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A CHAIR FOR NAUGHTY GIRLS ???????

15 replies

mothernature1 · 31/01/2004 16:18

My dd1 is 11 and has recently started going up to high school on Fridays for swimming lessons.2 weeks ago the swim teacher told her that if she didnt behave that week he would put armbands on her and make her go in with the little ones.Dd1 and her friends tried to tell him that it was a differrent child who had been naughty the previous week and my dd1 wanted to know what is was she was suppossed to have done. For questioning him she was told to sit out on a chair-apparrently he has a naughty boy and a naughty girl chair.I think this is terrible because firstly my daughter isnt usually in trouble and secondly she is currently undergoing councelling for long term bullying which she hid for years ( this has been tackled fabulously ).I explained to my dd that i agreed this was perhaps the wrong way for a teacher to discipline a pupil.I said if she wanted to i would go and discuss it with him but she rightly said shed try and forget it and go along this week and hope he was a bit nicer to her. <br /> I cant believe that the first thing he said to her was " blow your nose before you come swimming because i dont want your snot in my pool " I am really upset that all dds confidence has gone again .I would welcome any advice before i say the wrong thing.I didn`t think naughty chairs were encouraged these days, and why is it ok for a teacher to ridicule my dd in front of all her peers and threaten her so ?

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Janh · 31/01/2004 16:22

mn, I agree this is appalling.

Does her class teacher (or somebody from her school) go to the High School with the class? If so that might be a good place to start asking questions as her school obviously understands how she will feel about being treated like this.

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Carla · 31/01/2004 16:24

Cancel the lessons and report him. Finito.

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mothernature1 · 31/01/2004 16:25

Yes her class teacher does go but they pick her up on the way so haven`t had chance to speak to her. I think that a good idea though-thanks

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mothernature1 · 31/01/2004 16:26

Carla-that is what i feel like doing but on what grounds ?

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fisil · 31/01/2004 16:27

This is awful . The guy sounds like a grotesque parody from Grange Hill. I think you need to talk to her class teacher.

I'd like to add that not only do I agree with you on everything you have found offensive, but I also can't believe he is being so sexist and having a naughty girl's and a naughty boy's chair.

If you don't see any response from the class teacher, there are loads of routes you can go through to get this kind of behaviour stopped. Let us know how you do.

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Browbeaten · 31/01/2004 16:32

Oh this is awful and makes me remember the horrible swimming teacher I had as a 6 yo - grrrr!! If she is insistent on going again next week then OK but tell her that you want to know if there is a repeat of the bully boy approach. If there is then take it further without a doubt. There are some idiots in this world who really shouldn't work with children imho.

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Carla · 31/01/2004 16:38

MN, are the lessons part of the curriculum, or something you pay extra for? If part of the curriculum, I would go straight to the head of the school, who if he/she is worth their salt would take your concern on board. If not, and you have to pay, just don't.

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Carla · 31/01/2004 16:42

And what 'teacher'! -- should use the word snot! Mucous, is the right word for it. Do it soon, MN!

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elena2 · 31/01/2004 16:52

I agree that it won't do your dd any good to carry on with the lessons while he is the teacher.
I would go and have a word with him and possibly speak to the headteacher about his bullying attitude.
But even if he apologised I wouldn't carry on letting her go, he would probably always have something against her because he sounds like a total ar*ehole.

Teachers like this make me SO angry.

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mothernature1 · 31/01/2004 17:08

Thanks for all your comments.You have given me some good ideas and some confidence to stand up for my dd. I never thought about the sexist bit ! Thanks

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Carla · 31/01/2004 17:09

On the grounds that if she's misbehaving A she should'nt need to feel like a child; B having armbands on her is not conducive to helping her swim, C having a naughty chair is terrible in itself, let alone having a girl/boy one. There. Need you arm yourself with more??XX

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twiglett · 31/01/2004 19:06

message withdrawn

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fisil · 31/01/2004 19:15

no, it is making a distinction which just doesn't seem relevant. OK, why have a naughty chair at all, but if you are going to have one, why distinguish between two types of naughty people. None of it really makes sense.

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tigermoth · 31/01/2004 19:24

I had a similar disagreement over attitude to pupils and discipline with one of 9 year old ds's swimming teachers. She totally lost her temper with me, told lies about my son to me and IMO was way out of order. I posted about it on here about six months ago. I learned that it's very difficult to complain about swimming teachers' teaching methods. There is no real regulatory body, though they often belong to a professional association ( sorry, can't remember the name). Most worryingly, sports coaches - including swimming teachers - are not always police checked (according to info I was given on my thread).

This teacher sounds very old fashioned in his approach. He might cite his bullying tactics as neccessary for health and safety reasons, but to me he sounds far too OTT especially the snot comment and the naughty chair business. And if he can't keep control of the class, he needs more helpers - not girl and boy chairs.

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Marina · 02/02/2004 10:02

Having just really enjoyed watching my little ds' swimming lesson with a lovely woman teacher at the weekend, I was so angry for you when I read your post MN.
I agree with the others that taking this up through your class teacher (who presumably has been involved in the wonderful way you are all tackling your dd's other problem with bullies).
This is no way to speak to children and no way to encourage a love of swimming and water safety. He really is a disgrace. I hope you get it sorted.
Tigermoth, it may not be so convenient for you, but the instructors at Eltham Pools are GREAT. Shame the building is crumbling...

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