Making the unfit kid who comes last run round the field again?

[Veuvelily]

Can anyone tell me the logic here.
What is the games teacher trying to achieve?

The child has tried his best and feels like he’s being punished unfairly
Plus he’s then used up all his energy, so is tired for the actual games lesson

Awful. How to humiliate a child and put them off running for life. 🙁 Poor thing.

This is so horrible. The teacher is a bully.

Urgh I hated being made to run around the field as a warm up for PE, hated it, was bottom set PE etc. I turned out quite sporty in my own way.

If it's helpful for you in your discussions with school, the relevant learning theory is punishment (they think they're punishing him for being slow, but if he thinks he's trying really hard what they're actually punishing him for is trying), and learnt helplessness. He's tried trying hard, he gets punished. the next logical step is for him to think "sod it" and give up trying and give his bare minimum, because he is going to be punished anyway. They're really shitty and quite dangerous for his mental wellbeing things to be teaching a kid.

Teaching by humiliation never works - it just teaches shame in response to whatever it is that’s being ‘taught’. Also, if you want to encourage a child to enjoy a subject, making it a punishment is hardly the way to go.

This is awful OP and would only have been done by the most old school PE teachers when I was at school (and I'm 40).

I was crap at cross country, bleep test and all that sort of stuff. Loved PE when I had a good PE teacher who could see what I was good at. Unfortunately most went 'can't run, wee bit chubby, unfit'.

I'm a very fit adult. Took years to believe in myself though, decouple from the 'chubby + not fast = not sporty' mindset and tbh I still tend to downplay my ability in real life. It's really damaging. Even now I worry when I tell people what I do that I'll be 'found out' or ought not to class myself as fit / sporty because I woudn't trouble anyone in a 5k race.

Hi OP
If he’s 5ft9 then he’s like an adult so surely not overweight. To curb hunger he should eat more protein and healthy fats like avos, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, butter. Try cut back on the carbs and fruit as they don’t keep you full. Good luck with the school OP, sounds awful.

As PPs have said, kids need to be taught how to run, not just left to get on with it.

I’m another one who was always last at school (though at least my teacher wasn’t a sadist) & assumed for years that I simply couldn’t run. I did C25K a few years ago & that led to a half marathon.

I hated PE at school the teacher had her favourites I would have loved being able to try Zumba at school (One Zumba teacher I know was teaching 5-7 year olds what fun )Luckily I did other forms of exercise miles on my bike .It put me off for life outdoor runs Somebody has to last

I had similar when i was at school and this was back in the "80s.

I had the always picked last thing too.
In fact it went a bit further than that. At the end of the choosing teams bit they used to fight over NOT having me on the team
"no you have Mercy we had to have her last time" etc.
Both PE teachers knew what was going on and did FUCK ALL.
So i walked out of a PE lesson and refused to take part any more until the teacher sorted out the bullying. (did her fucking job)
A couple of years later the same bastard kids who were treating me like shit asked me to take part in the relay on sports day cos they didnt have enough people to do it.
I wondered why they were asking me if i was so shit at it.
They said they were one short and just needed me to make up the numbers.
So i then said "but you will be moaning and having a go at me if i cant run fast enough"
"oh we wont" they insisted.
Well going by past experience and the way you have treated me in PE lessons i think thats bollocks.
So i refused to do it and to this day im proud that i stood my ground and refused to be used by them! If i had done it despite the way they had treated me i wouldnt have had any respect for myself afterwards.

Reminds me of one PE teacher who conveniently kept forgetting that DD has severe asthma and exercise is her main trigger. She can exercise, but she has to be smart about it. Running laps is not on the smart list. A shy kid of 6 or 7 really isn’t prepared to stand up to the teacher and tell them NO!!

He didn’t stop forgetting until one day an ambulance had to be called.

...the only way you stop being unfit is by exercising more, so running around the field again is actually beneficial to the child's fitness.

If the lad is tasting blood when he runs (or a metallic taste in his mouth) he is over exerting and needs to be allowed to take it easier.

Fit adults who push themselves really hard experience the metallic taste. A fairly unfit teen shouldn't be experiencing it in PE in school. His fitness can be improved by starting gradually and building up.

A treadmill at home would be great. Running so hard that he sheds red blood cells into his lungs once a week isn't going to benefit him at all. It could be a fairly benign thing, but it could be an indication of pulmonary oedema. No matter what, it indicates he is overdoing it.

I would have your son checked out with particular reference to his heart health, if you can do it, @Veuvelily, and ask the GP for guidance on improving his fitness. Ask how hard he should be pushing himself.

the only way you stop being unfit is by exercising more, so running around the field again is actually beneficial to the child's fitness

Or in the case of children, find a sport or exercise they enjoy and can do and foster a life long interest in the sport and not put off a child from exercising ever again

And some people wonder why children hate sport!

YY, and there are also people who wonder how come there's bullying in schools.

if he gets a metallic taste from exercise he needs to get his asthma checked.

DS is that child too; hyper mobile and prone to pain/injury. Thankfully his senior school allows them to do ‘outdoor education’ instead such as walking around reservoirs and woods, putting up tents and building camp fires. He’s a much happier child.
And no, as a teacher of 22 years, I can say that singling out a child for ‘extra running’ is unkind and shit.

