Help how to deal with a difficult teacher

Janepig

Odd how the "rules" seem to vary - DD had a letter home when they had school swimming lessons saying that they had to have a swimming hat, or long hair tied back (obviously short hair was fine as it was) and they all had to have goggles. DS(6) has just started swimming lessons at the local pool (not through school) and he has goggles, as do all the other children who are taught the same time as him. But he doesn't have a shower afterwards, I'd rather just dress him quickly and do it when I get home.

Jx

milliebear00001

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Just another note to add, the leisure centre came back to me to say their staff are told to try to avoid cleaning in the change over period between classes, and they will be reminded. However there are 2 sets of showers one at either end of the changing rooms (they were separate male/female ones, but they now have those family all in one type changing rooms with little cubicals to change in if you want privacy so the 2 sets of showers are from that. They state they never shut both sets at the same time unless there is a major incident that would go in the daily log-the daily log shows nothing for that day. So basically if Mrs X had done as asked and offered showers to any kids who needed it and ensured DD1 got her rinse it could have been done by walking them down to the other end of the changing room and letting them use the other showers. Seems more and more like just an excuse to wosh them straight through to the group changing area and getting them out.

Hopefully DD1 gets her shower tommorrow, but will tell her if not to make sure she goes to the toilet and rinses her eyes in the sink.

Ali x

As a teacher, this would be impossible for me to do unless the showers were clearly visible from the changing room. I need to be able to see all children at all times (pretty much). This can make it very difficult to have some children in one part of the changing rooms, and others in another.

becca0417

Haven't read all this thread but just to say - a class full of children would take ages to shower and as above would be difficult to supervise. I have taken my class swimming and if I started offering showers the coach driver would kill me. But there is no reason why your daughter shouldn't be able to wash her face and the teacher should have been more approachable!!

too_much_debt

My daughter started swimming with the school recently (she is 7 and in Year 3), I asked her if they shower before or after swimming and she said they just get in the pool and just get changed after. They do have to wear a swimming hat, she says they have a competition after swimming to see who can get back on the coach first (boys v girls). The first week she went someone left their knickers behind so some poor child was walking around with no underwear on for the rest of the day.

I also want to say that I dislike my eldest daughters teacher immensely so do most of the other parents, she is rude and sarcastic and is not at all helpful, I try to avoid having to talk to her.

jellyhead

milliebear00001 wrote: »

As a teacher, this would be impossible for me to do unless the showers were clearly visible from the changing room. I need to be able to see all children at all times (pretty much). This can make it very difficult to have some children in one part of the changing rooms, and others in another.

Yes, that's why when my son had a quick shower he had to get out of the pool early for it, so that he was back with the rest of the class so they all got dressed together.

If there's a medical reason then the teachers will probably do their best to take OP's daughter out of the pool early for her to have a shower.

I can't remember whether OP answered the question about goggles though, as they might stop the child's eyes being sore.

Spendless

Me, DH and kids went swimming yesterday. DS's eyes started to go red and hurt with the chlorine. Thinking of this thread, I suggested he got out and went under the shower to splash his eyes. He said he had tried that before and didn't feel it made a difference, instead he needed time for it to wear off. He told me that when he was swimming with school (3 years ago -he's now 12) it took till last lesson for it to wear off after the swimming lesson took place about 10am. He said that the only thing he found to work, was prevention in the first place from wearing goggles. Maybe your child won't have the same reaction to chlorine as mine, but I'd consider getting a GP appt so she is allowed goggles at her school swimming lessons.

seriousDFW

As a teacher (secondary, which means I have less contact with parents but teach hundreds of kids so lots of potential for issues to arise), relations between parents and teachers can be very fraught, for the simple reason that both parties (usually) absolutely want the best for the child, but don't necessarily agree about the best way of doing it. Teachers are not always right, parents are not always right. I agree that you can discuss your child but the other children are not your concern - that's what their parents are for. The teacher, if a bit impolite in reaction to you, has had no problem agreeing to allowing your child to shower, so you have no redress regarding that issue. Also, with the issue with her being singled out, it is your responsibility as a parent to make sure that she realises that sometimes different children need to do different things. As an aside, almost all students these days have some kind of special educational need (both positive and 'negative') that they are very used to being different in certain contexts.

Also, I wouldn't worry about what might happen - I would never take out an issue I had with a parent with their child - that is very unfair and unprofessional, and regardless of any dispute, I would still want the best for the child. Obviously keep an eye out for anything unusual as you would normally, but don't go looking for faults in the teacher.

Newly_retired

This thread makes me glad I am a retired teacher.

grey_lady

But surely teachers make sure that all kids shower (at least a good rinse) before and after swimming? certainly did in my day and surely its unhygenic not to?

Just wouldnt happen in Europe, takes what, 5 minutes for a rinse off and towel dry?
By that I mean - not showering would be very much frowned upon as poor hygiene.

Not sure I'd want a teacher with such poor hygiene principles in charge of swimming.

Dunroamin

grey_lady wrote: »

But surely teachers make sure that all kids shower (at least a good rinse) before and after swimming? certainly did in my day and surely its unhygenic not to?

Just wouldnt happen in Europe, takes what, 5 minutes for a rinse off and towel dry?
By that I mean - not showering would be very much frowned upon as poor hygiene.

Not sure I'd want a teacher with such poor hygiene principles in charge of swimming.

We're in Europe!