Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

I am so fuming - can't believe a teacher would be so insensitive !!

87 replies

scatterbrain · 26/01/2007 16:24

'Scuse me while I rant - would be good to hear what you think !!

So - collecting dd from Y1 today - it's Friday they're all tired and ready to drop, they are all milling around and teacher comes out and says very loudly to one mum that her dd is being invited to join the Gymnastics club ! Cue at least three other little girls asking their mums if they can join, so teacher says "No -it's by invitation only" and three little girls start to cry !

Is it me or is that a bloody insensitive way to do that ??

Bad enough that they are "selecting" at 5/6 without the poor little things having it thrust upon them that they haven't been picked !!

Am so angry !!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

beckybrastraps · 26/01/2007 16:56

Well. It would be nice to have two gym clubs. But the gym teacher may only have enough time to run one. In which case, the school has to make the choice between the 'elite' club, which brings success to the school and of which the schoolcan be proud, or a more mixed ability club, with a limited number of places for, and attention given to, the best gymnasts.

Original poster

scatterbrain · 26/01/2007 16:56

I'm not saying they shouldn't be selective by the way - just don't agree with the way this was done on a Friday afternoon when they were all tired and emotional anyway !

OP posts:

beckybrastraps · 26/01/2007 16:57

But yes, probably not the best means of communication.

Although those picked should be allowed to be proud of that I think.

Blu · 26/01/2007 16:58

A bit tactless - but teachers are probably ready to drop at the end of the week, too, and tbh i don't think it's THAT big a deal...bit by bit they do all have to come to terms with the fact that people who show specific talents will be given opportunities to extend them...their turn will come at something else.

Tactless...but fuming, ranting and being 'so' angry seems a bit ott.

I would have just rolled my eyes and muttered 'that could have been a bit more sensitive' to another Mum.

PeachyClair · 26/01/2007 16:58

I think its unfair. There's no reason a note couldn't have been popped in the bag is there?

I mean, yes kids have to get used to disappointment- but why force it on 5 / 6 year olds FGS? Why damage theor self esteem, or even just make them feel bad?

FWIW I agree that it shouldnt be selective either.

Spidermama I'm glad your child is so well balanced but not all kids are. My child (DS1, SN but in a mianstream class so affected by these things) finds it really hard every time he is excluded from something (usually birthday aprties because the kids make allowances for SN and parents won't ).

I just don't see the value n disappointing kids without good reason. And gym should be fun. Fitness should be about health not selection.

Original poster

scatterbrain · 26/01/2007 16:59

Well maybe you haven't had the week I've had Blu ?

OP posts:

Blu · 26/01/2007 17:00

Maybe the gym club is for talented slightly older children - i would be surprised if this was the only outlest fro anyone to do gym ....and maybe she has ben invited a year early or something.

Blandmum · 26/01/2007 17:00

true, but then maybe the teacher had a crap week too.

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 26/01/2007 17:01

agree with becky - those picked should be able to be proud of it and shouldn't feel that they need to be happy in secret.

after all if your dd had been picked wouldn't you be excited for her and want to tell others? And I'm sure you wouldn't keep it to yourself because that might upset others.

Blu · 26/01/2007 17:02

Perhaps not Scatterbrain, but I wouldn't bet on it...You asked 'is it me' so I'm just saying......

Original poster

scatterbrain · 26/01/2007 17:02

No there is just one opportunity to do gym - it's in the gym club and it is 100% selective ! So at 6 she has been prevented from doing gymnastics at school.

It's not a huge deal - I will take dd to an out-of-school gym club - have phoned them already - it's just really not what I expect from the school.

Sorry you think I'm over-reacting !

OP posts:

mrsflowerpot · 26/01/2007 17:02

I'm sure that if your dd is that keen on gymnastics you can find a club or lessons for her outside of school - our local leisure centre does them for instance.

