Something worrying happened today that has left me fuming all afternoon.
I mentioned previously that I've started taking a batch of about sixty kidlets from all different ages of the school to their local pool to participate in a learn to swim scheme over the next two weeks. I supervised last year too and thoroughly enjoy watching kids become more comfortable in the water, learn new things, and to have fun in the pool; which is sadly something alot of these children miss out on.
Just as it was twelve months ago, the pool is quite busy at this time of year. Not only are there members of the public swimming there, there are also several primary and high schools using the facilities too, each in their own designated area of the pool. For the most part, everything runs fairly smoothly.
After today's lessons in the water had ended, the kidlets picked up all of their things and headed to the changerooms to get out of their costumes and back into their school uniforms. They had only been in there for all of five minutes, when everything went pear-shaped.
My fellow supervising teacher and I were approached by a teacher from a private primary school, who quite rudely informed us that they had "booked" the change rooms solely for themselves at this time, and that our school should not have been using them. She then said that her children were now waiting, and could we please escort our kids out of their changing area immediately.
If that wasn't bad enough, one of her staff members walked into the boys changerooms, and ordered them all out. Before they could do the same to the girls, I went ahead and looked after them, helping them move out of the changeroom. We had barely stepped out the door, when the private school teachers had their kids marching over the top of our schoolbag area, and into the changerooms.
I don't know if I was more shocked by the random request in general, or at the little respect she showed for the school, us as teachers, and most importantly - our kids! Some of these kids were shuffled out of the change rooms half dressed and all were completely and utterly confused. And that's not even beginning to mention the child protection issues in all of this; students walking around a public place in states of undress, the embarrassment of the situation, and the security issues. It's completely disgusting. The silly part is that if the teachers had allowed us five minutes of time to finish up, all of our kidlets could have been appropriately dressed and out of the area with no hassles what-so-ever.
We later found out that the swimming centre staff were not informed of the changerooms being booked at all; and we have already reported the behaviours to heads of the school. If there weren't already countless other reasons to send my child to a public school, this one seals the deal. Heck, at least we try to teach our students manners. It's more than I can say for this particular batch of school teachers after today's antics.
So what are your thoughts on it all, as a teacher, parent or random bystander?
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31 comments:
My reaction to this: extremely annoyed. Though as it happens there wasn't much else that you could have done. You guys did the best under those circumstances.
Reporting the incident to the heads at the private school was the right thing to do.
As for the coming weeks, be prepared for the bitches/bastards. Arguing in front of the kids may not be a good image, but hey they'd learn to stand up for themselves. :)
I've long believed that public schools aren't worth it.
When I did a Tafe course as part of my HSC, there were a few guys in the class that came from a local private, all boys school, as well as a few girls who came from another all girls college.
One of the guys was Ok, and to this day - when I see him we'll talk and we get along relatively well. But otherwise, they were the rudest, harshest most up themselves bunch of people. They had absolutely no respect for anyone or anything. They were also the kids that were high most of the time, and tended to brag about their many sexual adventures.. sometimes detailing how they got girls into their dorms after dark.
Bothered me.
I meant private!
*hides*
How rude!
Glad you reported it to the head of the school.
How humilating for your kids. My thoughts mirror yours exactly - you said it perfectly. And I am glad you guys put in a complaint against their behaviour!
Goes to show some people never grow up.
I have been to both private and public schools, and unfortunately, there are assholes in both.
What fuckers.
This reminds me of the time I was still at school and went to a seminar... and we were split up into groups, and I was stuck with this one skank who would talk about nothing except how I was scum because I came from the "wrong side of the tracks", and wouldn't even let me speak without cutting me off.
It took a lot of restraint to stop myself from snapping the anorexic bitch in half - I guess that must have been the "poor, scummy" side of me trying to get out...
That is utterly disgusting!! I ahte the way some ( and it isn't all) privatre schoosl consider themselves SO elite! hate the stuck up conceited and arrogant manner of the students too. I can't think of anything worse than my kids ending up like that!
Miss Alynda - did you see this: http://www.allforwomen.com.au/top-50-australian-womens-blogs/
In terms of the pool problem - it's disgusting. I would have thought with all the privacy things going on they would not be allowed to do that - you did the right thing to complain, perhaps they'll asked to keep away?
I don't even know what to say. I'm really glad you reported it, hopefully they will realize their stupidity. It's one thing to let you know for future reference, but to demand you to leave immediately???? (I'm not even sure about letting you know for future reference...) They should have spoken to the pool people first. They should have done a lot of things first. I'll beat them up for you if you want me to.
