h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Apologies all, this is a bit of a moan.

So yet again, I've been on the receiving end of a load of homophobic abuse from one of my students and the school looks set to do bugger all about it. As I was walking (well, limping having badly knocked my foot yesterday) away from work I had a student get right in my face and start screaming some pretty choice language to do with my sexuality.

I could have quite happily ripped the little darlings face off but instead I do the good soldier routine and completely ignore him. Sent an email to the behaviour manager and his response was basically "what do you want us to do about it? It was off school property"

I really don't know why I bother some days.

I have no words. Each part of that is seven kinds of shit.

And yet it was clearly work-related.

Is there a way of taking it higher? Union?

Although the first step might be to meet face to face with the behaviour manager and explain why that answer wasn't on. Or see why on earth they thought it was. People are sometimes less silly face-to-face than via a keyboard. And (we all know) vice versa.

Such behaviour (student) and reaction (manager) beggars belief. I hope you can do what Ed suggested.

My current thinking is that if the school is saying it's nothing to do with them, then it's a matter for the police. So I'll get them involved and see how the school enjoys the publicity.

I'd be slightly smarter. I'd first ask the school to confirm that this is what you should do.

You would certainly be in your rights to involve the police - but I'd bet you'd find it easier for the school to deal with it. That would be win-win.

If you do involve the police - do you have witnesses, etc. etc? Could you trace them and get them to come forward? If not...the police may politely tell you that it isn't worth pursuing. But the school won't need all that.

I'm with ed. I'd clarify it (preferably by email) with the behaviour manager that if he's not accepting responsiblity for handling it, then your only other option is an outside agency.

I hate that you have to put up with this crap, but I hate more (and with a shaking type of hate) that your employers don't give you the support you deserve.

I see your reason for saying e-mail, Sho. Record etc. etc. But I'd say *also* face-to-face. Personalise it rather than letting people hide behind bureaucracy.

I tend to go for face-to-face followed up with an email along the lines of
Just to confirm what we discussed... and outline everything, and ask them if they have anything else to add that they might not have thought of at the time.

Pretty passive-agressive I think, really, but I learned to do that the hard way

I agree that's a bunch of bull, and it was clearly work-related. I think Ed's right that you should "clarify" with the chucklehead that he really meant it's not their problem to deal with and you should call the police.

But I totally agree with Sho that you need to send an email; even if you speak with him personally, send a follow up email "per our discussion yesterday, I will be calling the police...". From my experience if you talk to someone personally about a problem like that, they'll later deny ever having spoken with you. Better to also have a paper trail.