Child being 'punished' for a choice I made

duchy

This thread is bonkers !

OP your child is not being "punished" he's getting asked to participate fully in a school activity if he wishes to represent his school.

You're coming across as a pushy parent who wants their child to be in everything regardless of whom they displace. I rather like the school's ethos that if you commit to their lessons and participate you get to represent the school and that "ringers" are not invited to participate. Gives a clear message that it's the taking part and not the winning that is the primary concern. Good for them !

Either it's a deal breaker and if you want your child to swim for his school that badly-you change his school OR you accept they have a policy that those who support the swimming programme are those who get selected for galas ....and they don't believe that in sport winning is everything !

Hardly rocket science is it

I would add that all your comments seem to be about what YOU want and little mention of what your son thinks or wants to do.

peachyprice

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

teacher was shouting out (I kid you not) 'froggy arms and legs'

I can't quite understand why this has annoyed you so much and why the 'I kid you not' comment was necessary. It's a widely accepted way to describe breast stroke to 9yo children.

Just because your son is a capable swimmer doesn't mean the rest of the class is. What would you have preferred, the teacher going into technical detail about the stroke just for the benefit of YOUR child?

barbarawright

peachyprice wrote: »

I can't quite understand why this has annoyed you so much and why the 'I kid you not' comment was necessary. It's a widely accepted way to describe breast stroke to 9yo children.

Just because your son is a capable swimmer doesn't mean the rest of the class is. What would you have preferred, the teacher going into technical detail about the stroke just for the benefit of YOUR child?

OP has said her son is dyslexic. I understand she wants him to shine but presumably she also wants him taught academic subjects in a way he can cope with so he doesn't get completely left behind. Surely it's not unreasonable then to give the less sporty children (who maybe haven't had the opportunity for out-of-school clubs - it's rarely the child's choice) to get properly taught at swimming?

Lifeisbutadream

barbarawright wrote: »

OP has said her son is dyslexic. I understand she wants him to shine but presumably she also wants him taught academic subjects in a way he can cope with so he doesn't get completely left behind. Surely it's not unreasonable then to give the less sporty children (who maybe haven't had the opportunity for out-of-school clubs - it's rarely the child's choice) to get properly taught at swimming?

Very good point, they wouldnt teach everyone the same standard of Maths or English would they, so why is it OK to do that in sport?

One of my suggestions with regards to the swimming was that they split the class by ability rather than alphabetically as they do now. I even offered to help them do it.

It also seems to have completely by-passed a few posters that the swimming classes are not good full stop, not just for the good swimmers, there are an awful lot of parents who have removed their children from the classes!

I may not be a swimming teacher, but 'froggy arms and legs' of course is a well know term used for very small children or new swimmers, but most certainly not 9/10 year olds who have been swimming at school for 5 years !

Lifeisbutadream

peachyprice wrote: »

I can't quite understand why this has annoyed you so much and why the 'I kid you not' comment was necessary. It's a widely accepted way to describe breast stroke to 9yo children.

Just because your son is a capable swimmer doesn't mean the rest of the class is. What would you have preferred, the teacher going into technical detail about the stroke just for the benefit of YOUR child?

Meant to quote you in my reply above re the froggy arms and legs.

The teacher doesnt need to go into technical detail for my child, but he also doesnt need to patronise a group of 9/10 year olds, most of whom can swim without being told to use 'froggy arms and legs'

barbarawright

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Very good point, they wouldnt teach everyone the same standard of Maths or English would they, so why is it OK to do that in sport?

One of my suggestions with regards to the swimming was that they split the class by ability rather than alphabetically as they do now. I even offered to help them do it.

It also seems to have completely by-passed a few posters that the swimming classes are not good full stop, not just for the good swimmers, there are an awful lot of parents who have removed their children from the classes!

I may not be a swimming teacher, but 'froggy arms and legs' of course is a well know term used for very small children or new swimmers, but most certainly not 9/10 year olds who have been swimming at school for 5 years !

Really? I swim at a club where all the kids can swim well (all better than me :rotfl:), some to a very high level (teenagers training for Channel relays). I've certainly heard it many times. What better way to explain breast-stroke movements?

balletshoes

andygb wrote: »

:T
If he does well, then you could then approach the school, and if they do not shift their view, then approach the laocal press - they love this type of thing.

yep, because thats not an over-reaction at all :cool:!
I don't even know why this thread is still going - the OP is happy with the choice she made in taking her son out of school swimming lessons. She's been informed that because of that, her son isn't eligible to take part in school swimming galas. End of story, nothing to see here.

Lifeisbutadream

balletshoes wrote: »

yep, because thats not an over-reaction at all :cool:!
I don't even know why this thread is still going - the OP is happy with the choice she made in taking her son out of school swimming lessons. She's been informed that because of that, her son isn't eligible to take part in school swimming galas. End of story, nothing to see here.

I think its still going because there are a few that seem to be getting a thrill out of making me out to be a pushy, difficult parent. The comment about and the link to an old thread which has nothing to do with this one shows that !

The reality is that I asked for views, which I got a variety of, I still havent decided what to do, but that doesnt matter, because I dont have a time limit

Lifeisbutadream

barbarawright wrote: »

Really? I swim at a club where all the kids can swim well (all better than me :rotfl:), some to a very high level (teenagers training for Channel relays). I've certainly heard it many times. What better way to explain breast-stroke movements?

Its a great way to explain it to a new swimmer or a 5 year old I agree, but (merely my opinion of course) I would consider it lazy and patronising to anyone older or more experienced.

andygb

balletshoes wrote: »

yep, because thats not an over-reaction at all :cool:!
I don't even know why this thread is still going - the OP is happy with the choice she made in taking her son out of school swimming lessons. She's been informed that because of that, her son isn't eligible to take part in school swimming galas. End of story, nothing to see here.

If you feel this way, then why bother to post or look at the thread, meanwhile let others contribute as they see fit.;)