But yes, if you go complaining to the school you will look like a loon. The teacher could have been more tactful, for sure, but it's the end of a long week for her too and it was probably just one more thing she had to remember to do before she could go home.

brandy7 · 26/01/2007 17:04

out of order,i would have been livid and felt very sorry for the little girls

Blu · 26/01/2007 17:08

It's a big shame that gym is 100% selective...will she be able to be 'up' for being picked next year?

Original poster

scatterbrain · 26/01/2007 17:09

Oh and - if my dd had been the one picked I would have been mortified for the others - as indeed this mum was ! We all felt it was excrutiating the way it was done !

Of course those picked can be proud - I haven't said they shouldn't be have I ? IF you read my posts !

I am NOT opposed to selection, I do not think those who are selected should have to hide it away - BUT I do think they and the non-slected should be told in a more sensitive way !

The thread was about the delivery of the message - not the selection itself !

OP posts:

hana · 26/01/2007 17:11

i agree with blu

roisin · 26/01/2007 18:23

I think it's a real shame the club is selective, and so many sports clubs are these days - even at very young ages 5,6, or 7.

If this country is serious about tackling obesity and unhealthy lifestyles then for extra-curric activities they should not be targetting the naturally athletic children, the ones who are very sporty and well co-ordinated; but rather the rest.

My ds1 signed up to do a week's course of gymnastics one summer at the leisure centre: alongside a load of girls; he absolutely adored it, and was completely hopeless. When we enquired about private gym clubs it rapidly became clear that he was not welcome

He now (9) goes to a "Fitness First" club at his school, which is a mixture of aerobics and martial arts. He loves it, and its great exercise for him, and it's a great shame there are not more such opportunities for "non-sporty" kids.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rant

Miaou · 26/01/2007 18:30

roisin, was he not welcome because he is not good at gym?? That's awful

roisin · 26/01/2007 18:37

Yup. Because he had no potential to be an olympic gymnast .... along with every other 7-yr-old in the UK, I guess!

Some of these sports clubs take themselves so seriously. We've actually found the same with football, rugby, and swimming. And I've heard similar things second-hand about tennis, squash, basketball, athletics, and table tennis! Maybe it's just round here, but once they get to the age of 7, it seems there is virtually nothing they can do extra-curric purely 'for fun' and for exercise.

Kittypickle · 26/01/2007 18:41

I think the teacher probably was pretty tired by the end of the week and didn't think through exactly what she was doing at the time.

I would be OK about the selective bit as long as there were lots of different opportunities available so each child could have a go at something. Though I do think it is really completly unnecessary to be selective for gym at such a young age.

nikkie · 26/01/2007 21:42

Roisin-DD1 is doing the gym thing at the Leisure centre in FEB 1/2 term, she did it in the Summer too, she isn't going to be very good but the point is to enjoy it.Wanted dd2 to do it too but they have to be 6 so she is swimming again .

They do a gym club at dds school (dd1 not in it/dd2 in Reception) and they do it at lunchtime and go to competitions.Dd1s BF is in it and she has never bothered that she wasn't.Think that selective isn't as uch of a problem in this situation as the way it has been pointed out that the others aren't as good.

roisin · 27/01/2007 09:08

Nikkie - how did you find out about that? I haven't seen any publicity for Feb half term yet?! Have you got insider contacts?

Unfortunately my mum has offered to have the boys at her house for a few days this half term

so they're not going to be around for the first half of the week.

Do you fancy coming over after gym one day later in the week?

nikkie · 27/01/2007 18:00

The leaflets were out last week, gym is tues/wed/thurs and its the same time as swimming so will have to keep swapping balconies!Yeah can meet up if you want , dd1 still talks about the boy who knew all about the swans!

roisin · 27/01/2007 20:22

I'll pick up a leaflet tomorrow to see what's on!

nikkie · 27/01/2007 20:53

wasn't much for dd1 she had a choice of gymnastics or climbing , women on reception tried to persuade her to try climbing but she started to go very pale shes not the bravest!

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread