Child being 'punished' for a choice I made

heartbreak_star

I'd make sure he knows the club galas are more important and the school ones aren't even in the same league.

HBS x

Lifeisbutadream

podperson wrote: »

Would he really be that devasted not to be picked for the school team when he already doesn't swim at school and is being entered in competitions through his swim club anyway?

Im sure it wouldnt kill him, but he is not exactly the 'brightest button in the box' if you know what I mean, he excels at sport and he likes to do well in it.

Sure, he would get over it, but I would be willing to bet money on that he is the best swimmer in the school, it would be his time to shine at school!

Bexm

Can you not speak with the swim club teachers and ask their advice. They must have come across something similar before?
I was lucky I was taught at club and school by the same teachers as they used the same pool.
If the school teachers are teaching the wrong techniques they are the ones who need to change, they will be affecting all the pupils ability. Can you complain higher up?
I am sure the swimming association that deals with school swimming would not be happy that they are teaching things wrong! I am pretty sure swimwales would be.

ZsaZsa

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Im sure it wouldnt kill him, but he is not exactly the 'brightest button in the box' if you know what I mean, he excels at sport and he likes to do well in it.

Sure, he would get over it, but I would be willing to bet money on that he is the best swimmer in the school, it would be his time to shine at school!

How sad that the school can't see this, and this would be my argument if I took it to the governers. I hope you find a way around this

ALIBOBSY

It's hard isn't it. DD1 is really into her gymnastics (only started in May and is already doing competitions) and her coaches believe she is a real future talent, just did her first competition and came 8th out of 21 in her class so a good start :T.

At the moment at primary (y5) gymnastics is not done at school, but we are aware that its a consideration when we look at high schools.
The high school her older brother is at is big on sports and have won a few regional and national titles in various sports and the teachers are keen to work with local sports clubs so for her gymnastics we hope it would be ideal, but there are other schools that do better academically in the area so we are a bit torn.

I guess I would speak to the school directly and see if there can be any kind of compromise? At the end of the day though the professional coaches at the club will know best and if the school can't work with that it their loss. Perhaps someone at the club could explain things to him so he feels the club events are more important.

Good Luck
Ali x

Spendless

School swimming lessons and clubs/council run lessons seem to be poles apart. Until recently I had the strange situation that my 9yo swam at the shallow end at a council owned pool with school and then 2 days later swam at the deep end in her paid for lessons at another council owned pool. I spoke to a swimming co-ordinator about it and got the reply that school swimming lessons are often supervised by people with a lower qualification and with bigger numbers of children to watch. Fortunately for me one of the pool staff spotted DD in the shallow end and moved her up!

Put your dilemma to the swimming club he's at. See if they can come up with any suggestions.

bestpud

I would ask my child what they wanted to do about it.

I'd point out the pros and cons and let him decide whether it's worth it or not.

As he gets older, he will be more able to ignore what the school say, so he may well find it easier now anyway.

thehappybutterfly

am I the only one who is shocked that the school are charging for swimming lessons? What next - entrance fee to English classes?

balletshoes

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

My 9 year old son is part of a swimming club and it a very good swimmer (one of the best in his club).

Last year some changes were made in his school and they got in a new swimming teacher and started charging for lessons (£2 a lesson)

Now I dont mind paying for lessons if I thought they were enhancing my child, but the teacher apparantly told him off a few times for swimming too fast and also 'corrected' his breast stroke, which only served to confuse him as he was being told opposing things at his club.

I spoke to the school but they were not willing to work with me, saying that my son had to do what others were taught. I made the decision to remove him from school swimming at the end of last year.

This week I got a call from school saying that now my son was in Y5 he would be eligible to swim for the school in galas they entered, but that he wouldnt be allowed because he doesnt attend swimming at school!

I feel like they are blackmailing me into sending him back to school lessons, which I am not at all happy with. I know that my son would be devastated if he were not picked for the team, he loves swimming.

Any thoughts on how I should handle this? I dont want to rock the boat more, but I am happy with my decision to remove him from school swimming and I dont really want to go back on that as I dont think it helps !

I think you made the right decision - and he'll get more exciting opportunities with his swimming club re galas etc than he will at school. I'd talk to your son from that angle.
I think its the schools loss tbh - I swam for a club while at primary and secondary school, and us club swimmers were allowed to swim at school lessons, we were used for demonstrations to the kids on strokes etc, and when in lanes we were put with the faster swimmers, so we didn't hold each other up too much. We were always in the school galas, because we gave our school a chance to win .

balletshoes

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Im sure it wouldnt kill him, but he is not exactly the 'brightest button in the box' if you know what I mean, he excels at sport and he likes to do well in it.

Sure, he would get over it, but I would be willing to bet money on that he is the best swimmer in the school, it would be his time to shine at school!

if he keeps up swimming at his club, he'll have plenty of time to shine there and at secondary school too.