Not a good day! I got punched in the face by a student today and ended up in hospital with concussion.

[ms spock]

I never suffered any physical injury, and can only sympathise that you did.

Thanks Lucycat. I am much better now. I have another check up tomorrow with the doctor.

 

[willhealeventually]

So whilst I was trying to get the kid who punched me in the face back into the classroom (despite ringing the office for someone to come and get her no one came) so I was running back to the room to my other high needs kids, then going back to the kid who punched me then back to my other kids and then back to try and get her into the room without getting punched in the face once again then one of the other kids got hurt. So I tried to write out what happened because despite ringing the front office and asking another teacher to turn on the computers so I could settle me other kids - she said I could get my teacher's aide to do it - who was toileting or dealing with a meltdown at the time - well one of my other kids got hurt so I am potentially in trouble for that. I am meant to have written a report about that but I can't get the timeline straight after I got punched in the face.

This sounds like every teacher’s nightmare - too much going on, you’re running aroung trying to make it work, and then a crisis happens. I am so sorry you got physically hurt by a student!
I had to break up two fights in my career where I physically intervened and restrained students in mid punch. So, I am female which makes this weird. They could have tried to punch me instead of other kids and then it would gave been a liability nightmare. I would have bern triggered and my training kicked in, and I would have hurt a kid.... in hindsight, it’s better to get punched - legally - as sad as it is. If you talk to your union rep or someone senior on teaching staff, maybe you can get some ideas and even help writing a strong document to explain what happened. Maybe you already did that, with supporting documentation about your concussion.
Please take care of yourself and recover first, if you can. It’s painful for me to hear about fellow teachers get hurt by students. We deserve to be safe in a school just as mych as the students!

 

[ms spock]

Yes I did fill out the paperwork. I have more paperwork. I have to find that. But I have 6 months to put in a claim. I don't know if it is worth it.

 

[ms spock]

I have gone for a walk this morning the first since I was punched in the face. So I am managing more now.

 

[ms spock]

I spoke to the union rep for the school I was punched in the face at and he said he surprised that the school hasn't been in legal trouble for the way that class has been run.

A few people have come out of the woodwork to urge me to take action on how that school is operating.

 

[willhealeventually]

@ms spock this is great news! It’s very validating to have someone basically tell you that you were right that something was very wrong - and it wasn’t you at all. I wish you the best with this.
As a teacher, I know about toxic school climates. I am in the process of trying to leave teaching for good. What you describe sounds like a toxic work climate because of the way your situation was handled by leadership. I don’t know if you feel like you want to or have the option of changing at least the district where you work...
Sending you good wishes