To withdraw dd from or am I being a 'snowflake' ?

[Thebighit]

NC
Prepared to be flamed.

Last year dd did boxing in PE. Her teacher teaches PE and a science subject if relevant.

During this lesson from what I can gather the PE teacher taught them boxing rather than a person brought in to teach it.

This teacher might be qualified to teach boxing I have no idea but in the class there was a lot of messing about and silliness with a room full of beginners and dd was hit hard in the face leaving her with a black eye and also a lump over her eye that stayed for weeks. I think I posted about it at the time.

Another teacher did come in at some point to teach but then it went back to the teacher. I am aware according to dd that the teacher has done a 'bit of' kick boxing but I have no idea as I said above if they are a boxing coach or qualified and don't think they have to be as it's school PE anyway.

Fast forward a year and they have split the class into two. Dd has spent a certain amount of weeks doing another sport and now we have been told it's boxing again. Dd is really unhappy about doing boxing again and asked if she could join the other group and repeat the other sport unbeknown to me. Teacher has of course said no.

I'm not that happy to be honest. I wouldn't be thrilled about her doing boxing anyway if I'm completely honest but if she wanted to do it I would find a club with a qualified and trained specific boxing coach who had experience of teaching and controlling classes of beginners.

I'm a martial arts black belt so not against self defence for girls at all but every martial arts!

Dd has additional needs including Dyspraxia so is not very keen on sports or school as it is so the idea of boxing until Christmas is going to put her off altogether and probably cause school morning battles again sigh...

[Thebighit]

That was the one lesson dd did when she got injured Firecracker. As I said she never did it again for various reasons so I'm unaware what it progressed to and whether it was still pad work later. It was timetabled as boxing not boxercise.

I've done boxercise and know what it is and have no issue with boxercise at all.

I asked school to clarify if it was boxing or boxercise and have been told it won't be anything like last year won't be boxing and they will be doing circuit training instead and that she was aware dd was getting very worked up in school about it.

[FireCracker2]

But you said upthread that it was punching pads ie boxercise not boxing!

[Thebighit]

Sorry I was getting back in touch with school as dd was having a total crisis. All sorted. Last year it WAS boxing. This year its down as boxing but the are doing more circuit training type stuff.

[Wolfiefan]

Despite what?
Had you contacted school?
Is it boxercise, pad work or contact?

[TeenTimesTwo]

OP. Can you clarify. is it boxercise fitness, or what we all think of as boxing? is there meant to be any contact other than glove on pad?

[Thebighit]

Well dd has just contacted me and told me she was made to do it anyway.
Sadie can you possibly ask your dp/dh if they are meant to have affiliation and qualifications to do that?

[sadiemm2]

Children shouldn't be boxing without headguards and gum shields. My children have done various martial arts, youngest is a county bronze medal judoka (doesn't mean much.. Definitely not a brag ) Just checked with their Dad, he's horrified. He teachers boxing and various martial arts... You should raise this at school...

[Waterfeature]

YADNBU

[cluelessnewmum]

Dear God, if I'd known my kid was going to be boxing at school I would have refused even before the black eye let alone after. I don't care if that makes me a snowflake.

Even minor neurological insults can have long lasting impact on a growing brain.

I don't see how this can be done remotely safely in a school environment with one teacher for 30ish kids. What the f were they thinking.

Definitely pull her out and complain that they didn't take your DDs injury seriously enough

[FireCracker2]

FFS the op is talking about Boxercise a cardio workout class _ NOT BOXING

[Originalfoogirl]

Child gets a black eye in a class not taught by a professional, sorry, what exactly is the question here? Of course you pull her out of the same class this year.

[TooManyPaws]

I'd be concerned about the knowledge and qualifications of the staff. When I worked for the police, one of the PTIs ran a lunchtime Boxercise class. She told us that in order to qualify to teach it, she had to attend a proper boxing gym and be taught to box by qualified boxing instructors. Does the PE teacher have such qualifications?
Has there even been a risk assessment done?

[youarenotkiddingme]

I'm sure if you write in stating DD has dyspraxia and needs adjustments for PE due to this they can find something else for her to do?

My ds has asd/mobility problems and team/contact sports are difficult for him. They make adjustments if he asks.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I would be happy with Ds 5 doing kickboxing at my local martial arts centre, they are very safety conscious, and have qualified instructors and know what they are doing.

[lljkk]

I am ok about contact sport (DD loved rugby).
Can't believe any school does Boxing, though.

[MissConductUS]

They definitely were not wearing head guards but I was told on here that some places weren't using head guards anymore for some reason I think.

Olympic Boxers Aren't Wearing Headgear Anymore

They've dropped it for the Olympics, because at that level of competition they hit so hard that the padding can't absorb all of the force and in a desire to win gold medals, they punch for the chin, which isn't protected.

It's bloody insane to not use the protective gear for kids.

[IrritatedUser1960]

I think it's a dreadful idea and is clearly not being supervised properly.

[kittytom]

I think Ofsted would be very interested to know that no accident report was filled out for the previous incident in which your child was injured. Do you have photos? If not, report it anyway. I think there is a safeguarding issue here.

[Anatidae]

Another ex martial arts type here...

Absolutely pull her out. Boxing needs to be done under serious supervision and it an entirely inappropriate sport for mass PE.

I’ve not read all the replies but you MUST follow up to make sure an accident report is filed for the first incident. That’s really, really important.

[calamityjam]

It will definitely be pad work only. I doubt they would consider full contact due to obvious risks, no school makes kids punch each other in the face! My dds school does pad work. Dd got concussion last week playing hockey. If you withdraw her from this, you cannot prevent other injuries from playing football, netball etc, etc.

[littlebird7]

There is no way on gods earth my child would be doing boxing full stop. The black eye can happen in any sport but the fact there is no protection is negligent.
This is easy pull her out immediately. No question.

[StaplesCorner]

The only "snowflake" part is that you haven't already told the school to give its own collective head a wobble. Boxing for year 10s. My days, what are you like.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

If all else fails, you could also see if you could get a doctor/consultant to sign her out of boxing or perhaps all contact sport due to the issues surrounding dyspraxia and former injury. Or mental health/anxiety due to injury. It does cost £25 plus for such a letter.

[Aeroflotgirl]

The first thing we were taught in kickboxing was proper guard, and head and face blocking. Yes sometimes you do get hit in the face, when ever we spar or drill our techniques, we are always taught to not use force and gently throw a jab or left hook. When we spar, its light sparring, not fully on power shots. We are taught to respect one another, respect or partner, and if they don't want you to use force, you don't!

[carefreeeee]

Boxing is not really a good choice for school PE. Reason being that there's inadequate supervision for a class of 30 and it's by nature violent and people should not have to fight or touch others if they don't want to. I don't agree with contact rugby either for people who don't choose it. There are so many other sports - why not pick a non contact sport for school children? Or give a choice?