2007, 09:14 AM

Charity? No.. Its a "belated" birthday gift

Some people need a good hard look at them selves. Your wife did the right thing, no amount of government and social "rules of conduct" can change that.

pauljh74 · 21-02-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy_c

I would report the mother to community services.

I second that.

Neglecting the child's needs to the point where she is coming to physical harm is bad enough - you'd be willing to cut the parent some slack because they can't afford it etc. - but to complain when someone helps their family out, well the mother deserves a visit from the appropriate government department.

Choca · 21-02-2007, 09:45 AM

I bet the Mum is the kind of ***** that loses all her money at the pokies every thursday, drinks 6 nights a week and smokes like a chimny!

People like that should be shot! You look after the needs of your kids first!!

banarcus · 21-02-2007, 09:49 AM

Some people are ungrateful grubs. I see it everyday, the same sort of people that would rather steal a pair of shoes behind someone's back than to recieve a pair of shoes belieiving that everyone knows that their child recieved some sort of handout.

MeestaNob! · 21-02-2007, 10:03 AM

Your wife did the right thing. In the unlikely event a penalty of ANY sort comes of this I'd have the Herald Scum, ACA, Today Tonight and every other alarmist s*it stiring member of the media round your place for a chat (heck, have all of them round at once).

If its a private school she might own it by the end of the week!

bob 351 · 21-02-2007, 10:14 AM

mate give yourself and your wife a pat on the back as for the little girls mother she needs a pat on the back with a lump of 4x4 hardwood the silly cow the stupid school system should also take a good look at itself for even considering tacking action against your wife she should be given brownie point,s for what she did i applaude her all the best with it mate
cheer.s bob

MotherNatureVer2 · 21-02-2007, 10:25 AM

As a mother of a special needs child I applaud your wife for all the great work I know she does ..... you only have to have had a small time with these jems of people to know shes one in a million.

Luckily for us we are in a small rural community that still has teachers with good values ..... well most of them ;) I have seen our teachers help out just as you & your wife have on a few occasions and it is seen nothing more than its intention ..... a helping hand for a littly that needs it.

Keep your heads held high knowing that you and your wife are a wonderful rarity ...... people who care ;)

sgt_doofey · 21-02-2007, 10:32 AM

That's a tough nut mate. Hope things work out for your wife.

Could the school perhaps persuade the mother to forget about the complaint if they question as to why the daughter was inappropriately dressed and harm was being caused to the daughter due to the inappropriate shoes being worn on a regular basis?

Surely there must be a way the school can turn this about and show negligence on the mother's behalf, and perhaps involve the necessary government departments?

Hitman · 21-02-2007, 10:56 AM

Instead if lodging a complaint, she should have rung the school to thank the teacher!

It's political correctness gone too far, it's the bane of society and will only get worse.
I applaud you and your wife, you have done nothing wrong, I probably would have done the exact same thing.

max · 21-02-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

That's a tough nut mate. Hope things work out for your wife.

Could the school perhaps persuade the mother to forget about the complaint if they question as to why the daughter was inappropriately dressed and harm was being caused to the daughter due to the inappropriate shoes being worn on a regular basis?

Surely there must be a way the school can turn this about and show negligence on the mother's behalf, and perhaps involve the necessary government departments?

My thought exactly. If Mandatory Notification was employed, it may well reveal through investigation other issues with this child's carers, resulting in consequences not directed at a teacher who had, exclusively, a students best interests in mind.

gcm · 21-02-2007, 01:04 PM

As the son of a casual teacher who works regularly with a few different special ed classes I hear about these sorts of problems every time I phone home and the frustration involved in being unable to help outside school hours. Well done for making the most of a bad situation and having a heart. Maybe next you could try leaving the present yourself so as it doesn't appear to come from a teacher?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tote

they tell me that life in a private school is better
Tote

This is a joke. While I'm sure they're not all the same, my mother was informed by a concerned parent that another volunteer parent had "diagnosed" her child with a serious condition that would involve actual diagnosis by an occupational therapist. The volunteer parent didn't even have an equivalent yr 10 education let alone the degree required to recognise this.

Any idea why she did it?

The more affected the child is, the more money the school gets. :jab: Can you imagine the psychological trauma the parent went through?

turboute · 21-02-2007, 01:26 PM

Your missus did the right thing,
Personally My parents skimped on getting the right shoes for me in favour of cheaper ones (they are well off) I ended up with my little toes on weird angles due to not having the right width shoes. Currently my wife (manager at a sports store) makes sure that I get the right shoes (4E - widest you can get), It has taken 4-5 years of wearing shoes that fit to start seeing my toes straighten out.

My wife Also recommends at least a couple of people go to a podiatrist each week, mainly due to their poor choices in shoes earlier on in the peice. At that age the kid you are talking about could develop serious back problems from wearing incorrect shoes.