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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DD's punishment from PE teacher was draconian?

867 replies

moonlightshadow1 · 01/03/2017 17:15

DD is in Year 10 and came home quite annoyed about a punishment she got in PE for something very minor in the first place. Her teacher made her get changed into her PE kit at lunchtime (without any tracksuit in the cold wet weather), and run laps around the football pitch for all but the last 15 minutes of the break (so she could eat), much of it whilst the boys were having football practice, who apparently found it quite funny. Is it overreacting to think this is a bit out of order? I might not have been surprised when I was at school but I can't help be a bit annoyed, seems a bit like it was intended to embarrass her and unnecessary.

OP posts:
WelshMoth · 01/03/2017 17:16

What did your DD do wrong to get this punishment?

IamFriedSpam · 01/03/2017 17:18

Does seem OTT, everyone needs a break at lunch time. Every shitty low paid job I've had has allowed me at least a 30 minute break at lunch so I think kids should get the same. What did she do though?

EduCated · 01/03/2017 17:20

On the face of it it does seem quite a physical punishment, which doesn't sit well. What was it given for?

harderandharder2breathe · 01/03/2017 17:20

Depends what she did in the first place.

Running would've kept her warm so I wouldn't be too worried about lack of tracksuit (was she really banned from putting it on if she chose?Hmm)

MsJamieFraser · 01/03/2017 17:21

Why does it matter what she did.

Personally I would be going to the head, to ask where in the displine policy is physical punishment allowed?

I'd also ask where in this policy does it say your child could be demeaned and ridiculed in front of her peers

AlmaMartyr · 01/03/2017 17:21

What did she do? On the face of it, I wouldn't be impressed either.

Topseyt · 01/03/2017 17:25

Might help if you told us what she did.

I am not sure to be honest. I am wary of PE due to my own poor experiences at school many years ago, but context is useful.

Original poster
moonlightshadow1 · 01/03/2017 17:31

Sorry yes it might help to add context, though she is quite sporty (plays netball and hockey) she has clashed with this PE teacher before and I know she can be a bit "lippy" (nothing OTT for a teenager just sometimes answering back) but still. Apparently in this instance it was something to do with messing around and talking when they were supposed to be sitting ready for starting some exercise, which whilst I wouldn't disagree with a teacher telling her off for, doesn't seem the biggest issue to me. My main gripe is with a combination of the punishment itself and making her run around in front of peers, especially the boys having football practice, and though running keeps you warm admittedly I think not allowing her to wear tracksuit in this weather seems like something you'd expect from schools in years gone by rather than now (she said she was specifically not allowed to when she asked).

OP posts:
MollyHuaCha · 01/03/2017 17:33

It's the sort of punishment I had as a girl. But I had to do mine in pants and vest (age 10) Hmm

WafflingVersatile · 01/03/2017 17:34

Just let the teacher do his/her job and teach your child not to talk whilst the teacher is talking. If you complain, nothing will come of it. It'll be easier to teach your daughter manners.

specialsubject · 01/03/2017 17:36

running around in PE kit doesn't seem harsh - it is the right clothing for the job and if she is running she will get warm. Running in front of boys is not an issue.

disrupting lessons is not fair on the rest of the class and needs dealing with. First offence? Stopped when told to do so?

Hulababy · 01/03/2017 17:36

What a great way to put girls off PE - especially when it is already a well document issue that school PE puts of many girls from sport even as they move not adulthood.

I wouldn't be happy with the punishment. Yes, punish for the answering back, misdemeanour, etc - but not a physical punishment, in the cold, as a form of humiliation infant of peers, and with a less than adequate lunch time (should be 30 minutes ideally)

Astoria7974 · 01/03/2017 17:38

Agree with waffling. Your daughter was rude, the teacher handled it. Tell her if she didn't like the punishment she should have kept quiet until after her teacher had finished speaking. Interrupting someone is rude and you'll want to nip that behaviour in the bud, otherwise she won't be able to cope at college/uni/work either.

MrsGuyOfGisbo · 01/03/2017 17:38

The punishment doesn't sound like a very appropriate - in fact completely daft - if it is as your DD described.
However your dismissive attitude towards her ''lippiness' Hmm
I know she can be a bit "lippy" (nothing OTT for a teenager just sometimes answering back) but still. Apparently in this instance it was something to do with messing around and talking when they were supposed to be sitting ready for starting some exercise, which whilst I wouldn't disagree with a teacher telling her off for, doesn't seem the biggest issue to me
speaks volumes - she was rude and wasted everyone's time, and you think that is minor?

Original poster
moonlightshadow1 · 01/03/2017 17:39

I remember the pants and vest for anyone who forgot their kit when I was at school, thankfully that's firmly in the past now.

Waffling, I have no problem with teachers doing their jobs and usually take the school's side if DD ever gets in trouble (which doesn't happen too often and never has for anything major), but this seems a bit inappropriate. The teacher in question also made her sit on the floor by the side for the rest of that PE lesson "since you don't know how to sit still in silence", so not even like she hadn't already done something. I like to think I do teach her manners, talking while a teacher is talking sometimes is hardly unique to her.

OP posts:
Topseyt · 01/03/2017 17:40

You say she can be lippy, and has form with this teacher.

You have her side of things, but do you have the teacher's? It might be worth finding that out before going any further.

I'd be inclined to leave it I think, and tell her to watch her back-chatting tendencies.

Nomorechickens · 01/03/2017 17:40

That's exactly why I hated PE at school (long time ago) - due to the poor attitude and bullying tendencies of PE teachers. I thought things had moved on.
(I would have refused to do it though)

YouTheCat · 01/03/2017 17:41

I'd be more concerned about your dd's attitude and lack of manners.

SallyGinnamon · 01/03/2017 17:41

Answering back really isn't minor. Low level disruption can ruin a lesson; and undermine the teacher.

Running laps as punishment for a sporty girl not necessarily a problem but it sounds like it was for a bit too long. 15 mins maybe, not 45.

123yourusername · 01/03/2017 17:42

Why didn't she tell the teacher to not so politely get lost. My PE teacher was the same and tried to hand out similar punishments but I always told her where to go, then got my mum to back me up.

Mumzypopz · 01/03/2017 17:43

I don't think this punishment is over the top. You say she is sporty, so it wouldn't have been difficult for her to do. I don't think it matters it was in front of the boys, if she is lippy, it wouldn't have bothered her. Perhaps the teacher had already shouted at her and it hadn't worked.

Floggingmolly · 01/03/2017 17:43

Being "lippy" is inappropriate...

chickenowner · 01/03/2017 17:44

It seems a bit of a strange punishment to me, but then I don't know all the details.

The trouble is, if you complain about this your daughter will see it as you being on 'her side' against the teacher. This may possibly make her attitude towards this teacher degenerate even further.

Original poster
moonlightshadow1 · 01/03/2017 17:45

PE kit includes tracksuit, which is why we have to buy it as part of their PE kit. So I can't see why she had to do this in skirt and t-shirt.

I'm not dismissive towards her lippiness, I tend to side with teachers if she's ever told off or just complains about something at school. The teacher already dealt with that by making her sit by the side on her own while the rest got on with the lesson, which I have no real problem with even if she found it embarrassing having to sit "like a little kid" on the floor in front of the class. Combined though they add up to what I think are OTT and punishments designed to embarrass. I think some are overreacting a bit to a kid talking whilst the teacher is, it is rude and should be dealt with but hardly crime of the century at school Hmm

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Cuppaoftea · 01/03/2017 17:45

Don't see a problem with this as long as she got her lunch which you say she did.