Daughter's Epipen and diabetic equipment stolen by teacher at secondary school

John Moran.

My 18-year-old daughter is in her leaving certificate year at school. She is unfortunately diabetic and has a severe nut allergy.

She has a little tablet thing about the size of an iPhone and her Epipen in a little wallet thing (the wallet resembles a phone case too, so at far point of view, it looks like a phone).
She takes her blood glucose levels at regular intervals throughout the day and uses the tablet to record when she feels lethargic etc, she then ports this information straight to our family doctor, our doctor will call her in if she deems it fit. It's a neat little device.

She was sitting in her Irish classroom waiting for the teacher to come in, (this was the first class after morning break) and she took out her tablet to enter her blood glucose level which she had taken over break and to enter in that she was feeling lethargic as the class was starting and log the time that the feeling of lethargy had started.

There's a new teacher in the school, a jumped up 22/23-year-old girl straight out of college, she is making a name for herself and several students and parents have said it.
She stuck her head in the door as she was passing the class because there was chatting from the room because the teacher wasn't there.

She noticed that my daughter "had her phone out in a class" and marched over. She said in an authoritative voice "what are you doing with your phone?" and snapped it from my daughters hand and walked away, my daughter tried saying to her what it was, but she was ignored by the teacher and the teacher just walked away and threw her hand back, and said "you know the rules, I'm not here to argue".

The new teacher mustn't be aware of my daughter's condition, most are.

When the teacher arrived for Irish she walked with my daughter up to the staff room to retrieve her tablet but the teacher that illegally stole it had gone home, she was on the train (school is right beside the train station) and said that the tablet was in her locker. The reason she put it in there is because parents have to be the one to collect the "phone" in the event of it being seized so she put it in the locker and went home as she had no more classes to teach that day.

My daughter was ****ting herself that an allergy attack could have come on as she is very hypersensitive to the allergen. The janitor agreed to break open the locker.

I am going down to the school like a tonne of bricks to have a word with the girl who illegally stole my daughter's medical equipment. How can I push this or is it possible to insist that the girl is punished?

amcalester

Cool story.

Wasn’t stolen though.

BabysCoffee

John Moran. wrote: »

I am going down to the school like a tonne of bricks to have a word with the girl who illegally stole my daughter's medical equipment. How can I push this or is it possible to insist that the girl is punished?

Are you really calling a 22yr old teacher "the girl"?

Sardonicat

BabysCoffee wrote: »

John Moran. wrote: »

I am going down to the school like a tonne of bricks to have a word with the girl who illegally stole my daughter's medical equipment. How can I push this or is it possible to insist that the girl is punished?

Are you really calling a 22yr old teacher "the girl"?

It's a nicer word than I would have used.

drunkmonkey

I'm a bit confused did the teacher take her Epipen that looked like a phone?

The tablet seems to be causing a bit of anxiety, could she use a notepad in school and log it later.

TheChizler

Principal is the best bet for making all the teachers aware of the condition, but the teacher will no doubt feel awful after realizing what happened. Might be no harm to put a label on the case explaining that there's medicine inside and her contact details in case it gets lost.

listermint

TheChizler wrote: »

Principal is the best bet for making all the teachers aware of the condition, but the teacher will no doubt feel awful after realizing what happened. Might be no harm to put a label on the case explaining that there's medicine inside and her contact details in case it gets lost.

This. And a reaction won't just come on. It needs a key Ingredient... Nuts....

Anxiety doesn't create the nuts

Wildly Boaring

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I'm a bit confused did the teacher take her Epipen that looked like a phone?

The tablet seems to be causing a bit of anxiety, could she use a notepad in school and log it later.

OP can correct but my mate is diabetic.

He puts blood sample into "tablet thing" and it gives his blood sugar result back.

So deffo needed, not a notebook

John Moran.

She was on the train when the Irish teacher had arrived and brought my daughter to the staff room (the principal was in the staff room and called her on her mobile).

The tablet WAS stolen, it was taken illegally.

The Epipen slides into a little holder beside the tablet within the case / wallet.

Who said the tablet causes anxiety? The whole point in the tablet is that the information is recorded in real time and can be ported to the GP and downloaded in a specific format and printed. Why should she have to use a notepad? She is an adult.

If teachers expect students to behave like adults then they should treat the students like adults.

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

Plumbthedepths

John Moran. wrote:

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

You back to school Monday ? Cool story C for effort.

amcalester

The teacher made a mistake which can be easily cleared up and an apology is probably deserved but, OP, if you go in with stupid demands then you’ll get nowhere and just end up looking like a prick.

Cork Lass

John Moran. wrote: »

She was on the train when the Irish teacher had arrived and brought my daughter to the staff room (the principal was in the staff room and called her on her mobile).

The tablet WAS stolen, it was taken illegally.

The Epipen slides into a little holder beside the tablet within the case / wallet.

Who said the tablet causes anxiety? The whole point in the tablet is that the information is recorded in real time and can be ported to the GP and downloaded in a specific format and printed. Why should she have to use a notepad? She is an adult.

If teachers expect students to behave like adults then they should treat the students like adults.

