Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell DD to get over it (PE related)

92 replies

RachyMumUk · 26/04/2015 22:14

Got some views over in Secondary yesterday but DD is still moaning.

Dance in PE is done in bare feet at her school (as it was at ours). I've not problem with this but now she has started moaning (all weekend!) that the teacher should take her shoes and socks off too......

I've told her to get over it but she is still going on about how "unfair it all is"

Do I tell her to get over it or does she have a point?

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 26/04/2015 23:49

Is there something the teacher can observe better if their feet are bare? Something she knows and has been observed doing herself as a learner but now doesn't need to see in herself?

CamelHump · 26/04/2015 23:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pieceofpurplesky · 26/04/2015 23:54

I am a teacher Jess with a feat deal of experience and also live my job. I agree that teens have a sense if fairness but it is often skewed. Pupils should not be wearing make up, arguing about what staff should wear etc.
There is a fine line between being a good teacher and being a friend. I just wondered where your line was / discussing with pupils how you find the rules silly and that you agree they should be able to XYZ makes you the cool te her and the rest have to pick up the pieces.
Hence the health and safety question / are your pupils allowed mobile phones/ make up/ eating in class etc?
Rules are needed and need to be adhered to. It's how children learn

Jessica2point0 · 27/04/2015 00:03

Mobile phones are a no, because they have to be paying attention in order to learn (zero tolerance policy pisses them off sometimes, but they know / understand the rules so it doesn't happen often). Eating/drinking is a no because my class is a lab, so it could be dangerous. Make up is a no with "I don't understand that rule but I'm sure there a good reason". I absolutely don't think I'm a cool teacher because I'm too strict. But if me explaining the rules makes it hard for teachers who can't explain their rules then I can live with that. Because if you can't explain your rules then you should really be questioning if they are necessary.

thehumanjam · 27/04/2015 00:03

I would tell her to get over it too. But I have zero patience with children and adults who make an issue out of a non issue.

PerspicaciaTick · 27/04/2015 00:08

My DDs PE teacher currently wears shorts, T-shirt and trainers while the children wear swimming costums and hats. Should the teacher wear her cossie to set an example?

Jessica2point0 · 27/04/2015 00:16

If she's getting in to the pool she should have a swim suit on. Swim suits are necessary for being in the pool, so the teacher should set an example by wearing a swim suit whenever she is in the pool.

PerspicaciaTick · 27/04/2015 00:18

But the teacher doesn't get in the pool. She demonstrates from the side. Should she be getting into the pool to set an example?

LucyBabs · 27/04/2015 00:18

daffs its comes across that you tell your dc to basically shut up and put up. That's quite sad really.

I hate "Do as your told" just because they are children doesn't mean they haven't got a voice.
They should be allowed to speak up if they think something is unfair or wrong.
I don't think anyone should be allowed do what they want when they want but there's an awful attitude out there that children and teens aren't as important as the all knowing adults Confused

Jessica2point0 · 27/04/2015 00:21

If there is a reason for her to be in the pool then yes, of course she should. If she can teach better from the side then she should stay at the side. Setting an example is secondary to the actual teaching IYSWIM.

OutragedFromLeeds · 27/04/2015 00:24

The idea that teenagers are always wrong about everything and should never, ever question the infallible adults in their lives is clearly ridiculous.

In this case though she needs to explain why she thinks it's unfair. If the teacher is regularly demonstrating/joining in with them and stomping on their feet she should probably take her shoes off. If shoes are taken off to avoid damaging the floor then it makes sense that the teacher should also be barefoot. If they take their shoes off because that is the best way to do a dance lesson, then the teacher doesn't need to take her shoes off because she isn't doing a dance lesson (she's demonstrating and then watching) and DD needs to get over it.

thehumanjam · 27/04/2015 00:29

I agree that the teacher should be barefoot but for some unknown reason she has chosen not to. It's not important, people need to know when to choose their battles and this is a non-issue.

In our house you will often hear the expression "get over yourself" and my kids say it as often to me as I do to them.

LilQueenie · 27/04/2015 00:41

she has a point. I mean how are you supposed to listen and respect those teaching you what is meant to be good for us if the attitude is do as I say not as I do.

What was she doing in PE. With all the health and safety it could be argued that proper shoes would be safer to risk injury. I hate health and safety btw.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 27/04/2015 01:01

When I was in school all the girls signed a petition to allow us to wear trousers.

It could have seemed like a non issue but I hated wearing tights with a skirt for school. Eventually we won and trousers are still in the uniform code for girls.

I hate my feet always have, they are always itchy and I have dry flaking skin. It's been like this for years. I simply didn't go to PE for this reason.

Topseyt · 27/04/2015 01:35

HumanJam has summarised exactly my take on the issue.

In fact, I wouldn't even see it as an issue at all.

"Get over it" would be my considered response.

CamelHump · 27/04/2015 06:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MythicalKings · 27/04/2015 06:38

She needs to get over it. The teacher is teaching, not participating.

shewept · 27/04/2015 06:48

Well it's a good opportunity for her to learn. She may feel the teacher should. That doesn't mean the teacher has to.

She also needs to learn to not sweat the small stuff. 2 posts and a discussion with you and she is still going on?

Dd wants to wear high heels for school, some teachers do. The fact that teachers do, doesn't come in to it.

CamelHump · 27/04/2015 06:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

woollytights · 27/04/2015 06:49

Why is Jessica getting a hard time? What she's said sounds very sensible.

Mumsnet has a shit attitude to teens a lot of the time. It's as if as soon as kids start secondary school its fair game to talk about them like shit on your shoe.

claraschu · 27/04/2015 06:49

Jessica2, you are the teacher I am always hoping my children get.

Mehitabel6 · 27/04/2015 06:55

I wouldn't waste time on it- just tell her to get over it.

Mehitabel6 · 27/04/2015 06:59

If you do want to waste time on it then tell her that the teacher would have had bare feet when a pupil and if DD wants to teach dance, as an adult, she can keep her shoes on when she does.

CamelHump · 27/04/2015 07:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AuntieStella · 27/04/2015 07:10

It's not treating as 'shit in your shoe' to point out that teens aren't always right when they get a bee in their bonnet. This one isn't right.

Bare feet are fine for dance classes.

Either that or proper dance shoes. And perhaps they don't want to make another demand for expensive/ hard to source kit on parents?

If your choice was bare feet or proper jazz trainers (£30+ though less If you hunt for them), which would you prefer? Especially if your DC was doing dance only because they had to that term? (Because a pupil genuinely keen on dance would know why dance teachers teach in different footwear, and the differences between specialist trainers and regular ones).

Swipe left for the next trending thread