So what do we think about exclusion from sporting activities as a punishment?

[DrNortherner]

My ds is 8, very sporty, very good at sport. Not academic, about averege, could try harder but really does not apply himself. He is never top of the class, star of the week, super pupil etc.

He is no angel, but he is bright, sparky and engaging, but if uninterested can be cocky, answer back and be disruptive I am under no ilusions.

Anyway, school did heats to pick runners to represent school in a county competition. First 3 boys get to represent the school, my ds come first in 100m, 200m and 400m. He comes home proud as punch.

Today, the team was announced and he was told he has not been picked as he will probably be naughty.

These are his words, not mine, and I need to pick this up with his teacher tomorrow.

I know where school are coming from, but feel a bit peed off that ds won't get to represent his school and won't get the chance to finally excel at something.

What do you think?

Would the local athletics club tolerate the behaviour that the school is talking about? If so, then I agree with NonnoMum's suggestion. If not, then this is a golden opportunity to sort it out. If he loves his sport, then use it as a way to motivate him to behave properly.

As a teacher I do think this sounds as though it has been handled poorly. If I were selecting children for a sporting event it would be made clear to all children if there were criteria other than sporting prowess being used for selection. I also think that his inclusion in such an event should have been made contingent upon his good and safe behaviour in the playground during a given period so he hs the chance to demonstrate that he can behave when he chooses to do so.

As the school have agreed that he won his heats fairly but that it is playground behaviour that has prevented him from being allowed to take part I do think they should come up with a way around this...could he go as a reserve i.e. to watch but not participate thus witnessing the event but without the privilege of representing the school? Unless he believes that they are willing to give him chances if he does turn his behaviour around then he will have little incentive to do so.

I have excluded children from sporting contests before now but not as a pre-emptive thing! All children signed behaviour contracts as part of their acceptance onto the football team and named behaviours would see them lose their place in matches. It has to be fair and achievable or else it's pointless.

Now that (agreed behaviour contracts as part of being selected to represent the school) seems like an extremely good and sensible idea.

I think they are very wrong.

They should have put a positive spin on it 'You have been chosen, but if your behaviour slacks, you will not be able to go'. Use it as a motivator to behave, talk it up, make it clear that they really want him to do well and be include dbecaus ehe is so very good at sports. If an incident occurred in the days running up to the event, they could say he can't go and explain why.

Expecting him to be 'naughty' is so wrong. What wider strategy of helping to improve his behaviour is this part of? That's what I'd be asking.