So what would you think if your primary school says it requires volunteers to teach swimming?

[daftdame]

Just that really. Our primary school says that swimming lessons may have to be cancelled if they don't get enough volunteers to help. I know they have to teach this, as it is part of the national curriculum, although I know the guidelines do not stipulate much in terms of how many lessons they are supposed to teach. I do not like the emotional blackmail aspect though...what do you think?

I take that as a 'no' then. Let me know if otherwise.

There are already plenty of qualified swimming teachers

What about coach's assistants?

But essentially it has been the teaching community answering my questions. As the 'Big Society' progresses worthy causes will have to compete for our attentions. How do you feel you stand, after all we all have to do our bit....

Swimming isn't part of the KS1 curriculum and I really can't see why older children would need additional adults in the pool.

Lost my money then.

OK as a parent I would be unhappy if I thought unqualified people were teaching my child to swim whether that person was a teacher, TA or parent.

Well , no wonder British kids are largely crap swimmers. What a bloody palava.

??? are they?

Daft - for me, the point is that teachers/TA's/schools are under funded and over stretched in what the government requires of them. As a parent, if volunteers are required to make up a deficit in time/money/resources then I think helping out with swimming lessons is a sensible use of amateur volunteers. I would rather have amateurs doing that then helping out in the classroom. You never know, you may even find that one of the volunteers is actually a trained swimming teacher - you just don't know. That way, the children get a little bit more, and a little bit of pressure is taken of the school. If you feel strongly about the way your school administers time/money etc, then use a different school that is more to your liking.

can I point out that NOT all QUALIFIED swimming teachers can swim. You do not have to be able to swim to be a swimming teacher.

really??!!!!!!! Are you sure???

30 mins a week in a school pool with 29 other children is hardly going to train Olympic standard swimmers

Underfunded? But nobody wants training to be paid for. I think there is a deeper issue here.

The only reason parents are needed at daft's school is because the school is trying to provide extra lessons so that reception to Y6 go swimming.

What's the deeper issue in your opinion?

I've read the whole thread so I'm looking forward to pearls of wisdom. I'm not expecting it to be even slightly teacher bashing...

You can get free training???

lol at your name level 3 - very MN!

Mrz, not what we have been told. Level, not teacher bashing but how can your help if you do not want to donate your unpaid time each time?

Take a job as a TA and offer to help out with the swimming.

What have you been told daft?

Why would I do that? Everybody knows I would earn more almost anywhere else! Pay more taxes, etc etc might even get chance to sit on some Quangoes.

If you don't want to donate your unpaid time, just don't. If you want to help and support the school and have time, do.

If you want to annoy the teachers on here, then link to TES forums and call them rabble.