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AIBU?

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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:
LDNmummy · 03/02/2011 16:31

Are you sure it wasn't misinterpreted or playfully done?

Sometimes children can be a little oversensitive.

Did it hurt even?

Was it actually a 'hit' or more of a 'donk'?

And what were they getting told of for anyway? Might be relevant.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 03/02/2011 16:31

Noshe wouldn't MrSpoc...people don't go "straight to the police" in every case...plenty of people have come on here asking advice before they eventually anyone in real life...never mind schools.

usualsuspect · 03/02/2011 16:31

go to the police ,then come back and tell us how they laughed what they said

LDNmummy · 03/02/2011 16:32

BTW I totally get where MrSpoc is coming from.

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 03/02/2011 16:33

The 'socially acceptable' part of me agrees with Pag.

My 70's upbringing is nodding and agreeing with the vast majority who are saying 'Tell him to stop being such a wimp and to behave when he's there'.

The only thing that will be dented is his pride.

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 16:34

Wimple I understand but if she honestly belives that he was assaulted then she should go to the police.

Me personally i think she is may be a lottle OTT about her child. (I mean that in the nicest possible way)

aPixie · 03/02/2011 16:35

I can't believe some of the replies on this thread.

He's 8yrs old ffs.

I don't even hit my children so I'd be bloody damn furious to find out someone else has, those swimmin floats aren't exactly soft!

Ok so I wouldn't be going to the police but I'd bloody well make sure the school know it would never happen again.

MollysChambers · 03/02/2011 16:36

OP has asked what the school should do in this situation to which the answer is fairly simple. They have a duty to address the issue with the instructor concerned as a complaint has been made.

I cannot see any reason why they should do anything more than seek her agreement that she will not hit anyone on the head with a float - whether a playful tap or not.

And that's an end to it.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 03/02/2011 16:36

Well MrSpoc I see what you're getting at...I suppose she might want the staff to help her ascertain what went on first...a reasonable person would havea meeting with teachers etc to find out the whole truth before going to the cops.

Saltatrix · 03/02/2011 16:36

hit with a float? aren't they soft, light and bendy I think the only thing hurt here was pride.

aPixie · 03/02/2011 16:38

I don't think floats are soft. They might be light and bendy but 2 together would certainly hurt a little I should think.

katiestar · 03/02/2011 16:38

The swimming teacher kicked water in my 5yo DDs face in her second ever swimming lesson because she was daydreaming in (it was after school on a Friday and I think she was tired.)
But i do think sports coaches are often quite rough with children especially when they are quite good.

SoupDragon · 03/02/2011 16:39

Welcome to MN, Ali.

pagwatch · 03/02/2011 16:39

Wimple

I would be perfectly happy if my dds teacher honked her on the head and told her to listen up. She is a funny, friendly charming woman who likes dd and is extremely kind.

So you may be furious if a teacher hit your child on the head. But with respect you are assuming that it was a hit, you are assuming that the child was rational in being hurt and humiliated. You arecassuming that the mean teacher struck out. Only the teacher and the child really know. I think it is wise to defer making such harsh conclusions.

I want teachers to josh with my dd. I want them to hug her too. And tell her not to be a numpty'. Or cuddle her if she cries.

belgo · 03/02/2011 16:40

Kicking water in the face is horrible. So is dunking a child, I wouldn't allow my children to continue with the lessons if the teacher did that.

aPixie · 03/02/2011 16:41

And even if it was just the childs pride that was hurt, no-body should be hitting him across the head anyway.

FabbyChic · 03/02/2011 16:42

I would go to the police if I was not taken seriously by those I complained to.

It is assault and the police would take it seriously and not laugh as has been said on here by the assholes.

belgo · 03/02/2011 16:44

Whether the police would laugh or not is a different issue but it would be a complete waste of their time.

tomhardyismydh · 03/02/2011 16:44

go and do the same to the instructor OP, and see what thier out rage is and then ask if they thought what you done was acceptable, when the say no, just tell them O.K so next time you do that my child you will have more seriouse repocutions than that, like my toe up your arse.

MollysChambers · 03/02/2011 16:46

Serious question - If OP goes to the police wouldn't they want to speak to her son about what happened? Is it really worth putting him through that?

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 16:46

Sorry but i think some people are far too soft with the children.

My son had aqua baby lessons at about 3 months old. by the 3rd lesson we were dunking their heads right under the water. He is 2.5 now and is amazing in the water and can swim a full length on his own (with arm bands)

If a person did hit my child left a mark and hurt them then I would not hesitate but go to the police.

Original poster
ali1982 · 03/02/2011 16:47

I dont think i will be asking for advice again, cannot believe some of the comments !

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 16:48

come on fabby just because we dont agree does not make us arseholes.

belgo · 03/02/2011 16:48

MrSpoc - my post is referring to another threa on here where the swimming instructor unexpectable dunked a child. That is different to what you are describing.

usualsuspect · 03/02/2011 16:48

I think going to the police is way bloody ridiculous [asshole] they wouldn't take it seriously in a million years