To be pissed off at DS teacher?

[Cakebaby123]

So my DS was supposed to have swimming today with school. Hes been ill with asthma/ chesty cough all week but has been in school.
I informed his teacher that DS would not be taking part in the swimming lesson today due to bad chest and chilly weather.
Teacher said if DS is well enough to be in school he is well enough to take part in swimming and missing it is unacceptable/ not an option.
I politely explained that I would rather DS miss half an hour swimming than 1,2,3 days off school due to being ill. As an asthmatic myself my whole life I'm fully aware that if he was to go swimming with a bad chest and then in the cold air it would knock him sideways so to speak.
This school is amazing usually and actively promotes high/ 100% attendance.
Anyway, I politely declined his advice to return home and fetch DS swimming kit.

Not sure I'm expecting answers but just needed to vent as its got my back up a bit and I'm half expecting a letter to go out about the compulsory attendance to swimming.

Its shocking that so many people people don't realize that asthma can kill

I'm with you Cake He's probably well enough to sit in class and stay warm and dry, but swimming would not be something I's send my child too.
Ds 2 used to sit out from PE when his asthma flared up, (usually in spring for a few weeks each year) the rest of the year he was very active with swimming, and other sports. He would still be wheezy and need breathing treatments in spring without doing PE goodness knows how bad he'd have been if he'd have gone swimming.

Is it worth explaining to teacher that exercise especially with an already irritated chest (cough) can trigger asthma attacks ...perhaps she just doesn't realise that exercise is a trigger so pe and swimming are different to sitting at a desk?

I agree cakebaby. A 16 year old boy at DD's school died from an asthma attack this year just after taking his GCSEs.

This teacher is being supremely arrogant and ridiculous. I used to be a school governor responsible for ensuring that the school complied with health and safety. Something like this would be a major concern. If the teacher continues to be unhelpful I would talk to the head teacher and bring health and safety into the conversation.

Attending school but not swimming is a eeasonable adjustment in light of your dc health problems. The same way a child with a broken arm will sit out pe or a child with cp have a different pe activity they are able to manage.

Yes you should be really fucking angry at this teacher and their lack of disability awareness.

I wouldn't get angry, there are so many different illnesses and disabilities that teachers may not be aware of them all in detail. Not every child with asthma has eg exercise as a trigger. And for every genuine case there will be some kid trying it on. Mine field.

Teacher said if DS is well enough to be in school he is well enough to take part in swimming and missing it is unacceptable/ not an option.

What about a broken bone? Can't go swimming with a pot on your arm but you can sit in class.

"Could he not dry off and use a hairdrier at the pool as a reasonable adjustment? That's what i do and I'm asthmatic."

There will be no time. When DD went swimming with the school in the middle of a cold winter, they all came out of the pool with wet hair to go back to school. If she had been asthmatic I would have put my foot down as well.

True midge but that's when teachers need to accept they aren't the experts and need to listen to what parents are telling them.

Are you confident that this teacher would be able to manage an asthma exacerbation or would listen to your DS if he said he had a problem while doing an activity?

The teacher is obviously clueless about asthma. I think because so many children have asthma people forget how dangerous it is, and also forget that there are varying levels of the condition as well.

Exactly lala

Arrogant teacher who clearly knows nothing about asthma. How annoying to be patronised like that and for him to thoughtlessly try and put your DS's health at risk. Some of them always think they know best. I'd send a link on asthma by email to him for education purposes. Well done sticking to your guns.

I had this, i kept him off. Silly power crazed teacher.

Don't worry midge I haven't got, nor will I get, angry. I do have a good relationship with the school and they really are fantastic. I was just a bit taken aback by the teachers reaction. I was polite and stated my case and left it at that.
Usually I'd have a little rant on Facebook but I know that's a bit counter productive and spiteful in some ways but since I've found mumsnet its great to have a little vent on here sometimes (especially when people agree and put my mind at ease like you lovely lot)
X

Our school had no problem not taking part in swimming lesson if the child is under the weather etc. Only thing needed was parent's written notes.
I think school is BU.

YANBU

At the end of the day, you are the parent, you get the final say when it comes to the health of your child.

cake
I missed how young he was with my suggestion of a drier as a reasonable adjustment.

You make a lot of sense and are very grounded. I think you were right ti speak to the school and equally right to know that posting all over social media isn't that helpful.

Hopefully they'll take what you day on board next time.