Teachers’ race

[VashtaNerada]

I am worrying myself sick about the sodding teachers’ race at sports day. I’m short, overweight and middle-aged, and definitely not a fast runner! I wouldn’t mind too much if it was a straight-forward race and I could get lost in the crowd, but it’s a relay race with only three year groups participating so I’ll feel quite public the whole time I’m running. Some of the other teachers are taking the whole thing VERY seriously and are proper runners, I just feel like I’ll be letting everyone down whilst humiliating myself in front of the children, colleagues and parents. God it’s so stupid but it’s really stressing me out. I’m torn between going for a jolly “it’s the taking part that counts” approach and just refusing to do it. Help.

This is actually making me quite angry now! Op is genuinely anxious and worried about humiliating herself in front of colleagues, kids and strangers. But she should suck it up for the good of the children. Yet another pointless demand on a teacher.

I think you need to trip over and sprain your ankle the previous week. At home, so no H&S paperwork!

I agree with Elizabethmainwaring. She doesn’t want to do it and she shouldn’t have to do it. It’s very unfair that she’s being put in a position she finds humiliating. You wouldn’t expect a dentist to drill their own teeth because a patient needs their teeth drilling.

Just say no! I am on SLT and couldn't imagine forcing a teacher to do this. Plenty choose to participate but nobody has to. You are an employee not a student! And I wouldn't force a student feeling that anxious about it either.

I'm also annoyd about other posters suggesting ways of the OP taking part. Why should she do a comedy version or go the expense of hiring a costume? JUST SAY NO and use that as a teaching point- how you shouldn't be bullied into doing something that you don't want to do.

I agree, just say no but make light of it x

What does this say about the inclusive nature of your school? not much.

Rather than pulling out and feeling rotten about it, can you suggest a choice of staff races, something more inclusive? Egg and spoon? Bean bag on head? A paired race with a child?

I would have a quiet word with leaders in a positive sense of 'if we are all to take part...'

I’ll speak to SLT when back at school. Hopefully I’m making a mountain out of a molehill and they’ll say “of course you don’t have to, we’ll find someone to take your place”. I will keep you posted! Thanks for the support.

Good. Im sure that they will understand. They've just been incredibly thoughtless. It happens a lot in primary.

I don't even think is a case of finding sometime to take your place. They should just say OK. And if they don't, don't back down!

Was bullied into teachers race two years . Three steps into race I tripped and ended up sprawled on the ground in front of my infant class ( and parents)I have never been so embarrassed in my life. Don't do it.

Just tell SLT you are a professional teacher, not a sportswoman. If they put pressure on you, talk to the union rep - you absolutely should not be made to do this. If you don't usually do this kind of activity, you could seriously hurt yourself. As for making it a joke - well, only if everyone else does so. Why should you be made so uncomfortable?

Just politely decline.

The end.

Don't do it. If you don't exercise regularly you might pull or damage something.

I told my school I have heel spurs. They always seem to flair up just around sports day. Very inconvenient.

I feel for you, I really do. It sounds like my worst nightmare!

But oh, the irony... all these responses saying how awful it must be for you... forgetting that many children feel exactly the same way (and are told by teachers that they must simply get on with it).

OP, please use this as a learning experience. Please remember that many children will feel exactly the same way this sports day and deserve the same level of empathy and encouragement.

I agree with Elizabethmainwaring. She doesn’t want to do it and she shouldn’t have to do it. It’s very unfair that she’s being put in a position she finds humiliating.

Me too.
Just let whoever is organising it know you won't be running. That it isn't appropriate and is a pretty odd way to organise a sports day. I know people poo hoo the mention of H&S, but I remember, many years ago as a young teacher saying we shouldn't have a staff race as it wasn't safe - the surface was poor and we'd deliberately organised the pupils sports into activities where no-one was sprinting for the line (egg and spoon, etc). They ignored me and a member of staff ended up on crutches for approx 6 months. Her knee still wasn't right 12 months on.
Adults shouldn't be expected to suddenly run, if they aren't runners. Look at C25K - you walk, then slowly job for a minute to begin with, then you learn to stretch etc. Stupid to ask adults who don't normally run to suddenly compete in a race, even without the whole school + their families watching you.

As Grange Hill once said..... Just say no!

Adults shouldn't be expected to suddenly run, if they aren't runners.

Is there any guidance for children? I would have thought that the same sentiment applies? (Genuine question... I'm not a teacher and therefore not aware of the current curriculum etc).

I remember thinking that I couldn't run/couldn't do PE, when the reality was that teachers never focused on building up stamina for long distances etc. We were simply pushed out to do cross country (etc.) with no preparation. Once I was an adult, I found out that I could run (and enjoy it) as long as I built up stamina. It was a genuine shock!

OP, please use this as a learning experience. Please remember that many children will feel exactly the same way this sports day and deserve the same level of empathy and encouragement.

No, no no. A teacher does not need to run a race ‘as a learning experience’, to know that some children struggle on sports day. We’re professionals. We know this fact already.

There is a bizarre trait of thinking within teaching - especially prevalent within primary schools - that says teachers and school staff should experience exactly the same as children.

This can lead to teachers eating children's school meals in the dining hall, wearing adult versions of children's uniform, acting on stage in school performances, singing solo in public, sharing personal information, wearing questionable costumes and running races on sports day. I saw examples of every one of those things in my years in teaching.

Yes, it is valuable for teachers to model what they want children to do. Being a 'good sport' can also help to build community spirit. But taking this too far or putting people under pressure leads to an erosion of authority and an HR nightmare.

Once I left teaching I looked back and realised how bizarre some of this was!

Say no and mean it.

I loathed sports day as a kid and couldn't believe it when I started teaching and found that we were expected to take part in a teacher's race.

It took me years to have the confidence to say no. There's a bit of emotional blackmail along the lines of "The children love to see their teachers race," whenever the dreaded teachers race is first mentioned but I've always found that when I politely and firmly say that I'm not running it's been accepted and I'm not pressurised to change my mind.

OP, stand firm and don't race if you don't want to.

Don't do it! I always refuse. Maybe you could ask a willing parent to stand in for you? No way I'd wobble along in public aged 55 next to 20 somethings who do marathons and Tough Mudder!! Egg and spoon with a beanbag on head? Probably. Rounders? Yes. Relay? No bloody way!

I feel your pain and absolutely agree with the PP who said people forget that schools are work places - you absolutely have the right to want to retain some dignity! I avoid this now by a) making it very clear to the person organising that high pressure "don't be a spoilsport" comments are not appropriate and b) wearing heeled shoes.

Op.how did you get on?