To be annoyed with the PE teacher

[legofansmum]

My DS sprained his ankle in PE last week, no one’s fault , just an accident, possibly more likely due to his ASD and dyspraxia.

He had it X-Rayed, the nurse did think it may be broken, but fortunately it wasn’t.

I wrote him a note excusing him from PE today, it’s still healing. The teacher didn’t read it but told DS he looked fine and expects him to do PE Monday, next lesson.

His ankle isn’t better yet, it’s still healing. I’ll be working, I work in a school myself so can’t tske him out for that lesson etc... DS is is all worked up and anxious now. I’ve told him I won’t be sending the kit, he can take part when it’s healed more.

What would you do ?

My boy has dyspraxia and possibly ASD so, in your shoes, I would contact the school (SENCO, H of Y etc) and explain the situation. Tell them that you will be furious if your son is forced to do PE with a sprained ankle and that you will make a formal complaint if that happens.
Then send your son in with a note saying as much to the PE teacher. Instruct your son to hand over the note at the beginning of the PE lesson.

I had turf toe 3 months ago and every few days I still get pain in it.

I know some people can take the piss re: doing PE but surely they should listen to a parent who is stating something a Doctor has said.

PE for whatever reason they still bring kit get changed and are involved in whatever aspect they can be.

Sorry but to me that sounds absolutely ridiculous. By 'kit' I assume you mean sports uniform? If so, getting changed into the sports uniform for nothing is a waste of changing and laundry expense. Sounds absolutely stupid and like as if they are punishing the child. If the class are playing cricket or netball, there is not really much a kid with a limp all bandaged up and/or on crutches can do. I see that rule as simply being petty, and to me, even MORE evidence of how oppressive and insidious PE is and why it should most definitely be abolished! The boy would be making much better use of his time doing homework/study in the library than standing or limping and hobbling around doing nothing, just for the PE to make a point. Unfortunately the UK is like my country Australia; sports mad and obsessed beyond reason to the detriment of what is most important - education!

@salemtheblackcat I can see your point but I will have to disagree. They don’t do exercise at home. The nation is getting fatter. That is a fact. Physical education and sport is scientifically proven to improve mental health leading to better exam results and more success in academia. I think they compliment each other. Along with the other soft skills it teaches, team work, resilience, independence, sense of belonging, self esteem as well as releasing endorphins to make you feel good.

It’s awful that a few ‘old school teachers’ are giving the subject such a bad rep. However I honestly don’t think this is the case up and down the country.

However as I said you’re entitled to your opinion.

I had the same, asthmatic ds had recovered enough from a chest infection to return to school but dr had advised giving pe a miss. I wrote a polite note, ds handed it in and guess what? He was told to get his kit on and sent out to play rugby (in January ) Git.

@SalemTheBlackCat - I agree. PE should be taken out of the syllabus. If children want to take part in a team sport etc, they can participate in an after school club. It's a waste of time and resources for most children. PE obviously doesn't address the obesity issue either. It's clearly not working. Unless the lessons are at the end of the day, PE is an unnecessary interruption.

Physical activity is very very important but who's going to enjoy it or carry on with it if every lesson is miserable. If you are rubbish at maths your teacher will help you, but in PE you will be bullied and humiliated

@Whatelsecouldibecalled Many kids get that exercise walking, riding a bike at home, etc. I don't think 45 mins a week will make any real difference.

"Along with the other soft skills it teaches, team work, resilience, independence, sense of belonging, self esteem as well as releasing endorphins to make you feel good. "

It sounds like you've been popular and sporty. For those who aren't, it is detrimental. The bullying, the abuse, being picked last - all DAMAGE self-esteem and in fact, furthers the feeling of being an outcast. For those who are not popular or athletic, all PE does is damage you further emotionally and psychologically. I know. I was one of those kids, as were a few others. The damage that lesson did to me each week, I cannot even tell you. It the EXACT OPPOSITE affect to what you say. It seems that perhaps you cannot understand what it is like to be on the other side. If you are not popular and not good at sports, that period each week strips more and more away at your self esteem. It is actually detrimental to the health of some, but it seems some people truly have no idea how harmful it can be. If you were like me, you would never ever ever say it fostered teamwork, independence, self-esteem. Because it did the exact opposite and broke my spirit and others as well. Only someone who is popular and good at sports work argue it is good for all those things; because they are already those things to begin with. Unfortunately you seem to have no idea. It did far more harm to me than good.

Our A&E departments (South Wales) give the patient a card leaflet detailing how long the affected limb should be rested, what the patient can do after 3 days, one week, etc.
Could you ring your A&E and see if they give a similar leaflet or can advise you how long he should rest it?
Nothing wrong with PE in schools.

