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[admin]

Loosetooth

POST DATE
05/06/2009 17:31:27

Firsty thank you for letting me join this great forum!! My mother in law works at a school she was accuised of hitting four under 10 year old, like smashing there face against a wall etc within 1 hour - she has worked there for over 25 years with a perfect record ( cut a long story short ) after weeks of suspension and police involvement she was found to be inocent and thees boys were proved they made it all up, the stress and worry on the family was bad can we sue the boys parents? or seek a remedy somehow for what they have put her through??? any help would be a bonus



Warm Regards

Loosetooth

edited by Loosetooth on 05/06/2009

[admin]

POST DATE
05/06/2009 17:54:59

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I understand why you feel the need to address the situation you have described, although following investigation your mother in law has been found innocent the stigma attached to such an allegation ensures that the story is far from over there. What could or couldn't be done to further clear her name I suspect is likely to depend on the circumstances surrounding the allegation including that of when it occurred and how long ago it is since she was found innocent. Often it is important not to rush into any knee jerk reactions which while understandable following the emense stress involved to you all, could if conducted in the wrong way have detrimental effects on yourselves as much as anyone else.

I am certainly in favour of those who make wrongful allegations being held accountable but often it is not easy to acheive and in this instance there is a particular difficulty involved with the age of those who made the accusations. For example, it could well be though that there is an issue with why they were taken seriously, or if they were encouraged to make the complaint in the first instance which would therefore be the responsibility of someone more accountable if it could be proved in which case official complaints become more realistic.

In anycase, this is likely to be something we should discuss outwith the forum in more detail which you can do be sending either myself or Sandra Lean a private message but I strongly recommend continued use of the forum in the meantime from a support point of view. Or alternatively you can use the 'Contact' page provided which will send your message directly to the site's main e-mail address.


Regards

Billy

edited by admin on 05/06/2009

[Colin Bowman]

For example, it could well be though that there is an issue with why they were taken seriously, or if they were encouraged to make the complaint in the first instance

Hi Loosetooth,

My experience is, that the flawed link in the chain of things which ends with 'false' complaints being taken seriously, is the manner in which children's testimonies are elicited (drawn out by staff and processes).
Even if you were a member of the school staff, so having a hands on experience of how processes work in a particular school, it would prove difficult for you to argue for malpractice in how the children's evidence was elicited, unless the faults involved were gross. For someone from outside the school, it would prove well nigh impossible to argue for malpractice, unless the faults were exceedingly gross.
Schools tend to be organised such that they can point to their policies (which will tick all the right boxes), and will argue that they merely followed proper procedure, as they were legally bound to do.

Now I think that there is a major problem here. My experience is that innocent staff can be caused distress which threatens their personal health.
My judgement would be that your mother-in-law would be best served: either by getting on with her life and putting the incident behind her as best she can, drawing on the support of loyal friends; or, if she were minded, and if it proves possible, joining together with others who have suffered as she has.
The more people who think that the current way of dealing is unacceptable, and the more this group organises to demand that something constructive be done to make things better, then the better it will be for everyone.

I think that the path of seeking personal redress and compensation is a punishing and ill-rewarding one. But if you find that there are groups out there who think otherwise, then it would be interesting to know about that.
I feel for you. I teach, and two good friends have been subject to a little of what your mother has been; and the results are absolutely devastating. My regards to your mother in law. Stay strong.

colin

[nugnug]

this sight here may be helpfull.

http://www.factuk.org/