First off, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I clicked on the all for women link. That is fantastic. (I felt so proud looking at it, thinking, "Hey! I know HER!" Hahaha.)
As a former teacher, my reaction to this is unprintable. It was extremely disrespectful and completely uncalled for. Poor children. I'll stop here before I get carried away.
Oh my gosh, look at you on that amazing list! Congrats to you :)
Onto your post, wow. I cannot believe the gall of that teacher. That kind of behavior irritates me to no end because people like that believe that their time and their very being is more valuable than yours. How utterly pompous. And also, just how you can "book" the change rooms when there are so many different schools there using the pool?
As a random bystander --- why do people have to be complete asses? That just sucks and I totally understand why you were fuming!
Seriously, there was no need for the woman to be so rude! You handled it well though, props to you for not freaking out on her.
That is so infuriating. Sometimes people use kids as an excuse to be rude, and that really is the worst.
As a random bystander I think it's pretty damn disgusting, and I think you did the right thing by reporting it to the head of that school. I can well remember being a kid and going for swimming lessons with my school, and I would have been totally traumatised if someone had tried to force me out half-dressed. What on earth do people get out of behaving like that?
People like that do not deserve to be teaching our youth. This is where they get their sense of entitlement...
That and probably their parents act that way also.
I do not think I would have been able to keep my cool with them as a random bystander. I mean I would try not to do anything mean or nasty in front of the kids, but I would have asked for the chaperones names and what school they were from and then I would have called.
GRRR
As a random bystander, I would have smacked those other teachers silly. Where in the world did she think your students should change?
I think that is complete and utter bullshit. I would have punched her in the face.
Or maybe just put her in her place verbally, but in my mind I would have been punching her in the face.
I don't know if I'd generalize that bad experience to all private schools and all private school teachers, but you're certainly right that it was disrespectful and rude for those teachers to treat you and your students that way. I
Who ever heard of a public pool letting the changing rooms be booked for a private group if the pool is still open to the public?
I bet those private school kids were all pissing in the pool, too. Seriously.
As a momma to a 9 month old and a 12 year old, I would be livid.
Manners are such an important part of life, no matter if you are privledged or not.
And CHILDREN should not be forced in the open while half dressed. It would have been very difficult for me to sit and watch this going on without smaking someone or at least kicking them in the shins!
Wow, I am hoping that you aren't the one who will be fielding calls from irate parents (your kidlets irate parents at their child being shuffled around in public half-dressed.) I say track down the nasty teacher and see if you can arrange to have HER stuck outside in her skivvies, see how she likes it! (Oh, and maybe kick her in the shins... don't know, just a suggestion).
xox
That is absolutely ridiculous.
I'm glad you reported it. I hope someone says something to them about their behavior.
Ugh how obnoxious. Good thing you reported their rude bums.
Hi - found your site through NaBloPoMo.
Firstly, I've read through a few of your other posts, and I really enjoy your writing - a perfect combination of wit and randomness!
Secondly, gah! What a bunch of snobs. I can't believe that grown adults behave this way. Oh wait, yes I can. Glad you reported them!
It's so important for teachers to show respect towards each other - what will they be teaching the little ones if they don't?
I've been to a public school and a private school, and I'm most likely going to send my kiddies to a private one. I don't think all private schools should be lumped together as a stereotype because there are some ones that are rather good and definitely better than some of the public ones. It depends on the teachers and obviously those teachers are not ones I'd want my kids to be taught by. Having said that, I've experienced some shocking public school teachers too.
I'm glad you told their school though because of the safety and privacy of your children - they shouldn't have been thrown out like that.
I don't really think it has anything to do with public vs. private. Those teachers were just rude, disrespectful idiots. You can get them anywhere. I'm just glad that all your kids were ok in the end. I would have been very angry if I were you!
As a childless non-teaching bystander, they were being totally rude, and I cannot believe these teachers acted like that when there were kids involved. The kids should be what they are mostly worried about, not just the ones from their school but all of them!
ok since when can you book change rooms!?! O_o you're at a public pool, having a public changeroom comes with the territory, what the hell was she thinking!? stupid lady...*shakes head*
And I went to an all girl catholic school, and we never ever did anything like that (get all stuck up and demand private change rooms) I think you just encountered one of the extreme teachers out there.
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