OP YANBU I would send an email now. Email addresses might well be on the school website. I would email form tutor, head of PE and PE teacher. On sunday night if you have had no reply email the office and head of year as well. The chances of none of these looking at their emails over the weekend are pretty slim.

@PanamaPattie Exactly. It also reminds me of a scene in that movie Clueless, where Cher is telling the PE teacher how 'standing in line (waiting for one hit on a tennis ball) is hardly aerobically effective, I doubt I'd burn off the calories on a stick of calorie-free gum.' If like me, you cannot run far at all aided by having short stumpy legs, if you cannot throw a ball further than 2 metres in front of you, it's not like there is anything you can actually do. It does absolutely nothing at all. Except break the unpopular and unco-ordinated kids spirit, and waste precious education time and resources. There is absolutely no upside to it at all - unless you are one of the sporty popular kids. And they're the ones who don't need it anyway.

I agree, @SalemTheBlackCat I was also that child who was always picked last; that was very damaging to my self-esteem. My DD1 (9), although sporty in some ways, gets left out of activities because she doesn't speak up for herself; she'll miss out on having a go at batting in rounders for example. Whereas DD2 (6) has no problem at all and loves PE and Sports Day.

If you are rubbish at maths your teacher will help you, but in PE you will be bullied and humiliated This. 100 times this! I really don't think the popular and sporty people have any idea to be honest we go through. No idea at all. It is a personal hell. Some kids cry and dread it that much. It benefits no one but the kids who love it and they will never ever understand what it is like, they have no idea what it is like to be us. None whatsoever, they just cannot comprehend how damaging it is. In a way, I envy them for that.

Can you email staff directly? Are there email addresses on the school website?
Email teacher, form tutor, head of yr/house, deputy anyone. Tell them he is not participating until he is better. Poor lad

Ask to see the PE teacher's medical qualifications

i also hated PE. I dont think they let the kids picktl their teams anymore and they dont have showers at any of the schools ive worked at so those two things at least girls don't have to go through anymore.

I dont think it should be banned just changed somehow. i would have enjoyed it if I coukd have done non team sports like running and swimming. Others would feel differently but perhaps if there was more choice available and less winning and losing and competition.

Well obviously he won't do PE. I would definitely contact the school and make a point that the way the PE teacher dealt with your son has caused significant distress. If they take it seriously I'd leave it at that. If not escalate to a complaint.

I was actually good enough at sport not to mind PE but I agree that the point of PE is, for most people, to get them into goo habits of exercising and actually enjoying it. Why it has to be exclusively competitive sports is beyond me.

The note stands. That's the end of it.

I could understand scepticism if it's the same child millions of times always with a note. This is not a boy who cried wolf situation.

Being charitable, it could be a flippant jokey comment about how he'll be alright next week. Or it could be genuinely arsey. Much as some on MN like to decide all PE staff are mean, most I've known have been alright.

Personally, I'd email the office with a message for the head of PE. Explain you have a note this week but your DC believes the PE teacher expects him to be doing it next week. It might have been a joke or a serious comment but it puts your mind at ease for confirmation that if your son has a note next week then it will be followed.

No arseyness needed, no confrontation, polite and assertive and that's the job done.

The poor little pet. Is teacher aware of what your son is dealing with?
He is endangering his foot by doing PE until fully healed. Write that in letter to principal?

Ugh, I hate teachers like that. I had one. I hurt my knee once in PE and asked if I could sit the rest of the lesson out. I was told to get back onto the pitch. Five minutes of running later I heard a crunch and my knee cap was sitting on the wrong side of my leg. I was in plaster for six weeks and twenty years later my leg is still weak.

I'd suggest that Monday's note informs them that he will not be doing PE on medical advice until he is confirmed fit to resume.

And that he will need somewhere to sit indoors for the duration of the lesson (thus taking out the expectation to set up and pack away equipment, walk across a frozen and uneven field or stand up for two hours).

Memories of the tearful apology from my PE here - after I walked off and went to do my homework sat on the ground. Turns out she hadn't read the medical certificate that had said I'd slipped a disc carrying PE equipment and had ordered me to act as Ball Girl for 120 others playing tennis. The initial screaming bollocking for walking off changed to tears when me, the supposedly good kid, told her to read my fucking doctor's note but to do it quickly because I had another physio appointment after lunch.

@SalemTheBlackCat

I totally agree how petty and stupid. No way would I be hobbling about trying to get changed into PE kit with a bad ankle then hobbling out into the cold to sit around doing nothing and wasting my time. What a stupid idea. We're meant to be encouraging kids into exercise not trying to put on a ridiculous power trip for petty reasons.

They were horrible in my day too, but c'mon, they're not all like that now!

I would just email the teachers and head of year like others have said and say if further damage is caused because his foot hasn't healed, you will definitely sue them. Money talks unfortunately!

Can you get to the doctor's on Monday and get a note?