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

[ms spock]

What does CYA mean?

 

[Friday]

Cover Your Ass

 

[ms spock]

You are all probably right - I am just really concussed and distressed by it all.

And the kid was not the problem, she had been set up for failure, and so had I. Her communication device had gone missing it was only found in the toilet again at the end of the day. The teacher's aide told me they usually lock her out in the classroom in the courtroom for part of the day. Her communication device hangs around her neck. A child with a very low IQ, who is bigger and much heavier than me, who is known as a scratcher and a puncher, has a communication device around her neck? Yeah - and she refuses to move between rooms in a timely fashion because that is the only time the adults interact with her. Is to plead with her to walk somewhere or coerce somewhere else. Like this kid was throwing things at us at the end of the day - throwing, punching and scratching are the ways she gets attention and interaction so she's living a pretty lonely life. It's really sad what is going on in that classroom. Her basic needs are not being met.

I am still post concussed or concussed I don't know but I don't think they will put in a complaint against me because of what they let happen. And when I told one woman that teh student had punched me in the face another teacher told me she had scratched her down the side of her face and she had a gross wound from that attack. That wasn't in the notes.

I can't smell or taste. I am freaking out a bit about that.

I can write some stuff, but I can barely follow a conversation. I slept and slept and slept today. I ate and then I slept some more. I just keep sleeping. I am totally wiped.

 

[ms spock]

Wrote to Teacher's Union on Friday @Friday advised my doctor too concussed to write incident report, will have review on X date will contact then. So I have written a couple of drafts but I slept and slept today. I will write it tonight or tomorrow. I need someone good to read it for me. But at least they Teacher's Union knew about it the day after it happened. So I am not without documentation. I went to the hospital twice, the doctor's once and I have written some notes.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I know the pain, confusion, and frustration of a head injury. Lots of fear can make your scrambled brain operate much worse. Rest rest rest!

I once had a kid threaten to kill me at school and he told other students. PTSD symptoms skyrocketed. As far as emotions, I was afraid to go to work. To set a precedent, I went to court ( a civil matter) and the kid got 2 years probation, a court order mandating that he not be in the same building as myself, as long as I worked in that school system, mandatory psychiatric help, and he had to improve grades, behavior as a condition of probation.

My point was to set a precedent- consequences will be forthcoming regardless of age, if students break the law. I felt better at work w/o the threat as the student remained out of school until the court matter was settled and could not attend this school if I was in the building physically( restraining order) Workman’s compensation will cover your medical bills but you ( or a friend ) need to fill out that paperwork. You only need to sign.

I suggest you ask a friend for help, havehim/ her print it down or type it, and you sign it. Then give it to the authorities. You must protect yourself medically and personally from further harm from the student. Parents also need to be held accountable for the actions of their kids.

It is great you belong to the Union, get the lawyer to help you feel safe when you go back to work. Also, the commonwealth or county/city attorney will be able to help you w court matters.

As far as medical, find a neurologist/physiatrist who specializes in head injuries if possible. Recovery time can be shorter with proper treatment. I am a friend to multiple TBI-initial treatment matters! Teaching colleges have these resources. Contact the local Brain Injury Association or as to be put on the head injury/brain injury registry and sent info, ask who has a referral list of doctors who specialize in head injuries. Good luck!

 

[ms spock]

I wrote an initial email (at length) to the Teacher's Union the day after the incident but I just sent one that was brief.
I also wrote three draft letters at the same time. I just couldn't get it together.

I sent the three drafts of those letters to my psychiatrist.

Then I wrote some dot points on Friday and over the weekend.

So each of the jottings have a lot of the information that I need to write up the incident report. Otherwise I would have forgotten it all.

So I have printed those out and reread some of them, so I can add a few things to my dot points, which is good.

I am still really struggling with all this. But I am getting closer to being able to write it up.

I can't remember part just before I was punched, or some parts of the afternoon, or the order of the afternoon after I got punched. I will write it out honestly and do the best that I can.

 

[ms spock]

I did it @Friday @Wilbur @barefoot @littleoc @Cypress @The Albatross @Fadeaway @Ronin @berlinda

I rang the Teacher's Union. I spoke to a woman. She seemed good. I am still having difficulty in explaining, focussing and writing. I explained this to her.

I wrote out a brief email to the Deputy Principal and attached my Incident Report to it. I sent it to the Union Woman to ask for her input. I will Bcc the Union in when I send it, after she gives me feedback.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I did it @Friday @Wilbur @barefoot @littleoc @Cypress @The Albatross @Fadeaway @Ronin @berlinda

I rang the Teacher's Union. I spoke to a woman. She seemed good. I am still having difficulty in explaining, focussing and writing. I explained this to her.

I wrote out a brief email to the Deputy Principal and attached my Incident Report to it. I sent it to the Union Woman to ask for her input. I will Bcc the Union in when I send it, after she gives me feedback.

Way to go! Kudos! Totally awesome!

 

[ms spock]

So I spoke to the Union woman again. I got her name wrong but they found her for me. So I have to write two statements and not one. I have divided them up into two statements. I was experiencing a great deal of anxiety but I pushed through because I need to get this done. I am catching an Uber to go to the doctor because I won't drive until I am better.

 

[ms spock]

I am struggling not to go into rumination, maladapative day dreaming or stressing out about things. I had a drink of water. I keep bringing myself back to now. I am doing really well considering

I am catching an Uber to go to the doctor because I won't drive until I am better.

I should have asked my doctor for a letter saying I was unable to write up a witness statement last week because of getting punched in the face. That was a mistake.

 

[ms spock]

So the Union Woman said that I should have written a report the same day and the doctor should have written up a Work Cover thing on the day I saw her. I didn't know to ask for that, and I could barely communicate. So yeah you were all right about writing it up and I wish I had done that but I wasn't capable of doing that, that was a combination of the punch and high anxiety at the time. Also I was confused. I still can't remember the day that well.

 

[ms spock]

I have sent off the two statements about the day so that is a great achievement - one week and two days after being punched in the face. Better late than never.