A teacher has hit out at society's 'state of paranoia' after she was suspended for driving a stranded pupil home and helping another who was struggling with a grandfather's illness.
Heather Wolfson, 56, was suspended from her fixed-term contract with Ysgol y Grango, in Rhos, north Wales, and has never been reinstated.
She claims she was disciplined because her behaviour was considered inappropriate.
But she says her actions were born out of compassion for those in her care and says a culture of fear has developed in many schools.
Mrs Wolfson, who has two grown-up children, believes her 35-year teaching career is now over and feels her reputation has been destroyed.
Neither of the children’s parents complained to the school. Instead, a member of staff alerted the headteacher that the girl and boy had the food technology and textiles teacher’s number.
At a disciplinary hearing Mrs Wolfson, who had been on a fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave, was handed a written warning. Her contract expired the following day and was never renewed.
The school gave her a basic dated reference, but it is proving a blot on an otherwise untainted career.
Mrs Wolfson, from Weston Rhyn, near Oswestry, told how she has been struggling to get a job ever since.
'I have taught hundreds of pupils over the years many of whom remember me for who I really am and what I did to help them achieve their position in life.
'I’ve given my life to teaching but now I’ve been rendered unemployable,' she said.
One incident involved Mrs Wolfson giving her phone number to a pupil who was struggling with her grandfather’s illness.
She said: 'This poor student was inconsolable and all I did was give her my number and say ‘if you ever have nowhere else to go, call me’.
'I replied to one text she sent me.
'Another time I took a pupil home after school because he’d stayed late to take part in an extra project.
'His lift hadn’t arrived and it was dark.
'He said his parents were fine with it and he had no other way of getting home.
'I had no idea I should have had a permission slip.
'I was just looking out for them both, it was a mother’s instinct.
'It wasn’t made clear to me what I was and wasn’t allowed to do, maybe because I was on a short term maternity cover contract.
'If they’d told me not to do these things then of course I wouldn’t have done them.
'I love my job and I would never have done anything to jeopardise it.
'And while I agree teachers and children need to be safeguarded the impact often goes against your instinct which is to care for and protect the child.
She added: 'Some people might say with so much experience I should’ve known better but when I was training we didn’t have to worry so much about these things.
'If anything it’s people of my generation who need extra guidance and support because there seems to be a state of paranoia in our society now.
'Schools have fallen prey to political correctness and our careers are walking on a tightrope.'
Amanda Harrison, deputy head of Ysgol y Grango, said: 'We believe the matters have now been resolved and as it is a personnel matter it would be inappropriate to comment further.'
Wrexham Council did not wish to comment.
Colin Adkins, an officer for the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) spoke on behalf of Mrs Wolfson and claimed her situation was not uncommon.
He said: ‘Heather’s case is an absolute tragedy. There are no regulations to say teachers can’t text pupils, the communication should simply be appropriate, and it was entirely appropriate in this case.
‘Heather was providing pastoral support. There was nothing sinister or untoward going on.’
'Schools are too quick to assume allegations are true and some authorities do not seek to achieve what’s best for the school or the pupils.
'Teachers are put through the wringer, suspended and gossiped about but recent research into allegations made against teachers suggests 56 per cent are unfounded.
'I’d appeal to councils and schools to use some good common sense on the balance of evidence before jumping to conclusions.
'What Heather was doing was the best for the pupils.
'Teachers won’t want to try anymore and it will result in poorer teaching.'
This is what we've come to
This is what we've come to
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: This is what we've come to
A 56 year old is on maternity leave?
And she does NOT look good for 56, rather the opposite. I'd say she put on a lot more hard miles than most.
yrs,
rubato
And she does NOT look good for 56, rather the opposite. I'd say she put on a lot more hard miles than most.
yrs,
rubato
Re: This is what we've come to
She was replacing a teacher who was on a maternity leave.
I am surprised that there were no legal/procedural remedies available to her prior to being disciplined and after being given a reference that was, for all intents and purposes, substandard. She should have had the right to defend herself against both before they were finalized. Where the hell was her union?
I am surprised that there were no legal/procedural remedies available to her prior to being disciplined and after being given a reference that was, for all intents and purposes, substandard. She should have had the right to defend herself against both before they were finalized. Where the hell was her union?
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: This is what we've come to
Scooter wrote:She was replacing a teacher who was on a maternity leave.... "
Ahhh, that makes sense.
I think I'd wait for the full story. There has to be more to it than this.
yrs,
rubato
Re: This is what we've come to
I'd bet she is/was a very heavy smoker, in regards to how old she looks. It does a real number on your skin.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: This is what we've come to
So does living in North Walesbigskygal wrote:I'd bet she is/was a very heavy smoker, in regards to how old she looks. It does a real number on your skin.
Re: This is what we've come to
?? usually a climate with sea air is considered good for the skin? A little more humidity is usually good. Irish girls have lovely skin, for example. If its really overcast a lack of vitamin D could be an issue. Rotten diet?Daisy wrote:So does living in North Walesbigskygal wrote:I'd bet she is/was a very heavy smoker, in regards to how old she looks. It does a real number on your skin.
I'd go with heavy smoker. Even the transcendent Lauren Bacall looked a little smoke-house-jerky after a few decades of heavy smoking.
yrs,
rubato
Re: This is what we've come to
Savage lands are the North Of Wales, filed with strange gnome like creatures who speak in a code of their own devising...Daisy wrote:So does living in North Walesbigskygal wrote:I'd bet she is/was a very heavy smoker, in regards to how old she looks. It does a real number on your skin.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: This is what we've come to
Psssssst Rubato, it was a joke.
Re: This is what we've come to
Of course Daze....Daisy wrote:Psssssst Rubato, it was a joke.
But do you think rube could possibly pass up an opportunity to take yet another predictable swipe at British Isle food?Rotten diet?
Re: This is what we've come to
Savage lands are the North Of Wales, filed with strange gnome like creatures who speak in a code of their own devising...
Mortianna: ...recruit the beasts that share our god.
Sheriff of Nottingham: Animals?
Mortianna: From the North.
Sheriff of Nottingham: You mean... CELTS. They drink the blood of their dead.
Mortianna: Yoke their strength.
Sheriff of Nottingham: Hired thugs... Ahh brilliant!
Re: This is what we've come to
I had thought that most people had heard that there was a connection between sunlight, vitamin D, and dietary supplementation.
Fewer than I had imagined.
The amazing ignorance of the masses is a continual source of wonder.
yrs,
rubato
Fewer than I had imagined.
The amazing ignorance of the masses is a continual source of wonder.
yrs,
rubato
Re: This is what we've come to
Nope... He still doesn't get it.
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: This is what we've come to
Ok, what's the connection? He asked, pissing himself laughing...rubato wrote:I had thought that most people had heard that there was a connection between sunlight, vitamin D, and dietary supplementation.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: This is what we've come to
Ignorance, stupidity and hatred are so often linked.
yrs,
rubato
yrs,
rubato
Re: This is what we've come to
You of all people demonstrate THAT clearly!
Treat Gaza like Carthage.
Re: This is what we've come to
So come on then oh wise one, illuminate us poor souls, what is the; "connection between sunlight, vitamin D, and dietary supplementation"?
Hint, you've shot yourself in the foot yet again. You twat.
Hint, you've shot yourself in the foot yet again. You twat.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”