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

If your daughter is an adult then she is the one that should be demanding an apology. You say she’s an adult but you’re acting like she’s a child.

Wildly Boaring

Look you are clearly annoyed.

But you are coming across very childish.

Looking for vengance or some such?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

John Moran. wrote: »

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

mickdw

Teacher mad mistake. No more to it than that.
You can try all you.like but escalating this won't really effect anyone bar stressing yourself.
Teacher was applying the school rules. An honest mistake happened where she took a look a like device. Sh1t happens.
I expect the teacher will have a word with the student tomorrow but insisting on this that or the other won't help.

BabysCoffee

John Moran. wrote: »

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

Well that escalated quickly >>> gets popcorn

iamwhoiam

I am a bit lost ? Why does an 18 year old diabetic need a GP to tell her what to do ? I have two family members with Type 1 and at 18 knew exactly what to do ? If her levels are low she should be well aware what to do
Or is your daughter only newly diagnosed in the last few weeks ?

strandroad

Teachers are familiar with medical conditions of their own students so an experienced teacher wouldn't do it. If the new teacher wants to step in to discipline students she should also make the effort to know such basics about them too otherwise it's just posturing. And to ignore the explanation given is plain rude and immature.

Forget the "stolen!" and apology demands but I would have a word with the principal alright, she did put your daughter's health at risk and she could do something similar to another student.

Stheno

Are schools not on holiday till Monday?

brightspark

listermint wrote: »

This. And a reaction won't just come on. It needs a key Ingredient... Nuts....

Anxiety doesn't create the nuts

And nuts are almost everywhere!

I have had an allergic reaction once, I can certainly understand the anxiety of not having an Epipen at hand. At least the janitor had sense.

However I wouldn't be looking to punish the teacher, but instead get the school to improve their policies to ensure it can't happen to anyone else.

A letter to the board of management highlighting what could have happened should make the aware of their responsibilities.

Nonoperational

John Moran. wrote: »

She was on the train when the Irish teacher had arrived and brought my daughter to the staff room (the principal was in the staff room and called her on her mobile).

The tablet WAS stolen, it was taken illegally.

The Epipen slides into a little holder beside the tablet within the case / wallet.

Who said the tablet causes anxiety? The whole point in the tablet is that the information is recorded in real time and can be ported to the GP and downloaded in a specific format and printed. Why should she have to use a notepad? She is an adult.

If teachers expect students to behave like adults then they should treat the students like adults.

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

Surely a troll. No adult could surely be so juvenile. Embarrassing if this is real. Some example to set for your daughter.

Irish Steve

A local primary school, probably a lot smaller, but the concept is valid, has a picture of the students with allergies or specific at risk illnesses ( like diabetes) on the notice board in the staff room, with details of the actions to take if they become ill, and appropriate medications are also stored in a fridge in the staff room.

If this incident played out as reported, then the school principal has some urgent questions to answer, as it would seem that some of the staff are unaware of the pupils in the school that are at risk, and even if they do not teach the student concerned, they should be aware of them, if only to avoid the sort of incident that has been reported.

Having said that, going in guns blazing may not get the best response, but some changes of policy and attitudes is very clearly needed, and a formal written apology is also called for.

Cork Lass

Stheno wrote: »

Are schools not on holiday till Monday?

How did we not notice this?

listermint

Cork Lass wrote: »

How did we not notice this?

Ah ****e and 2 posts.


Ughh he did get us though.

Stheno

Cork Lass wrote: »

How did we not notice this?

Bit slow on the uptake

Cork Lass

Stheno wrote: »

Bit slow on the uptake

I’m on my second gin and tonic so that’s my excuse.

splinter65

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I'm a bit confused did the teacher take her Epipen that looked like a phone?

The tablet seems to be causing a bit of anxiety, could she use a notepad in school and log it later.

Did you read the OP? The tablet feeds the info to the girls GP and the GP can act if need be. What good is a notebook?

Plumbthedepths

Post #10. Too obvious.

iamwhoiam

splinter65 wrote: »

Did you read the OP? The tablet feeds the info to the girls GP and the GP can act if need be. What good is a notebook?

And she is 18 and should be well aware how to act and not need a GP to tell her ! She is not 6 years old m

Wildly Boaring

Cork Lass wrote: »

I’m on my second gin and tonic so that’s my excuse.

And new poster....doh

Peatys

Good man.. see you next time.

Peatys

iamwhoiam wrote: »

And she is 18 and should be well aware how to act and not need a GP to tell her ! She is not 6 years old m

If she's that responsible, she shouldn't be in school when it's closed.

Harry Palmr

John Moran made you all morans.

Dillosk412

Op's attitude and language will get the op nowhere and will make life absolute hell for his/her daughter for the next 6 months.

Teachers will always defend colleagues when confronted by such attitude no matter how wrong the teacher is.

Maybe do future students a favor and go in with a more reasonable attitude and ensure that the new teacher understands how serious it could have been and if there was an emergency then their career would have been over and she possibly could have been facing criminal charges.

Go in guns blazing and you will simply get a defensive wall and be considered a mad person and you will get no answers and your daughter will bear the brunt.

