Senior school, can you refuse to let your child partake in a lesson?

[nicky's nails]

hi guys

just wanted an opinion really, my son got his timetable yesterday, they work on a two week format, and now instead of PE once a week and music once a week, he has PE 3 times in week 1 and music only once in week 1, and theyve dropped the other music lesson, for an extra PE one, which he is very upset about as he loves music (but he does have extra lessons in guitar during school hours , so not too bad) im assuming the extra PE thing is a curriculm thing? and wouldnt mind if the PE was spread out over the 2 weeks.

but the thing we are not happy about is, on a friday week 1, he now has PE first lesson, then music, then PE again, now theres no shower facilities, so he sweaty enough round school after PE, but the idea of taking a wet,sweaty, dirty kit to the next lesson then having to put it back on again the very next lesson, is to us disgusting and i want to refuse him taking the second PE lesson, have asked them to change the timetable , waiting for a response today.

just wondered do other schools do this? i think its mentally and physically sick to expect teenagers with raging hormones and sweaty feet and pits lol, to expect them to degrade themsleves putting sweaty clothes back on, i wouldnt do it, and i wouldnt have done it at school , i know i would have kicked off, and i dont want my son doing it, i cant buy him a second kit as
a) its £40 a kit and
b) they dont have lockers and have to carry their whole bag around school all day, and 2 kits plus guitar and sometimes cookery stuff isnt feasible
c)its just plain stupid, why didnt they just do double PE or move the lesson to another day, cant understand the reasoning behind it? but maybe we 're just angry and missing something here?

just wanted some advice, of what we can do , if they wont change the timetable, can we refuse him doing the lesson? or have we no leg to stand on?

tried to speak to a governor last night but she was busy.

thanks guys xxxxxx

 

[janeawallace]

Hi Nicky

My daughter goes to senior school and does different PE lessons, so for example one lesson may be say Hockey and a difference PE lesson could be dance so they dont wear the same kit. I can understand your concerns btu to be honest kids dont seem to care and if it were me i wouldnt say too much in front of your son as you may make him anxious about some thing that he wasnt too concerned about.

Hope it all works out for you any how

Jane xx

 

[hayls]

As a child who hated PE I can sympathise. Who would want to do it twice a week let alone twice in 1 day!
I dont think that it can be right for them to do it twice in 1 day mind, especially when they dont have shower facilities.

If that is the timetable for the week though Im not sure there is much you can do though!

Also as Jane says, I wouldnt make too big a thing of it, incase you do make your son a bit anxious about the whole thing, you know sweating etc.

I would make an appointment with the Head, to air your issues and then go from there!

xxx

 

[fats28]

To be honest I would just leave it, I can see your point but I can't see school being impressed with being told how to suck eggs!! Its not that big thing, its not worth stressing yourself or your son about, descibing it as degrading themselves is a bit extreme. I might go in and mention the lack of showers which is a bit strange, but from what I recall of my days at school teenage boys didn't seem too bothered about showering after PE:lol: JMHO

 

[sugarbabe]

At my son's school they have showers but not individual cubicles, just the long communal ones that we were subjected too. Nobody uses them (unsurprisingly), and they are not forced to shower in the same way we were.

I know what you are saying about the sweat issue, but I have to say that I am happy he doesn't have to go through the humiliation of being naked in front of his peers and teachers, which used to put me off PE and gave me body image issues which I am STILL dealing with.:irked:

JMHO but another way of looking at it! :hug:

 

[mercedes69]

I actually agree with you Nicky on most points... whoever worked out the timetable needs their head seeing to... double PE would have made a lot more sense.
Their lack of showers seems a bit odd... but then I am sure a quick scrub up in a sink will be suffice...bit of deodorant and talc will cover up till he gets home I'm sure. ( I can remember avoiding the showers like the plague )

I think to stop your son doing the lesson might just alienate him a little... even though I understand your reasoning behind it... what has he said?
I think a talk with the school is your best bet...maybe they can look into it for the future to stop it happening on the next timetable in 2 weeks time...

I used to get incredibly wound up with school issues when my daughters were at school in the UK... I was forever giving them an earbashing... usually over spelling lol...

You are right to be annoyed...at their lack of sense...but maybe just letting them know how you feel will be best.

