Opinions Please

[treas]

This morning I went to the early bird swim session at the local pool.

On completing my 2 mile swim, [hark at her], pupils from my dd's school were sat on the side waiting for the start of their lesson. These were children from my dd's yr but not her class - she will swim in January

The pupils were v. v. well behaved when suddenly there was a buzz of chatter as the message "Miss is getting in" passed around the group and I turned to see a woman in her swimming costume walking down the side. She then told the group "No I'm not!"

Anyway! Once I had finished changing I had to go back on poolside to get my googles and saw "Miss" swimming lengths while the children were taught by the hired swimming teachers.

AIBU to think that "Miss" who was in charge of the class should not have been having a freebie swim and should have been keeping an eye on the children in a behaviour rather than swimming teaching capacity?

So really I'd like to know:

1/ How would you feel if your child had been in this lesson?

2/ If IANBU should I raise the issue with the school?

I don't see the problem, she's setting a good example!

how do you know she didn't pay for the swim session?

My issue isn't whether she paid or not but whether as she was in charge of the children whether she should have been swimming at all - she was definitely not helping with the children.

Pretty sure she should be in charge of her class rather than swimming lengths! I wouldn't be happy

I would be pleased the school had already instilled the level of discipline required for the teacher to be able to swim without having to worry about their behaviour. If the swimming teachers were adequately in control I would think it was fine. Plus, if she was in the same pool I'm sure a swimming teacher could have notified her immediately with regard to any problem - and she probably was aware of more than you might think anyway. The only thing I might contact the school about regarding the situation above would be to compliment them in the pupils' behaviour.

They were being looked after by the trained professionals that have been paid to teach them how to swim. She was in the pool too she was obviously within hearing distance of the kids. I don't see your problem really. Don't raise the issue with the school.

If the school is paying for the swimming tuition, then the class teacher probably just has to BE there. I can't see that it's any different to, say, having a specialist music teacher in whilst the class teacher sits at the back with her marking. She was in the pool if there was an issue, and on hand if she was needed, but given that she wasn't actually teaching the session, she didn't need to be with the group.

Seems entirely appropriate - she's there if there's a problem, she's setting a good example, she's staying fit. Everything is good. YABU.

At our school teachers don't even go to the swimming pool with their class. It is left entirely to the PE staff.
It is used as our non-class contact time.

In our senior school, we do a lot of "modelling good behaviour" in and out of the classroom. Things like sitting in view of the class reading your own book during reading time, stuff like that. This wouldn't bother me at all; she's setting an example of keeping fit using swimming. I can imagine, if I was her, I'd be pining for something to do whilst the children were being taught by the professional swim teachers.

Dramajustfollowsme - I believe that "Miss" was a TA rather than the actual class teacher.

1/ As I did not recognise her as one of dd's year teachers
2/ In the past the school has been taken to the pool be someone I know and who is actually a TA. This particular TA always observes the children from the poolside.

FreyaFridays - I understand fully her wanting to do something while the children are being taught to swim.

Guess it is just my instinct as a lifeguard when I was a teenager kicking in.

I can't really see how much more help a TA sitting on the poolside would be to the professional swimming teachers than a TA swimming in the pool. Actually, I wish our teachers had joined in with all PE activities. I bet we wouldn't have been cross-country running in shorts in mid-winter then

That is very odd

How so HullyEastergully

Just never ever heard of a teacher with a class getting in the pool and having a private swim.

I Know!

Is it possible she was needed for say, supervision on the coach but not actually for the lessons, so she swam rather than hang about doing nothing?

My concern with the teacher being in the pool rather than poolside would be if one of the children suddenly needed medical attention then it could be delayed if the teacher needs to get dressed first.

Also the teacher will probably be supervising behaviour in the changing rooms after the lesson so should be dried, dressed and ready before the children come out of the pool.

I also think that's a bit off.

I wouldn't be happy. Also, why tell the children she is not getting in? That's bizarre!

I'm not sure it's a good thing.

If i had a group of children in my care off-site, then i would want to be paying attention to whats going on with them as much as possible.

I know the swimming instructors were technically in charge while the children were in the water.

I know many teachers/TAs don't stay poolside when the lesson is going on.

But the point is though that should anything go wrong (i'm not talking drowning necessarily here either,there could be vomiting, upset tum ... etc) a teacher or TA dressed and dry by the pool or in an adjacent room is going to be able to react immediately.

She may be a parent volunteering. I used to help out with swimming, although i did get in the pool to help, that was only because I knew the swim teachers very well. However normally the TAs and the parents helpers did nothing but supervise getting there and getting changed.

Any medical attention would be given by the lifeguards and pool staff

Guess it is just my instinct as a lifeguard when I was a teenager kicking in.

Sorry but this made me laugh. Why did your 'instincts' kick in?

The swimming teachers are more likely to be trained as life guards than the TA.

But the point is though that should anything go wrong (i'm not talking drowning necessarily here either,there could be vomiting, upset tum ... etc) a teacher or TA dressed and dry by the pool or in an adjacent room is going to be able to react immediately.

There will be at least two or more TAs, parent helpers. teachers etc for swimming. We always had at least 3 for 30.