Choice is yours.

amcalester

amcalester wrote: »

Cool story.

Wasn’t stolen though.

No, cos schools are still on holidays.

splinter65

John Moran. wrote: »

She was on the train when the Irish teacher had arrived and brought my daughter to the staff room (the principal was in the staff room and called her on her mobile).

The tablet WAS stolen, it was taken illegally.

The Epipen slides into a little holder beside the tablet within the case / wallet.

Who said the tablet causes anxiety? The whole point in the tablet is that the information is recorded in real time and can be ported to the GP and downloaded in a specific format and printed. Why should she have to use a notepad? She is an adult.

If teachers expect students to behave like adults then they should treat the students like adults.

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

If you believe your daughters property was stolen then you needed to report the theft to the Gaurds.
I agree that the teacher was totally out of line. But hyperventilating about theft and demanding that the teacher grovel after your daughter for the rest of the year is just making you look like a dickhead.
You and your daughter want to have a meeting with the principal and the Irish teacher and the offending teacher. Let your daughter do the talking. She needs to tell the new teacher how upsetting the incident was for her and how disappointed she was that this should happen in the last year. You need to sit quietly. As you say. She’s an adult.

KevinCavan

I reckon you should cut the teacher some slack. Being a secondary teacher is a very tough job and this young teacher is trying to let the teenagers know she won't take crap, as a means of survival. Okay this teacher did something she shouldn't have and made a mistake. You are however skewing the facts a little to suit your own agenda. To say the teacher stole your daughter's medicine is a stretch. So you want to haul the teachers ass over hot coals with her boss. The reality is that if the boss is any way decent, he/she won't be even angry with this teacher and you blowing steam out your ears will just make you sound unreasonable. She is a young woman starting out in a job and lets face it we all make mistakes at the start of our career. So you might earn kudos with other mothers in the school, who are your friends, you may feel you took the moral high ground, but the principal is going to think you overreacted and teachers will know you as somebody unreasonable in the staff room. You probably have other issues and the young teacher is just somebody to focus your rage on. You will have your 15 minutes of fame and feel empowered for a while. You will get to say "I showed that Miss ___." But whatever personal issues you have internally won't be resolved.

Big Bag of Chips

When did this happen and where are you based? Nobody has been in school since 21st December.

John Moran. wrote: »

I will be demanding a written apology from the teacher and for my daughter to be addressed as Ms Moran by the teacher for the remainder of the year, seeing as she is an adult now. If she disagrees, I will escalate things severely.

Why a written apology? And why insist that just this teacher call her Ms. Moran? Why not all teachers. I don't know many adults who insist on being addressed as Ms. /Mrs. /Mr. Whoever.

If you are claiming your daughter is now an adult and should be treated as such, I suggest you let her deal with this situation herself. As an adult woman, I would be mortified if one of my parents stepped in to sort out my issues.

yabadabado

What a ridiculous post.

Some parents really are idiotic,OP cop the **** on.

I'd say your daughter will be mortified if you try carry out any of those threats .

Foweva Awone

Do people not read previous replies anymore before throwing in their two cent? Could save some of ye the embarrassment.

joe199

Haha

ArthurG

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Do people not read previous replies anymore before throwing in their two cent? Could save some of ye the embarrassment.

Amen.

lawred2

I don't understand trolls

What's the point?

Dr Bob

John Moran. wrote: »

The Epipen slides into a little holder beside the tablet within the case / wallet.
.

..that's not an epipen, its a finger pricker that gets a small amount of blood thats used by the glucose monitor to test blood sugar levels.
Nothing to do with allergies (which is what an epipen is for).

iamwhoiam

lawred2 wrote: »

I don't understand trolls

What's the point?

I was about to post the same . I dont get it ? Could they not just read a good book or something ?

bee06

Dr Bob wrote: »

..that's not an epipen, its a finger pricker that gets a small amount of blood thats used by the glucose monitor to test blood sugar levels.
Nothing to do with allergies (which is what an epipen is for).

Did you not read the OP? The OP’s fictitious daughter has a peanut allergy as well as the diabetes.

Foggy Jew

There was a crooked man
And he walked a crooked mile
And he found a crooked sixpence
Beside a crooked style
He bought a crooked cat
And it caught a crooked mouse
Now they all live together in a little crooked house.


Re-Read the original post, and insert the word 'Fictitious' wherever you see fit.

EagererBeaver

bee06 wrote: »

Dr Bob wrote: »

..that's not an epipen, its a finger pricker that gets a small amount of blood thats used by the glucose monitor to test blood sugar levels.
Nothing to do with allergies (which is what an epipen is for).

Did you not read the OP? The OP’s fictitious daughter has a peanut allergy as well as the diabetes.

Probably has some very advanced, insightful views on geopolitics and gender rights along with happening to be 18 at the same time as being A4 year old male lesbian.

lolokeogh

did he say in the post it was today?

Standman

BabysCoffee wrote: »

Well that escalated quickly >>> gets popcorn

Haven't heard from you since... Are you still getting the popcorn? Let us know.

byhookorbycrook

If the student is over 18 - presuming they exist, then nothing to do with a parent.