If you send your child t o school with a note to excuse him from PE

[OrmRenewed]

can the teacher force him to do the lesson anyway because he doesn't have a doctor's note?

[ravenAK]

It'd be highly unusual.

If you're routinely/regularly writing notes & the PE teacher thinks that they're spurious, they'd probably contact you to discuss it?

If I'd written a one-off note asking for my dc to be excused PE, I would expect the starting assumption to be that I'm doing so responsibly, & that the teacher's response should be to excuse ds from participation in that lesson & get in touch if they think that it's inappropriate.

Having said that, I do know of cases where a student hasn't done PE for months - has hassled an easy-going or easily intimidated parent into writing a note each lesson - & the teacher has ultimately said 'No doctor's note, no excuse'.

It's not led to the student being forced to participate though; they've had to accept detention or other sanctions for refusing to take part in a lesson.

[badgermonkey]

At my school, they are expected to change into kit regardless and 'participate' in the lesson, albeit by reffing/keeping score etc. They don't have to join in the games though, but they're not allowed to sit in the corner texting or anything!

[cory]

I sometimes wish dd didn't have to do the "participation" bit; sitting at the sidelines is fine for a week or two, but when we're talking several years, I can't help thinking she could do something more useful with that time...like revising her French verbs or something.

[rainbowinthesky]

Depends what the reason was. Tis very common for parents to write crap excuses for PE on a regular basis.

[OrmRenewed]

Is it common? I didn't know that. Seems a bit daft. DS tore some intercostal muscles when he came off his skateboard fairly dramatically. We thought he'd broken a rib but it was just muscle damage. It hurts when he jolts it (ie runs or jumps). We went to A&E and he was told not to do anything for about 3 weeks. But didn't think to get a note. The school knows because he had to go to A&E during the day.

[Tinuviel]

I used to forge my own!! And I'm now a teacher.

I hated PE.

[LadyLapsang]

So, did you write to the school telling them what you have said here and your DS handed the PE teacher the note before the lesson and was forced to participate? Sounds a bit strange. Sure your son actually gave it in?

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

If I have to write a note excusing him form PE I do not send his kit in with him. Those off games do not sit textign, they do useful things arouns the school or homework.

[spiderpig8]

I think mthey would be very foolish to overrule the parent because if doing PE caused/worsened an illness or injury they could be sued.