PE Kit

[screenman]

There's no need for that either. It's such a simple thing, parents overreact so easily to teachers and I can't figure out why. They're people doing a job. At the end of the day you can just talk to them like a person, it doesn't have to be a battle.

Some people may not have the communication skills needed to have a simple conversation, maybe ranting is the only way they know to get their point across.

 

[MarkF]

The simplest solution is to keep the PE kit at home and send a letter of refusal to the PE teacher with a copy to the head teacher.

It always works.

Insider information.....

Done. It's actually pretty hard to get hold of teachers to talk to, I accept that they are busy people. My daughter has a polite (very) letter to take into school today, one for the headmistress, simply outlining the injury and with an explanation that she will not be taking any part in PE (inc getting dressed for it) until the cast is removed and she has clearance from the Doctor, which I will provide the school with.

 

[sazzaa]

Done. It's actually pretty hard to get hold of teachers to talk to, I accept that they are busy people. My daughter has a polite (very) letter to take into school today, one for the headmistress, simply outlining the injury and with an explanation that she will not be taking any part in PE (inc getting dressed for it) until the cast is removed and she has clearance from the Doctor, which I will provide the school with.

School office should pass on messages if you can't get hold of a teacher, it's their job! The teachers at my daughter's school all have email addresses and know my email, yet she still gets letters home now and again, it's baffling to me that they go to all the effort of typing and posting a letter when they can fire me a 10 second email or give me a call instead.

 

[Fab Foodie]

There's no need for that either. It's such a simple thing, parents overreact so easily to teachers and I can't figure out why. They're people doing a job. At the end of the day you can just talk to them like a person, it doesn't have to be a battle.

I think it's because we expect a bit more common-sense/understanding (or shall we say less idiocy) sometimes from those we entrust our Children's education (well a significant part of it).
I'd have not wasted time writing a letter, would have made a call to the teacher or Tutor Group leader ... they usually call back ... sometimes ....

 

[Pikey]

The simplest solution is to keep the PE kit at home and send a letter of refusal to the PE teacher with a copy to the head teacher.

It always works.

Insider information.....

Tbh this sounds like some half baked senior management decision anyway to promote some sort of inclusion box ticking.
Don't be too quick to blame the teacher in question, sometimes they're not in control of policies like these.

 

[Profpointy]

I think it's because we expect a bit more common-sense/understanding (or shall we say less idiocy) sometimes from those we entrust our Children's education (well a significant part of it).
I'd have not wasted time writing a letter, would have made a call to the teacher or Tutor Group leader ... they usually call back ... sometimes ....

letter is easier - no debate or argument, teacher refusing to u-turn, escalation, recrimination...

 

[swee'pea99]

Blimey, who'd be a teacher? I hope that none of the people here who are advising telling the teacher to **** off / write to the DM / complain to the Governors / just ignore them because they have no authority / threaten to sue them are the same people who complain about reducing levels of respect in society / reducing standards of behaviour in schools.

MarkF: great sympathy to your daughter. I hope you find a way to resolve this. My own suggestion would be (a) to talk rather than write a letter in the first instance (b) to start by stressing how you appreciate and support the school's uniform and behaviour policies, but requesting that under the circumstances they make an exception.

I wouldn't be a teacher, but I do expect those who choose to do so to do it properly, and not use it as a springboard for their power-kick control-freakery, at the expense of the people they're paid to care for and teach - and not just in 'their subjects', but in how to behave.

The PE teacher's utterly stupid dictate, as described in the OP, should not be tolerated: it should be confronted, traced back to source, and squashed. Maybe it isn't the individual teacher's decision; maybe (s)he is just enforcing school policy. In which case, school policy needs to be changed, because it's stupid. It serves no purpose, and simply provides an opportunity for bullies to bully. No way would I request exemption from such a stupid instruction; I would refuse to comply with it. And if I was in the right mood, I would pursue it till I found out why it had been made, on whose authority, and what changes would be introduced to prevent any such ever being made again.

None of this would do anything to reduce levels of respect in society, or standards of behaviour in schools. Quite the opposite. It would reinforce a key underpinning for such respect and standards: that authority has to be validated by responsibility. Power used to bully is power abused. That is a bad lesson to endorse, anywhere - but most particularly in a school.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'd get @mickle to follow the teacher home, that'll put an end to it.

 

[cd365]

I've complained to my kids school before (glad they have both left). I ended up meeting with the school governors and raising it further, I even passed onto the school the government guidelines on the issue I was raising. Was basically told that they were only guidelines so didn't have to follow them! Even though the law had ruled that I was in the right!! This was a head-teacher though who though she could ignore Freedom of Information requests! She was sacked in the end and was not happy when I told her that I knew she was being sacked (friends in the Local Education Authority) lol

She was basically one of these teachers that was on a power trip.

 

[sazzaa]

I think it's because we expect a bit more common-sense/understanding (or shall we say less idiocy) sometimes from those we entrust our Children's education (well a significant part of it).
I'd have not wasted time writing a letter, would have made a call to the teacher or Tutor Group leader ... they usually call back ... sometimes ....

I expect less idiocy from other parents in general, but that doesn't happen. The manner in which some people bring up their kids is dreadful. Teachers to their best to deal with that on a day to day basis. I'm on team teacher.

 

[MarkF]

I don't have any dispute and have always supported the school 100% when it (unsuccessfully) punished my eldest son. My mother was a teacher and I am under no illusions that they have an easy time of it.

I don't want to talk to the teacher, I can't be bothered, I already know they are difficult to reach. I think it was the teacher alone tbh, maybe misreading the situation, or, remembering my daughter refused to wear a helmet on cycle day of which she was in charge of! Either way, it's not going to be school policy, that would be too far fetched to believe. No big deal.

 

[ScotiaLass]

There's no need for any of that. Saying no will suffice.

Actually, I've been there, and stating a reason (politely) with back up from a GP is a reasonable action to take.
I've had to do it.
The trouble is, schools generally treat all pupils the same, which is fine if you don't have special needs.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I expect less idiocy from other parents in general, but that doesn't happen. The manner in which some people bring up their kids is dreadful. Teachers to their best to deal with that on a day to day basis. I'm on team teacher.

I don't disagree, I'm generally with the teachers as well, they have a difficult job, but this example just strikes me as utterly bizzarre ..... and unnecessary. If it wastes my time it generally annoys.

 

[swee'pea99]

I expect less idiocy from other parents in general, but that doesn't happen. The manner in which some people bring up their kids is dreadful. Teachers to their best to deal with that on a day to day basis. I'm on team teacher.

Me too. Nothing makes life harder for good teachers than bad teachers.

MOD Edit - Irrelevant now, refers to Deleted post

 

[swansonj]

.. I think it was the teacher alone tbh, maybe misreading the situation, or, remembering my daughter refused to wear a helmet on cycle day of which she was in charge of! ...

Funny how my last lingering vestiges of support this teacher in particular, as opposed to teachers in general, has just evaporated...