Teacher is being inappropriate

Your Question

My daughter told me that one of her teachers in school is being inappropriate with her. What can i do to protect her?

Answer

Hello, welcome to Ask Robyn.

Thank you for trusting us with this deeply concerning situation. It’s very important that your daughter felt safe enough to confide in you. Teachers have a duty of care, so if one is acting inappropriately, it must be addressed. Here’s what you can do to protect your daughter:

First, calmly follow up with your daughter and ask for more details about what exactly is happening. Understanding the nature of the behaviour will help you determine the right course of action. Once you have more information, consider discussing the matter directly with the school. Schools typically have procedures in place for handling complaints, and they should be able to intervene quickly to ensure your daughter’s safety.

If the issue persists, or if you’re not satisfied with the school’s response, you may need to escalate your complaint. In cases of serious misconduct, especially if the behaviour could harm your daughter or other students, you can file a formal complaint with the Teaching Council of Ireland (Teaching Council), which investigates professional misconduct. If there is an immediate concern about child protection or potential harm, you should also report this to Túsla, the Child and Family Agency, (TUSLA) or contact the Gardaí.

Here is an additional website that provides advice to parents making a school complaint: gov.ie Parental Complaints.

If you have any more questions about this or anything else, please know that we are always here to help. The ISPCC’s Support Line can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 01 522 4300.

Take care, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any further guidance.

Robyn

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