should we send boy to sports day or not

[Deleted User]

I was always last in any sports day event but I always took part to the best of my ability. I was always picked last because everyone knew I wasn`t any good no matter how hard I ran. It is called character building

Now, 44 years on I am the one having the last laugh. That character, which was built in those days, is still with me and I am the one, out of all my peer group who has done best through life. Family, interests, health, wealth, happiness. You name it and it all came indirectly from doing my best and being a team member, no matter what. Roots that were laid down through childhood, including sports days in the rain

aurora_borealis_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Free thinking is a wonderful thing within a family setting where there's only a small number of children. Imagine being in charge of a class of 30 who all wanted to do things their own way; there'd be anarchy!

Unfortunately, many people who subscribe to this point of view see nothing wrong in violence, bad behaviour and foul language. I'm sure that this doesn't apply to anybody here but it's the logical extension of your post. If it's ok for your kids to do as they please then that has to apply to everybody and you won't always like the results!

Of course I'm broadening the discussion away from sports days; or going off topic, if you prefer!

That's a massive leap in the completely wrong direction.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, I think you'll find.

Mine are young women now - happy, successful and considerate of others.
I have never experienced cheek, bad language or dreadful behaviour from any of them.

:A

pinkshoes

You often have to do things in life that you don't want to do, therefore you might as well learn to do it at a young age.

What you do within your own home is your own business, and the kids are under your authority, but when it comes to school, it's the teacher who both you and your child need to respect and listen to.

Otherwise it's a bit like having parents that don't back each other up i.e. kid asks mum for sweets, mum says no, kid then goes and asks dad for sweets, dad hands over mars bar!

liney

You often have to do things in life that you don't want to do, therefore you might as well learn to do it at a young age.

What you do within your own home is your own business, and the kids are under your authority, but when it comes to school, it's the teacher who both you and your child need to respect and listen to.

Otherwise it's a bit like having parents that don't back each other up i.e. kid asks mum for sweets, mum says no, kid then goes and asks dad for sweets, dad hands over mars bar!

[EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com?subject=Reporting post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=5536112"][/EMAIL]

This, exactly, this.

By giving the child the option to disobey the school, you are undermining their authority.

Would it be ok to remove your child from detention because they disobeyed a teacher, and you call it 'free thinking', so it therefore acceptable behavior?

Oldernotwiser

aurora_borealis wrote: »

That's a massive leap in the completely wrong direction.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, I think you'll find.

Mine are young women now - happy, successful and considerate of others.
I have never experienced cheek, bad language or dreadful behaviour from any of them.

:A

I do wish people would actually read the posts; I specifically said I wasn't referring to anyone here!

Oldernotwiser

liney wrote: »

Would it be ok to remove your child from detention because they disobeyed a teacher, and you call it 'free thinking', so it therefore acceptable behavior?

Or even worse, have the children themselves decide that they weren't going to detention!

Taking the analogy even further; are people who break laws "freethinkers" or "criminals"?

RadoJo

I appreciate the views of people on here, but I don't agree with the theory that it will be teaching him a bad lesson to allow him not to go if he doesn't want to.
I hated sports at school, was forced to participate, and now never take part in sporting activity. Who is ever going to force him to run around in shorts in 'the real world'. I am all for not letting kids get away with avoiding everything, but why pretend that they will have to participate in organised sports later in life when they won't?

snowmaid

Personally I feel that this is more than just participating in sports.

It is important for children to learn that sometimes there are things that have to be done (so long as it's not illegal!!:rolleyes:). As an adult I don't enjoy doing certain things, but its only right that one makes the attempt, such as entertaining my MIL! :rotfl:

I feel that if children are allowed to get away with things now, how will they cope as adults? EG. If as adults there is a boring task to be done at work, will they just walk away shrugging?

I agree with oldernotwiser about anarchy. This is already happening in our schools, with children swearing at and hitting teachers. Parents are not helpng the situation by galloping down to the school to hurl abuse because 'little johnny' was kept in detention.

I never participated in sports, hated it! :rotfl: but I was there screaming for our teams, making posters etc. (ok we had to be there, but ended up enjoying the team spirit!:o ).

Don't encourage your children to give up or walk away. Let them learn loyalty and support. Help instill a sense of self respect in them. Who knows, that sport they hated doing, they may end up loving it!

Mark7799

RadoJo wrote: »

I appreciate the views of people on here, but I don't agree with the theory that it will be teaching him a bad lesson to allow him not to go if he doesn't want to.
I hated sports at school, was forced to participate, and now never take part in sporting activity. Who is ever going to force him to run around in shorts in 'the real world'. I am all for not letting kids get away with avoiding everything, but why pretend that they will have to participate in organised sports later in life when they won't?

There were a few subjects I hated in school but I still had to attend the lessons:D
English Literature
Swimming
Biology

RadoJo

Mark7799 - But at least there is a potential practical application for English and Biology, but I would put swimming in the same category as sports day unless it was in school time.

I don't think I made myself clear - subjects which are on the curriculum and during school time are one thing, but forced attendance at an extra-curricular event in which the child has no interest just seems to defeat the object. I think kids can be taught that there are some things you just have to do (ie school and school work) and some things which are optional, and which will not appeal to everyone. I come to work from 9 - 5.30 because they are my contracted hours. I don't do unpaid overtime because it is optional and I don't see the point.

OP - does the school insist on attendance for other extra-curricular activities, or is it just sport? I find the way people in this country are considered freaks if they have no interest in sport astonishing, and I believe that it is this focus at school level which begets this attitude.

I was perfectly happy to stay for two hours on a Monday night to practice with the orchestra (which was optional and I loved), but hated being bullied into staying for an hour to play netball (which was compulsory, and although I was quite good, I never enjoyed it).

Edit: To put it into perspective, I actually won an award for sporting achievement in my sixth form (first girl ever to do so) where participation was voluntary and I was allowed to pick which sport I wanted to do.