Ballymahon Vocational School in Ballymahon

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  Wayne S

  :: 11 March 2018 23:19:51

  I had issues during primary school which lead to poor attendance and depression. I had very poor performance in my English skills which were often dismissed and answered with “try harder” or “you’re perfectly capable”. I fail to understand why I was put forward every year despite my level, constant failure to attend and participate in school work, and obvious psychological issues induced from school. The principal of St. Mary’s National School in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, Helen O’ Gorman, (and presumably the education board) showed little understanding and responded by having a male relative help get me to school every morning, with Helen taking over upon arrival by dragging me through the grounds and to the classroom. I would hyperventilate every time I saw that brute hag. I lost all confidence and belief in myself and quit school at the age of twelve with my depression, reclusiveness, and suicidal thoughts getting progressively worse. I had a lot of people put immense pressure on me to get involved in education and I made it clear that I would only agree to homeschooling. Home tuition was eventually arranged with a woman named Monica Coyle. She explained that I was to do home tuition for a short period and then go back to school. I was unhappy with such an arrangement and made it clear that I would not go back into a school environment. Nasty Monica showed no understanding whatsoever and talked down to me as if I was just a difficult oblivious child. She also supposedly conveyed inaccurate information about me to others (e.g. claiming that I liked routine despite being chaotic and unorganized, labeling me as autistic) which could not have been derived from our interactions. I eventually agreed due to pressure to do home tuition and go back to school on the condition that someone more suitable be found. It was arranged with a man who seemed more respectful but the tuition didn’t last long. I eventually tried enrolling in a school in Longford, Templemichael College (again due to the pressure put on me), however, the principal was horrendous. She would say scornful things like “life does not stop and start at your convenience” and ask me why I think the school would want to accept me, with contempt. She also criticised my posture, difficulty making eye contact, hair length, hygiene, and lifestyle etc. She even sneered when I proposed that I wanted an education and to be a father some day (no longer a pursuit). She seemed to believe I would not make a good father. After this distressful incident I came out in dozens of hives and ulcers and my condition worsened, as I began heavily abusing solvents and attempted hanging myself (obviously botched that). At the age of sixteen I was again pressured into education (by an incompetent psychiatrist named Con McDonagh). I did so to please them after being discharged from an “adult-only” psychiatric unit (while an adolescent) where the treatment was degrading (e.g. not being allowed to use a toilet alone and restrained as punitive measures for being argumentative) and counter-therapeutic (e.g. the administration of a drug which causes weight gain to a patient with anorexia nervosa). I was initially left with the impression that I would not have to attend mainstream classes and would receive all of my education from within a unit on the grounds of Ballymahon Vocational School, however, within a short period after attending I was informed that the plan was that I would join mainstream classes when ready, which is something I was not capable of doing neither academically nor psychologically. Although my presence at Ballymahon Vocational School proved fruitless (initiated to please the health services) I can only praise the majority of their staff. There were some very nice people working there. Most were not scornful nor belittling towards vulnerable students. Also, the other students I had observed and the few I had interacted with here seemed quite pleased. I would recommend this school over any other in Longford. There's quite a few awful schools so be careful choosing!

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  Kate Carberry

  :: 26 February 2018 16:57:37

  Tilly loves school xx