Let us know if they come to their senses xxxx

 

[*JOANNE*]

nick its the same at christ the king hun
last year joe had pe monday and thursday
now its monday thursday and friday....they have communal showers in the changing rooms, but joe says you never get time as you have to go to your next lesson and get "dun" if your late.
Joe is at the sweaty betty stage too so i got him some deoderant wipes and a spray for his p.e bag.......
joe has to take his pe bag each time as the lockers are so small he can only fit his football in it (priorities) pmsl.
like others have said i would leave it......i dont think its down to the school its goverment they have to have so many hours of sport now...and the schools have got to try and cram everything in....inbetween

 

[nicky's nails]

thanks to everyone for your replies, i appreciate it

if it was 3 diff days of week or double lesson, i wouldnt mind, but to split it up, in the winter when his kit is wet from outside, its gonna be rank putting wet socks and shorts back on isnt it?

it was Ben who mentioned it to me, he was disgusted, and they are not alowed sprays in school only stick deodarant which he hates and says dosent work, but i like the idea of the wipes so will try that, he has said to me, no way am i putting a sweaty kit back on, otherwise id let it go, and try and turn a blind eye to it, but he is bothered about it himself

ive emailed deputy head to ask to speak to him now, and ill let you know how i get on

thanks

nicky xxxx

 

[nicky's nails]

To be honest I would just leave it, I can see your point but I can't see school being impressed with being told how to suck eggs!! Its not that big thing, its not worth stressing yourself or your son about, descibing it as degrading themselves is a bit extreme. I might go in and mention the lack of showers which is a bit strange, but from what I recall of my days at school teenage boys didn't seem too bothered about showering after PE:lol: JMHO

they were his words not mine hun, mum im not degrading myself putting wet sweaty socks back on!!

lolol:lol:

 

[JoJoPearce]

Nicky,

As my girls are only just starting pre-school so i'm unaware of how many hours PE older kids have to do. However, the more the better I suppose, if it keeps them fit but doesn't impact on other more important studies.

What I dont get is why they have split the lesson. This is just stupid and I totally undertand where your Ben is coming from. I'm a regular gym bunny myself and the thought of having to put my running stuff on again after an hour seems vile. Wet socks, sweaty damp bra and top not nice at all.

I would bring it to the schools attention and see what can be done, for all you know the timetable could have been processed by a PC and not picked up as an error.

Good luck and let us know hoe you get on.

 

[fats28]

they were his words not mine hun, mum im not degrading myself putting wet sweaty socks back on!!

lolol:lol:[/quote

Cripes a hygienic teenage boy, they were unheard of when I was a lass:lol::lol:

 

[tonilee]

Hiya..... Can I ask what year your son is in.......and also have you made sure both lessons are practical lessons??? I have to admit I have not got a clue about these things (my kids are 3 and 8 so these situations have not hit me yet) however my fiance is Head of PE in a secondary...and these were the things she mentioned......

If he does have 2 or 3 practical lessons in week 1 and less in week 2 she said it is bad timetable management but she also said it would be highly unlikely that they could be changed at this stage.

Could he not just carry an extra teeshirt and socks??

HtH

 

[nicky's nails]

Hiya..... Can I ask what year your son is in.......and also have you made sure both lessons are practical lessons??? I have to admit I have not got a clue about these things (my kids are 3 and 8 so these situations have not hit me yet) however my fiance is Head of PE in a secondary...and these were the things she mentioned......

If he does have 2 or 3 practical lessons in week 1 and less in week 2 she said it is bad timetable management but she also said it would be highly unlikely that they could be changed at this stage.

Could he not just carry an extra teeshirt and socks??

HtH

yes all 3 of the lessons are practical or so the boys were told yesterday, and ive been told by year head no chance of change now.

its really bad timetabling, and ive spoken to parent governor who said she will bring it up , but nothing will prob be done apart from making sure it dosent happen again, im gonna have to get him another top and socks, (yeah another £30) and buy him tnhose deodarant wipes jo mentioned and im gonna let him take spray in, and if they kick off then ill face the music then

thanks girls xxxxx

 

[blossom]

yes all 3 of the lessons are practical or so the boys were told yesterday, and ive been told by year head no chance of change now.

its really bad timetabling, and ive spoken to parent governor who said she will bring it up , but nothing will prob be done apart from making sure it dosent happen again, im gonna have to get him another top and socks, (yeah another £30) and buy him tnhose deodarant wipes jo mentioned and im gonna let him take spray in, and if they kick off then ill face the music then

thanks girls xxxxx

That is really bad timetabling on their part, I know just what you mean Nicky. :hug:

I was just reading throught the posts while you must have been typing this reply lol, thinking what I'd do . . . and I was thinking I'd probably bite the bullet and buy another top and socks, I think the wipes are a fab idea too. Seems like that's the only way to go, PE is good for them after all but really bad organisation.