Unfairly dismissed from work placement

[sandybar]

I am a diploma student and am two weeks into a 10 week placement. I've working really hard and was enjoying my time. I have mostly received positive feedback from other educators. However, I have however been struggling to get time with the supervisor to discuss my work and get help with my assessment but I just figured she's really busy. Everytime I ask her to meet with me she would say yes and either spend very little time with me or not turn up at all or keep delaying our meeting.

This week I managed to secure a solid 45 mins with her but I can sense she was in a hurry so I was scrambling to ask her as many questions as I could. We also talked about my observations and was showing her what I have written and was seeking feedback, however, I mistakenly showed her a sample observation written by her for a student I was also observing. I had written down her observation as sample to help me understand how to write and structure observations (English is not my first language). I had my plenty of my own observations which I had prepared for her to read.

However, the supervisor without even asking me about those notes went and complained to the center manager then returned and asked me to leave and not return until further notice.. presumably to speak to my school teacher and figure out next steps.

I was devastated this happened and was lost for words that after two weeks of working so hard and building relationships with educators and children that I was dismissed without being given the benefit of doubt that I took those notes for my own reference. I had no intension on using these notes in the assessment and given all the other observations I had written I clearly have no interest in doing so.

I still am confused as to what I did wrong and wanted to ask this group if anyone had a similar experience?

Is it a cardinal sin to take down observation notes from other educators for personal reference? I can understand if I used it in the official assessment but that was not the case here.

Was I treated harshly? e.g. a dismissed without even given the opportunity to explain myself.

Was dismissal for taking such notes and extreme reaction?

I will be meeting with my teachers this week to discuss what happened and next steps. This situation is stressing me out and even if they accept this was a misunderstanding I feel humiliated and will find it awkward to work under this supervisor as I don't know why she would do that and if she has something against me and will make the rest of my experience difficult.

[Lorina]

Hi,

I apologise I have not responded to you sooner. I have been on a temporary hiatus and now I'm back.

I'm sorry you had to face this situation. Can you please share with me what happened after the meeting. If you were unfairly dismissed there are steps to take to ensure that you are fairly treated.

If you do not want to discuss in the open forum, please feel free to email me: lorina@aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au and I will personally assist you in this.

Let me know...

,
Lorina