School's letter to parents over 'regrettable incident'
A SCHOOL is to write to parents after a furore broke out when a teacher forced a girl who had battled a brain tumour to clean up her own urine in front of her classmates.
Kevin Lomas, link advisor at Church Gresley Infant and Nursery School, in York Road, said the letter to parents would offer reassurance and to acknowledge the ‘serious and regrettable incident’.
It was also revealed the teacher who forced five-year-old Liberty Rose Finn to clear up after herself, was off sick from school on Thursday and yesterday — but Mr Lomas confirmed she had not been suspended.
The news comes after Liberty Rose, of Station Street, Castle Gresley, whose tumour plight left her with disabilities and a range of health problems, including incontinence, was made to clean up the mess and stand facing the wall for 10 minutes while still in her wet clothes.
Liberty was eight months old when she was diagnosed with optic chaism glioma — a tumour around her optical nerve which meant it could never be operated on due to its size and location.
However, after chemotherapy, the growth vanished, making Liberty the first person on record to beat such a tumour.
The classroom incident happened in December and parents Dawn and Carl Finn immediately contacted the school, which conducted an investigation.
However, the Finns were left fuming this month when the school said it had ‘fully investigated’ the incident and the ‘matter had been dealt with’.
It also said ‘appropriate action’ had been taken and the member of staff concerned ‘deeply regrets what has happened’.
The parents are now appealing against the decision and how the investigation was handled.
Mr Lomas said: “We are writing to all parents today to offer reassurance and acknowledge the serious and regrettable incident.
“We take any incidents very seriously and our school is held in high regard by parents.”
The school also said it was holding meetings with Mr and Mrs Finn.
The Mail’s story has sparked a huge response both locally and nationally after it was followed up by the national Press.
Hundreds of comments about her Liberty Rose’s treatment were posted on the Mail’s website and those of national newspapers, left by people horrified at the incident and calling for the teacher to be suspended or moved on.
One comment, posted by ‘Louise’, said: “I felt sick when I read the story. No child should be made to clean up their own urine, no matter what age. Accidents happen.
“The teacher, in my opinion, was a disgrace and should no longer be allowed to be in the company of innocent children.”
Another comment, posted by ‘Ruth’ said: “She’s only five and even without being ill she shouldn’t be treated like that. A teacher should have more compassion for a child than that.
“Perhaps a career change is in order. Work with machines would be better suited. I won’t be sending my daughter there.”
Some comments accused Liberty Rose’s parents of wanting to be in the limelight, so Stef added: “I personally think that the teacher is at fault — this little girl is a true fighter and she did not deserve to be treated in this way at all. Nobody wants to have cancer and as for the parents ‘missing being in the limelight’, then you are totally wrong — they just wanted people to be ‘cancer aware’ which I think is very endearing to try to help bring this to all parents. She is entitled to have a mainstream education just like any children.”
