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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to ask this teacher what qualifications he holds?

31 replies

curiousbilly · 20/01/2017 15:55

Have N/C as outing and don't want my other posts linked. Fully prepared to be flamed.

One of dcs teacher teaches three subjects. Two are academic, one Is PE.
A new topic started after October half term and they are now doing boxing using the normal PE teacher.

I have no issues with martial arts and think it is a great idea but they don't seem to be using any protective equipment bar pads and from what dc has said there is a lot of silliness and being too rough which imo a good coach should be able to control. Each week has resulted in a child being hurt/hit in the face or head etc.

All I can gain is that the PE teacher used to do a martial art in the past. My friend is a martial arts teacher and has to have all kinds of coach training/safety training and special insurance to teach given the nature.

Would you be happy? Would you check? Can PE teachers just teach anything?

Admittedly I'm guessing PE teachers teach a variety of subjects like rugby or football which they might not hold specific coaching qualifications in but they don't involve punching to the head which feels a bit different.

I'm fully open to being told I am being precious and unreasonable by the way.

OP posts:
akkakk · 20/01/2017 16:02

It would be reasonable to ask the school why injuries are occurring - up to the school to be happy with qualifications and experience...

insan1tyscartching · 20/01/2017 16:20

I'd say it is unacceptable that children are getting hurt so would be raising this with the school. I don't think you can question the teacher's qualifications though.

crazycatguy · 20/01/2017 16:22

Thanks to the recruitment crisis and deprofessionalisation, a teacher just needs a clear DBS to work in England.

Geraldthegiraffe · 20/01/2017 16:25

Oh heck I'd hate boxing to be taught to any of my kids.

nokidshere · 20/01/2017 16:36

It wouldn't matter what qualifications the teacher held I would not consent to my child being taught boxing at all by anyone.

However, if you are ok with boxing then I would say YANBU to ask about safety and training.

Original poster
curiousbilly · 20/01/2017 16:40

I'm not thrilled about boxing tbh although very pro martial arts and self defence. Just as I wouldn't want my kids doing mixed martial arts.
I would accept it I guess if it was a trained amateur boxing association coach I guess

We were not told they were going to be doing boxing. Found out through the dc after it started

OP posts:
Eolian · 20/01/2017 16:47

I wouldn't want my child to be taught boxing. Normally I wouldn't advise a parent to go asking for a teacher's qualifications (because there is no point as long as the teacher is legally allowed to teach in a school) but this is different as it's a matter of physical safety and specific sports training.

00100001 · 20/01/2017 16:47

crazycatguy that's just not true.

Unless it is independent

Karlakitten1 · 20/01/2017 16:47

Teachers are just that....you can be asked to teach any subject, even in secondary. Not a good idea as you might not know much about it, but it's then up to the teacher to make sure they can teach it by reading up etc. Stupid system, but I do agree that with a contact sport they should be skilled and have an actual coach. Seems obvious that loads of injuries will happen otherwise.

traviata · 20/01/2017 16:48

The question is not necessarily what training the teacher has, but why there don't seem to be sufficient safety procedures.

A teacher could be trained up to the eyeballs but still have chosen to teach in a way which is not suitable, or not best practice.

I would ask for a discussion with the school about the number of injuries and a discussions about the risk assessment that has been done for these lessons. I would not ask about the teacher himself.

Karlakitten1 · 20/01/2017 16:48

Or that has been the case at schools I have known.

Geraldthegiraffe · 20/01/2017 16:49
  1. Isn't it? I thought they no longer had to be qualified teachers hence the growth of "cover supervisors" and ppa time taken by TAs.
Eolian · 20/01/2017 16:51

You don't need to be qualified to teach the specific subject though, 00100001. You need a teaching qualification (in anything) and a dbs.

Floralnomad · 20/01/2017 16:52

Perfectly reasonable to ask if you have concerns , my DS is a teacher and he taught 2 subjects at his last school that he was not qualified to teach , one of which was Games ( not boxing mind you)

Tanaqui · 20/01/2017 16:53

Are they actually doing boxing? Or some kind of boxercise/ body combat/ kickfit type class? If the latter all the punching should be in the air or to pads, and if the children are behaving no one should get hurt.

Eolian · 20/01/2017 16:54

I've taught two subjects I'm not qualified to teach, and that's not even counting all the stuff I've done as a cover supervisor. Dh has taught at least two. Not enough teachers.

ManonLescaut · 20/01/2017 16:58

Boxing at school? There's no way I'd let my kids do it. Horrible game.

Did the school ask parents' how they felt about it? Were you given chance to opt out?

In a way whether he's qualified to teach it is beside the point, but still worth asking. Doesn't sound like the school has the right safeguards.

Original poster
curiousbilly · 20/01/2017 17:03

We had no choice to opt out.

OP posts:
PurpleMinionMummy · 20/01/2017 17:08

Boxing Shock never heard of that being taught in school.

PickledCauliflower · 20/01/2017 17:08

I wouldn't be happy with boxing.
It's about hitting the head and face, I wouldn't let my children participate.

PossumInAPearTree · 20/01/2017 17:10

Private school or state?

I've only heard on Boxing still being taught in private schools and afaik you don't need QTS to teach in the private sector......you certainly didn't use to need it.

Caboodle · 20/01/2017 17:14

My Ds's box. They are younger though so all about the fitness and agility at the moment-any sparring is shoulder tapping etc. It is a brilliant sport but....they train at a professional gym and they will stop when it becomes more contact / force. I would be concerned about them being taught at school...it is very different to teaching football etc (and I say that as a teacher who has taught many subjects I don't have a qualification in...including PE)

WildwestWind · 20/01/2017 17:19

Ask to see their risk assessments

booklooker · 20/01/2017 17:26

This document might help you decie if the teacher is sufficiently qualified

www.sportscoachuk.org/sites/default/files/MSD-guidance-tool-1-2.pdf

I think the relevant stuff starts around page 7.

Personally I am a big fan of boxing and really hope your DS's teacher is doing the right thing

ModreB · 20/01/2017 17:39

My DS1 recently took up amatuer boxing. Apparently now they dont use headguards as it's safer not too, as they hit less harder. DS1 is an adult, but if he had taken this up as a child, I would be asking very strongly what qualifications the teacher had, whether he was up to date on the current safety advice and what training rather than teaching qualifications he had, as they are very different.

BTW, I also hate DS boxing, but he's an adult so his choice Sad