It's a tough one. I can see that the teacher is trying to encourage more effort and the method is questionable, but if you go and say anything the PE teacher will move onto more subtle bullying like saying "I better make you the captain or mummy will be coming to have a word again" in front of the other kids. Your child's life will be hell as other kids will then join in as the piss taking is being given the ok from the responsible adult.
I have very little time for PE teachers personally I've never encountered a kind encouraging one. They all seem to have a wannabe Sargent major complex.

@Hellocatshome
In your scenario, if the teacher actually wanted to help the child become fitter then the "extra work" would be to take them to one side and suggest a daily exercise program at home or giving them leaflets to activity clubs that they would enjoy.
A good maths teacher would not simply hand a struggling child another set of the same questions that they're struggling with they would explain things, break it down and show them ways to approach the question.
Whether it's maths or PE good teaching involves getting alongside a pupil and helping them progress. Shit teaching involves giving a child a hard time for not achieving what they think they should be.

I was the unfit child in school and I was made todo extra laps and things and it was hell I remember my pe teacher shouting that iv no reason to be so unfit I’m just lazy and things even commented on how I was skinny so should be able to run. Found out a few years ago iv a malformation in my lungs and when I used to say it felt like my chest was on fire it wasn’t me bloody lying I really was in that much pain. I honestly ended up hating school so much because of this woman’s mental abuse to me. Please say something to this person and honestly fuck being clam about it embarrass them like they embarrassed the child

@Veuvelily - did you hear from the school?

@Hellocatshome

If a child struggled with sums, would they make them do an extra page whilst everyone else looks on??

Its a strange way of thinking that if a child struggles in PE they should just get to continue struggling and not try to improve but if a child struggles in maths they get set extra work. My son is very athletic but absolutely shit at maths, he has to do extra maths work and stay behind at breaks/after school to do more. Yes he isnt being stared at by his peers but they all know why he isnt around at breaks. Do we know the child has to run an extra lap while everyone stands and stares?

It's not essential to be good at running.

I was the worst kid at PE. Can't run, throw or catch. It was humiliating enough without extra bullying by the teacher.

I was actually extremely slim and very fit as a child. I used to walk and cycle for miles, swim 30 laps once a week, ride, do stablework for hours. Never got tired. Just very uncoordinated.

The school emailed back yesterday
Said they had discussed it as a team
It’s not policy to make the kid that comes last do another lap.
They make them do another lap if they think they haven’t put enough effort in. Or if they’ve walked.
The lap is 1km.
They said he’s never complained of a stitch and they are concerned about the blood taste.
They are keen to get him playing rugby for them
Theres no sympathetic or apologetic tone but they are keen for a meeting to see how he can be motivated.
I haven’t responded yet.
It’s very possible that he’s been messing around, but if that’s the case, it’s still a physical punishment. They’re making him do something that hurts him. I will request that they do not make him run extra until he is checked out.

I need to have an overdue meeting with the school about his learning plan. He doesn’t have an EHCP, only the dyslexia is officially diagnosed. His other diagnoses are ongoing.

I spoke to the senco yesterday. Ds has exams over the next couple of weeks so will get those out of the way and get my head together to get something written down to discuss with them.

Whoever asked about home schooling, I would love to do it for DS. But as only barely got through the last homeschooling without killing each other. He also needs to see his friends in school. He doesn’t socialise much out of school, although this had picked up a bit recently.

This morning we had some v bad news about his Gran who is dying. He was distraught. Desperate to try and see her, but she’s in Australia.
I’ve just managed a FaceTime call with her. so upsetting.
This poor child
I also have my uncle with end stage Alzheimer’s and my Dad with a heart condition and (stable) prostrate cancer.

Sorry OP sounds like you’re having an horrendous time all around. Strength to you. Glad the school will talk to you. Good luck!

Firstly, really sorry to hear of your troubles. DS and you must be very upset and stressed anyway with all this going on
I work in a school and it does sound a little as if they are closing ranks. They do make some fair points, but as I'd mentioned in one of my posts, walking isn't necessarily indicative of not trying, I used to do it to pretend I didn't care when inside I was dying of embarrassment. Neither is not complaining - I wouldn't have dared complain directly to our gym mistress, she was a bloody tyrant.
I think your response is measured and appropriate in requesting he isn't made to run more.
I can't believe this bollocks still goes on! Character building to me for young people is all about relationship building, teamwork, helping and supporting others, achieving personal milestones and developing skills and interests both academically and physically.
I like the way DS's school approach sport. They do have highly competitive selected teams (rugby/cricket/athletics etc) but everyone participates in these sports to the level they can achieve at in the PE lessons. The emphasis is on healthy exercise and my DS has had the opportunity to try all sorts like basketball and table tennis.
He's not great at traditional sports but it doesn't matter. He's discovered a love of the gym and weights and is happy.

Totally unreasonable. Could lead to teasing or bullying. Someone has to come last. I know as I was always last in races. Bless this young lad I am sure he will excel in other subjects.

That's just cruel . Your poor son