Quick rant on school sports !

[miggy]

DS1 yr7/11yrs, has been at same school since reception. We have been concerned that he is mildly dyspraxic as his writing is dreadful and he is terrible at sports-just CANT run normally, runs like Noddy, cant do shoelaces etc. Have mentioned this to school lots, dont want anything special, just some understanding that he will always be last by several miles in X country, and CANT do a pushup-not that he isnt trying just CANT do it!
Last night, at a Xmas meal for parents of his year (we pay collectively for teachers to go too), the head of sport, who is also now his form teacher, came up to us after several bottles of wine, and said "Is there something wrong physically with your son, he doesnt run like a normal person"
I have no problem with him saying this (its true) just cant believe that its taken 7 yrs for him to notice this and get round to saying something about it, and be suprised about it. AAAARGH!

Nice to know you're being listened to!

You have to laugh, or you'll kill!

How utterly tactless of him

Hi Miggy, if you hadn't discussed this at school previously then I would put it down to the teacher's inadequate communications skills - ie perhaps credit him with thinking it before, but not having the nouse or the nerve to say anything/discuss it with you. (until he's got some wine down his neck). As you have mentioned it before then I'm at a bit of a loss - how can you have mentioned it and him not know? That's very poor. Haven't got anything particularly constructive, except that I would share your annoyance and frustration

Oh Miggy, how dreadful. Well, I think it's dreadful. I would guess he is mildly dyspraxic or has dcd. My son is three and I have insisted on an assessment. He's seen a physio and an OT and we are going to see a paediatrician tomorrow am (bit of a surprise that one, didn't realise he'd been referred, but good service here in Southwark!). They all so far agree that his motor skills are delayed, and though I was absolutely GUTTED at first, and cried, I am now really glad I can go into his school and say, basically, lay off him, he is like this because of X, and I won't have him bullied or made to feel bad because of it. I think you need to really lay down some rules with this school. I am really shocked tbh.

What a w*nker! My friend's little boy has just been diagnosed as dyspraxic and is getting special help at school - he sounds extremely similar to your ds. He is 7. His running is bizarre - can't seem to co-ordinate limbs etc. and his writing is barely decipherable. I know you say you "don't want anything special" and my friend said that she had a real resistance to her ds being "labelled" - but now he is, he is getting the help he needs.

Hope that teacher woke up this morning with a stinking hangover - and thought "OMG...what did I say?"

He probably won't remember what he said. And won't remember what Miggy said to him. Let's face it, doesn't pay attention and remember when he's stone cold sober, he's not going to be much cop at paying attention when he's drunk, is he? Or perhaps he'll be better. Let's hope so!

Thanks guys. Glad I wasnt being oversensitive.
As I said, I wasnt so much shocked but what he said, just the fact that it seemed to be news to him ("had we noticed"-as if you couldnt!)
We have mentioned dyspraxia to every form teacher for the last 7 yrs, to the headmaster, and to this teacher at a parents evening.
The thing is, its been "brushed off" by the school because it isnt a problem to them. He is very bright and well behaved and "hides" his problems behind that. If he doesnt make the sports teams-it doesnt matter, he'll bump up their academic results (thats How I think they see it)
I think this has been good actually because it has prompted me to start looking into getting an assesment done. At least he would then get an allowance made in Games and they couldnt say they didnt know.