Teacher asking DS to lend his sports kit to another child...!?

[fluffyhamster]

DS1 plays cricket at weekend in local club so has full kit - whites, bat etc which he takes to after school cricket club.

The school don't actually have whites on the uniform list, so not all kids have them.

Two weeks ago Ds came home and said that the games teacher had asked him to lend his kit to another child who was playing in a match after school, but didn't have whites (so DS did, as he felt obliged).

I was a bit an , as

1. He needed them later in week for club cricket, and I like to know where his stuff is/ have it ready in time
2. Was a bit about DS not being picked to play, as know he is better than other child (but that's a recurrent theme, which I won't bore you with here...)

Anyway, I ended up phoning parent of boy to ask them to drop kit off that evening (said I would wash it, as wanted to be sure I would have it back in time). Trousers came back with holes/clicked fabric around ankles as apparently they had safety pinned legs up for other (much shorter) child. Cord in trousers had also been pulled out/through and had to be repaired.

I was but put it down to being a one-off.

DS has just come home and said same thing has happened again today!
I am a bit with him, as I told him in future to say he couldn't lend it as he needed it later, but am more with the teacher who keeps doing this..

Surely it should be No Whites? No Match...

I'm not running a friggin equipment rental/laundry service for the school

It's also annoying me 'cos the kid it's being lent to doesn't look after stuff i.e. is the sort who drags his stuff along the pavement/ kicks his water bottle around like a football etc

Oh, and the family were tutting about me wanting it back the same evening (they live 2 streets away).

I really want to say something to teacher, but not sure how/what?

That is not on....speak to the teacher....they could buy second hand kit off ebay for pennies.

Why does your DS have it in school? Can't he just not take it in?

Just write to the teacher and say 'DS's cricket whites have been damaged by someone they were lent to. Due to the expenisve nature of cricket whites, in future they are not to be lent out to anyone else without my express permission. Thank you'

I'd say that I'd perfer it if ds's cricket gear wasn't given to another child to wear as it was expensive and it has been returned damaged.

I would be livid! I would send a note with your child tomorrow to the teacher to say that you are not in a position to lend this child any more kit as it has come back damaged and you also run the risk of it not even being available for your own son to use. I would be polite but I wouldn't bother trying to dress the letter up in any kind of flowery language.

Advise the school that you dont want your son to be asked to loan his whites to the other child. If the school want to buy a spare pair for loaning out thats their choice.

No whites = no match is harsh on children whose parents can't afford to buy the kit. But the answer is for the school to buy a stock of kit (secondhand from Ebay if they prefer). You should write to or ring the teacher, as has been suggested.

ASmallBunchOfFlowers - It's a private school, so I doubt the families can't afford to buy some whites if necessary!

You need to say something to the teacher ASAP it's not appropriate for her to suggest such a thing as it put pressure on your DS to agree. Really out of order in my opinion.

I would be absolutely furious that this happened once, never mind again. YOu should have told your DS after the first time to say no. Although it may be difficult for him to say no to a teacher. A strongly worded letter is well advised.

Male teacher, so I suspect he didn't really think about the implications (washing/ damage etc)

I think what probably annoys me is that they probably picked my DS as they know we are organised and (usually) fairly helpful & co-operative family. I just feel that I'm a mug, and I'm being used...

I know I'm being sensitive, but it also seems wrong to send the message to my DS : "We don't want you in the team, but we'll have your equipment, thanks..."

Cricket whites are expensive and when I think of all the different types of kit I have bought DS over the years for sports I think I would have been very miffed if this situation occurred.

I would send a note into school addressed to that particular teacher or would pop in for a quick word.

You are right - you are not a kit rental service - well, you're not even renting are you? You're just loaning!

I think you have to contact the school yourself and tell them this is not on.

I feel a bit sorry for your DS as it can be hard to say "no" to a teacher. Especially with the rest of the class looking on.

I'd be fuming. That's ridiculous. Talk to the teacher.

I have three boys who don't look after things btw. They are the type to kick their water bottles. They are always dirtier than all of their friends. I really hate it.

Fluffy - You're probably right, although for anyone who's mortgaged to the hilt to pay the fees, buying cricket whites may be the straw that breaks the camel's back! Anyway, if this is an independent school then all the more reason, in my view, for the school to buy a stock of matching kit for the team.

Sports teachers at my DS's school would do this if someone was in the team and had forgotten / lost their kit & that's when the kit is on the uniform list. Likely that it was an inter-school match & you know how sports teachers are about those.

Think I would just say something to the parents along the lines of, 'You must be v proud that x has made the team, I got all DS's kit from X Shop which was really good value - would you like the number?' Only problem is they probably only have 3 / 4 weeks left at school & the child is likely to have outgrown it by next year.