gym teacher...

[anamari]

Alex's gym teacher wanted to see me-he has a C- in gym...because: he has poor gross motor skills, does not pay attention, does not follow directions and has poor participation...I told her that poor gross motor skills (he's clumsy and could not learn to hit the ball during voleyball practice hat he just started the last quarter..or jump rope 100 times in 1 minute-tho he did not jump rope before, he learned in a different school district), difficulty to pay attention and follow directions is part of his ADD and wanted to ask her if she can make some adjustments because until now all teachers in the school bent over backwards to help alex. she brought the principal at the meeting to tel me that she needs a paper from his doctor stating that add affects gross motor skills and he'll be tested for physical therapy, and this is the only adjustment...She gave me some smart mouth speech about how many kids she has in class, and about add kids that are great in gym, and i did understood why he has poor participation-she's a bully, agressive kind of a teacher...(and he is highly intimidated by this kind of teachers)...
Now, I think that I'll drop the gym adjustment idea-tho I can talk with his doctor about it...I think I could make a fuss abut her yelling at Alex and attend a class to see her real behavior, but I do not want to make to much noise about it because all the other teachers and his principal that had been so helpfull.But I still feel a bitter taste in my mouth about the meeting...

Now, how i can help him deal with her-is there any way I can explain him, teach him a better reaction than complete withdrawl - (it is not a question of grade,I'd like him to feel comfortable , if not enjoy every bit of school if possible)

[QueensU_girl]

Your son deserves gym class as much as the other kids; and to be treated with dignity and respect.

That means, obviously, not having the requirement for him to deal with this Jerk Teacher.

There must be a way to get this School's Administration to modify the curriculum to enable him to participate somehow... It would be tragic for him to lose his physical activity, just to avoid an Adult Bully. (Especially given the explosions in obesity, diabetes, from traumatic gym experiences creating inactivity later in life, etc.)

Have you talked to the VP or Principal about her bullying behaviours and exclusionary attitudes and humiliation treatment of your child? She sounds really (really) over the top. And it's just CREEPY when jerks like this have "different personalities" with different people. (I'm sure she doesn't act or talk like this to the Administration!!)

Can the School Board hire him his own Gym Teacher for solo gym activities? Motor skills can improve with practice and individualized attention!! (eg physical therapy) But her humiliation taktiks aren't designed to help him; merely to exclude him via shame. (And that's tragic.)

Go big... there's gotta be someone who teaches Phys Ed out there who is kind, and sensitive to including your son -- even if it is, essentially, a 1 on 1 gym class.

Challenge their lack of Creativity in Modifying the Curriculum.

[madd]

Originally Posted by QueensU_girl

Have you talked to the VP or Principal about her bullying behaviours and exclusionary attitudes and humiliation treatment of your child? She sounds really (really) over the top. And it's just CREEPY when jerks like this have "different personalities" with different people. (I'm sure she doesn't act or talk like this to the Administration!!)

Anamari, you should definately talk to the administration and get a read on what the situation is. It could be that this gym coach is a rogue who is on thin ice as it is. Or she could be acting out her part in a culture of oppression at the school and the admin will back-up the gym coach at all costs. I've seen both. In the school that I attended the admin where all coaches who had risen in rank. They and the active coaches had created a fairly sadistic subculture that needed the checks and balances of concerned parents to even things out. If you have to, casually mention that you have a lawyer. Sometimes that really greases the wheels. And if you have to get a lawyer, then by all means do. They should be eager to try to meets the demands of kids like your son. That they are not sends a clear message that someting is wrong in that school.

[violet_yoshi]

A gym teacher that's a bully! Never heard of such a thing... j/k