frustration

[rosie]

I currently work in year 3 and have been for a while although I'm thinking of going into specialist teaching as I feel the job I'm in atm has no progression and I'm not using the strengths I have. The headteacher came and had a word with me on Friday and said she was struggling where to put me next year, as I struggle to put displays up by myself after years of practice ive managed to use the gulateen properly I just struggle at height making sure everything is straight and not falling off etc whilst at the same time balancing on a chair. She also was saying about my writing and how I need to be a good role model. Which actually upset me a little bit as my dyspraxia/dyslexia makes me so much more empathetic. There's more to being a teaching assistant than being perfect at displays and being perfect at writing/spelling. She wants to get the OT in to see me which I'm not so happy about as I feel that I have so many coping strategies and some things are just me, I've learnt to accept them as part as me and me and my boyfriend always laugh at them. The sooner I get out the better I think. It just frustrates me so much when people focus on what you can't do instead of what you can pet hate even the things I struggle with I do in good humour.

[Captain_Ludd]

Hi Rosie,

Sorry to hear your struggling at the moment, it does seem a little odd that something as small as not being good at putting up displays is causing the head teacher to have words.
Having said this it does seem that she's being pretty supportive, offering to get you help from the OT is actually quite a big step some employers would be like "Shape up or ship out ".
Don't worry about occupational therapy I was on it for years and it was really useful, its not a reflection on you it'll help you improve the coping stratages.

[PhilB]

I'd agree with the Captain. Noticing that there are some things you do differently or struggle with isn't the same as not appreciating your good points. It's always demoralising to think that your boss thinks there are things you can't do/aren't doing well, but getting an OT in sounds pretty good and helpful to me. Frankly I'd be delighted if my employers offered it, I actually went to HR and asked and nothing has been forthcoming. Until you work with them you don't know how useful it will/won't be, which is why I think my employers have left it. However, my daughter has seen big improvements in her movement and co-ordination since working with an OT, and that has left me very strongly in favour.

[AlleyCat]

It makes me angry that the head is complaining about your writing and the way you put up displays when she knows you have dyspraxia- those kinds of comments just show her ignorance. I'm not sure whether seeing the OT is a good thing, but I suppose you'll have to go along with it for now- the head may be hoping that the OT will say that you can't do various things, then use that as an excuse to say you can't do the job. I'm saying this because there was a teaching assistant at the special school where I used to work (I was bullied out by the head) who was having problems because of depression- the head referred him to see an OT, who apparently made some recommendations, but he still ended up being pushed out of his job. I hope you are a member of a union- I wasn't, and that's something I regret. If the head does end up claiming you can't do the job because of things like putting up displays, then you should definitely see about taking legal action on the grounds of disability discrimination. I hope it won't come to this, and that you get to stay, but my own experiences have shown me how judgmental school heads can be. If you want somewhere else to talk about this (especially if the head tries to boot you out) there's a forum called Workplace Dilemmas on the TES website where you might get good advice.

[rosie]

I think it's either see the ot or I loose my job sorry if I didn't make that clear.

[rosie]

My mum and dad have said that I'm like a square peg in a round hole. I was planning on leaving anyway but to be told things like that. I could have understood if it was issues like organisation/memory/ time keeping etc as these are things which I'm still coming with coping strategies with. My mum and dad think I should start looking for jobs in schools which will focus on my strengths. The irony is that as the other TA in the class is helping putting displays up, I'm typng things up for her as she has no understanding with ICT but that's not been picked up on. She's not being told she has to go for ICT training, but it seems like because I have the labels of dyspraxia/dyslexia it's like I'm being treated like I'm stupid which I know I'm not. Thanks for all of your replies means a lot.

[AlleyCat]

but it seems like because I have the labels of dyspraxia/dyslexia it's like I'm being treated like I'm stupid which I know I'm not.

I think you're right. I have also worked as a teaching assistant in a mainstream secondary school, and when I was offered the job there I disclosed dyspraxia to the SENCO at interview. However, this led to her treating me differently (ie speaking to me like I was one of the pupils rather than an adult and not giving me responsibilities she gave other members of staff). When other members of staff complained about me speaking too loudly she told me off, instead of educating them about dyspraxia. I felt really angry with her for doing that as I know I should ideally not speak too loudly- however, as I have dyspraxia, I don't necessarily know when I'm doing it and loud speech is of course a symptom of dyspraxia.

Even if you've decided to leave anyway, perhaps you should still get some advice from someone about ensuring that you get a good reference from the head. She may well think she is entitled to put in your reference that you weren't good at putting up displays etc, considering herself to be telling the truth- however, saying those things could easily put an employer off giving you a job and, because they are directly related to you having dyspraxia, it would be discriminatory for those things to appear in a reference.