To be willing to give anything to see the Head Master lead by example (making kids swim in the rain)

[fluffyraggies]

That's it in a nutshell really.

It's chucking it down out there. Has been for two hours at least. It's windy enough to be making the trees thrash about. It's cold.

But the HM's policy is for the kids to have their swimming lesson come what may.

I've just seen the latest batch of the poor kids trudging up the hill (part grass, part path) from the open air pool, soaking wet and with their towels clutched round them, shivering.

I know 'worse things happen at sea' - but i'm damn sure it'll be a cold day in hell before the HM comes out of his warm office and shows them how refreshing he finds it to swim in all + any weather

Rant over. AIBU?

I'm surprised everyones so ok with this. I wouldn't be.

Why StuntGirl ??

it is July... it is not bitter cold, and walking from a pool wrapped in a towel will not kill them.

Fgs, lovebunny. Anyone who had to be excused indoor swimming due to health concerns would automatically be excused open air swimming too . What's your point?

Outdoor pool for primary aged kids? Blimey, that's harsh. Secondary and they could probably lump it but I'd not be happy with small ones, either.

I have to say that I wouldn't be happy about partially clothed wet children being made to walk and stand around in the weather we are having. Yes when they're in the pool they are wet anyway but most school swimming sessions involve quite a degree of standing about waiting for a turn etc. You say they had towels wrapped around them presumably they wouldn't have another spare in the changing room so how are they supposed to get dry and warm afterwards? Just because children were treated horribly years ago doesn't mean that we have to repeat the same mistakes.

Yanbu, poor children, how unpleasant.

My son's school have an outdoor pool. He swam in the rain on Friday, and, is still alive.

He's 5.

I really don't see the problem.

Perhaps i'm BU then.

I don't know.

Those kids for whom it is a serious health issue do get to sit it out. But for those kids who are skinny little souls and get really cold it seems really 'Dickensian' (sp?) to me. I've sat with many a shivery kid on my knee trying to warm them up once back in the class room. (TA) Blue lips - the lot. It just seems rotton!

Why harsh, perfect? I don't get it, really, I don't. If it was January and they had a 'first to break the ice on the pool gets a prize' competition I may feel differently but fgs! It's summertime! Ok - hardly mediterranean conditions but hardly freezing, either...

We had an outdoor pool when at primary and we swam in there all year round, the only part that was not pleasant was the changing rooms afterwards as they had that funny damp chlorine smell.... and it was impossible to get dry. The pool was great fun, rain or no rain.

Kids a leetle bit molly coddled I think these days. If it was say, January and it was -0 degrees then yes, I could agree it would be a bit much for little ones. However, its July... and not exactly cold!

My sons lips go blue in the swimming pool!

I love swimming in the rain in the summer...not so much in the winter...honestly it's lovely. It's the temperature that counts more imo. the water won't be that cold and you always shiver after swimming don't you?

I think some of you are missing out

Thank god there are still some head teachers around that have this attitude. It's not freezing, it's July. Not as warm as it should be admittedly but it won't harm them!

My DDs Head is the same, no outdoor pool but has them running round the field in the rain etc. Neighbouring school aren't allowed to do anything if the weather is bad. The poor kids had to look out the window during last winter's snow, watching our school kids have an extra long playtime making snowmen and having snow ball fights with the teachers.

I was lucky enough to attend a primary school with its own swimming pool.
We would swim twice a week, whatever the weather, for the whole of the summer term.
It was sometimes not very nice, but tbh I was more unhappy about having to wear one of those swimming hats that smell all rubbery.
We didn't stand around in wet swimming costumes for long as there was always a rota of parent helpers to get the little ones dried off and dressed.

I'm willing to bet the children are less upset by this than their parents.

Mind you I hated school swimming lessons as we had a harsh teacher who used to push us in and it was dull and horrible being told what to do when all you can normally manage is a bit of breast stroke and slashing about.

The dead bees and leaves didn't help either. I just didn't like being dictated to in water - it's such a massive anachronism, water is meant to be a freeing experience, I dunno, it was all wrong. I still used to go at lunchtime sessions though.

Agree we had a football match cancelled by another school as it was "going to rain tomorrow ". They cancelled in advance !!

Splashing, not slashing.

Hockey in the snow was a different matter. That was just cruel.

You do realise swimming is part of the curriculum. It's not going to hurt them. Now get over it.

Titter

I hate cold water, myself. Most people do, which is why we aren't all keenly flinging ourselves at the Lido all the time. I don't really comprehend the British attitude that we should make kids do unpleasant things because it's good for them, and when it comes to young kids I think unless it's a warm day it's just daft.

Having said that, my Granny used to take us swimming in the rain in the sea in Sussex, and I loved it. So maybe I'm being soft, too. (My son has bad cold-air-triggered asthma, so I tend to be a bit militant about cold. It's easy to forget that most kids don't have that problem at all.)

"Hockey in the snow was a different matter. That was just cruel."

Our PE teacher refused to let us wear tracksuits. We had to charge around in aertex tops and stupid little skirts in February. She, on the other hand, wore several tracksuits and a hanging hot water bottle arrangement around her neck.

Can't see a problem with it. Probably the best activity to do in the rain.
My dd's school go in whatever the weather from Easter to October. Just after Easter it was wet and cold but she said the water was lovely and warm, but you had to get changed quickly afterwards.

I could understand your concerns if it was a thunderstorm but a bit of rain is no problem. I love swimming in the rain in the sea.

I remember swimming in the sea in Oct/Nov on the north Devon coast. It was fab. They probably enjoyed it.

My DD should be swimming this afternoon in their outdoor pool. However it is heated and has a changing room right by it. I used to love swimming in the rain and i have no issue with it.

I would infact now as an adult prefer to be in the pool with them than be the teacher standing at the side in the rain.