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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My son was hit on the head by the swimming instructor

313 replies

ali1982 · 03/02/2011 15:50

My son came home from school upset because when he went swimming with the school the swimming instructor whacked him on the head with 2 floaters.My son told me that he was stood by the pool and that the woman was telling the class off and then she whacked him and another child on the head.I have made a complaint to the leisure center about this person and also to the school.But the school seems to be not taking it seriously.I have said that if my son was naughty i dont have a problem with him being told off but the woman should not have hit him on the head.My son is only 8 years old.What should the school do in this situation ?

OP posts:
prettymuchapixiegirl · 03/02/2011 15:52

They should be looking into it and finding out exactly what happened. What have they said to you when you complained?

Does the swimming teacher actually work at the leisure centre? I say this because when my DD goes swimming with school they have instructors come into the centre from an independent company.

pagwatch · 03/02/2011 15:55

If it were me I would try and wait until I found out what actually happened.
I say this having had dd trip over my feet as we walked through the school gate only to have her cheerily announce to the teacher on duty that 'mummy just kicked me really hard'.

She is 8
8 year olds can be very truthful and yet still have a huge talent for exaggeration

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 03/02/2011 15:58

What is it about swimming instructors - second compalint about them on here this week. My experience is they can be little Hitlers.....

pagwatch · 03/02/2011 15:59

My dcs have had lovely teachers.
Having watched a couple of swimming lessons though I think the job requires an element of hiltleresque behaviour.

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 16:00

i wouldnt worry about this but if you are concerned, call the polcie and make a complaint. let them find out if it is assualt.

momentsintime · 03/02/2011 16:00

Sure it wasn't just a playful tiny tap with a light weight float and your DC is being a bit of a baby?? If the school thought it was anything to worry about I'm sure they'd act like it

madwomanintheattic · 03/02/2011 16:02

i love every swimming instructor we've ever had. Grin

i suspect she said 'right you lot, in the pool and stop and stop messing about' and jokily went 'bump', 'bump' with the floats, rather than whacked them senseless in a temper.

but hey, why let the truth get in the way of a good mn thread? Grin

southeastastra · 03/02/2011 16:02

the police? are you joking?

TotemPole · 03/02/2011 16:03

You can't really whack someone with a float.

hocuspontas · 03/02/2011 16:03

lol madwoman Grin

Original poster
ali1982 · 03/02/2011 16:04

Thankyou for your response.The school said that it was unlikely it happened but my son is a quiet boy and has never been in trouble at school so i know he is not lying as he was very upset.The swimming instructor does work for the leisure center and she is strict.

OP posts:
momentsintime · 03/02/2011 16:07

i would Tell your son to man up. Kids nowdays know that any adult so much as touching them can get in trouble for "assault" if they play it up. sure he isnt just trying to get out of swimming or doesnt like the instructor?

belgo · 03/02/2011 16:07

Grin at totem pole. I was wondering that too.

OP if your ds isn't hurt, then I would let it go and not persue the matter.

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 16:09

If it was me, i would tell me child to grow up and stop messing about in lessons, but if you are concerend that this was an assault then call the police and let them deal with it.

coatgate · 03/02/2011 16:09

Surely a float wouldn't hurt? And was not intended to hurt?

yerbladdymavva · 03/02/2011 16:10

god I hate it when people tell kids to "man up"

why should he? He doesn't deserve to be hit by anyone, of course he was upset. Why make him the problem Hmm

OP I would not go in all guns blazing at this point but would certinaly be very firm in insisting that the school get to the bottom of the matter. Don't let them brush it under the carpet.

Unfortunately as wonderful as most teachers/instructors/childcare workers are, there is the odd fruitloop. It's just true.

doubleease · 03/02/2011 16:10

The police Spoc? For heavens sake. Thats the biggest laugh I've had today. Unless of course it was intended as a joke.

Maybe he is mollycoddled and that's why he's upset. It's not as if he was battered with it. It's polystyrene.

I'm thinking it could be as AMdwoman suggested.

MrsNoggin · 03/02/2011 16:11

I don't know, if my DD was being a numpty and the instructor jokily bopped them on the head, I would probably be ok with it...

Are you sure it wasn't an 'oi are you listening to ny safety speech' kind of cheeky bump? And DC is more embarrassed than injured?

doubleease · 03/02/2011 16:12

Grr that should be Madwoman.

Xpost there Spoc. Sounds more reasonable Grin

TotemPole · 03/02/2011 16:13

Mind you, the OP does say floaters. That's poos that don't flush. I'd be most upset if anyone hit me on the head with one of those.

mutznutz · 03/02/2011 16:14

Dear God, I whack all numpty children (and my husband) on the head with various light objects....it's one of my pleasures in life Grin

OP, is your son a very serious child? (genuine question by the way)

yerbladdymavva · 03/02/2011 16:14

I got whacked around the head with a teatowel once when I was at school. My parents pissed themselves laughing when they heard. But actually it hurt and was a horrible shock. I was shaken.

Of course you couldn't knock a child unconscious with a swimming float, but you could inflicy a fair bang on the head, enough to hurt and shock. It's not on. Am surprised so many people think it is.

Original poster
ali1982 · 03/02/2011 16:15

well im shocked at some of the responses, he is only a child and not an adult !

OP posts:
minipie · 03/02/2011 16:15

Have you asked your son if it hurt him?

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 16:15

DoubleeasE

I was not joking.

If it were me id tell my kid to grow up and stop messing. Swimming pools are very dangrous and kids need to understand that.

But the op must be very concerned to come here for advice. So she must think he son has been assaulted. so lets make it simple. call the police and report it.

But the plice will probably laugh and rightly so.