Non-school Coaches asking to see kids' grades?

[MM27]

I find it very interesting that the school gives that type of authority to someone other than themselves or the child's parent. I don't believe our principal would be on board with that, she would want to be the one that should be called and then the parents
Also, your perspective as a teacher gave me a thought about gym class. I find it ironic that its acceptable (to some anyway) to withhold participation in a sport that is not affiliated with the school if a student is not doing well yet the students are all required to take gym class in school even if they have D's and F's. Its all very interesting.

It's not just the school giving him this authority. The parents are aware that he does this. They know when they pay for the classes that he is going to come. He's been doing it for years in my building, just the first time I've ever had any of his students.

I don't know what type of district your school is in, but I teach in an urban district where many of the kids don't have a father at home, or an uncle or any male figures. I have a couple of kids in the two classes I teach that have fathers that are in jail or gangs or just "missing". A district where when you call home you many times find that the phone has been disconnected or they switched numbers again and didn't let us in on that fact or the more popular thing they do, put the phone on call intercept. Our school nurse can't even get in contact with parents when kids are sick. That or you get the line, "You deal with it" because they are not in the parents care at that time. It's a shame, but it's part of the reality of teaching in an urban district. Things are different. I didn't realize it either until I started working in one.

The fact that this man is taking time out of his day to show an interest in these boys is amazing to me. They know he cares and they shape up because they respect him and don't want to disappoint him. I guess if I taught in some wealthy suburban district things might be very different, and I understand that. From my point of view (and my principal's) this guy is providing a great service to kids that really need that extra push.

I have a deal going with one of the boys in my class right now that if he does his homework every night for the entire month of January, he is going to be able to show us some of his stuff from his class. And yes, Sensei will be there when he makes it The kid never did homework before but now does it every single night. He asks me several times a day if I marked his homework in my gradebook because he wants to be able to get this rewards.

The PE class thing could be an entirely different thread. I don't with the law, but it is what it is. Kids can be pulled out of math, reading, writing, science or any of the specials classroom for just about any reason. Try to pull a kid from PE and there is trouble. Makes no sense. I put up a big stink one year because one of our PE teachers decided to start a Juggling club. Yes, you read that right...Juggling. So he would pull kids out of math to go Juggle. And then when our state test scores come back, they question the classroom teachers as to why students aren't passing. I put an end to that and refused to let my students go. Sorry, if I'm being held responsible, you are not leaving my class to attend clown college.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

I love this coach, I wish more coaches were worried about a child learning. I don't see anything wrong with this at all.

I agree. I think it's good preparation for the kids for when they ARE participating in school sports. This way, it'll be no surprise when they get to that age where it's a real rule.

 

[pigletgirl]

Yep, when I played premier soccer that was not affiliated with the school we had a 'No pass, no play' rule, meaning if your grades were bad you couldn't participate. I see NOTHING wrong with it.

It wouldn't be a big deal if you had good grades!

 

[5lilfish]

It's not just the school giving him this authority. The parents are aware that he does this. They know when they pay for the classes that he is going to come. He's been doing it for years in my building, just the first time I've ever had any of his students.

It wouldn't happen in our district. The guy wouldn't get past the front door....at least not without going through many hoops first (and even that wouldn't guarantee he'd be given permission).

Jess

 

[ontariomonkey]

I'm really shocked I don't know why ((dis boards)) That people would allow there child to play on a sports team with bad grades, What kind of lessons is that teaching a child. It's okay to get bad grades you can still do sports of fun things

Phisical activity is vitally important for all of us. Considering the trend towards obesity in children, I'm surprised that it's not a priority for all parents. A child who is struggling in school should not be deprived of sport as punishment.

 

[luvmy3]

It's not just the school giving him this authority. The parents are aware that he does this. They know when they pay for the classes that he is going to come. He's been doing it for years in my building, just the first time I've ever had any of his students.

I don't know what type of district your school is in, but I teach in an urban district where many of the kids don't have a father at home, or an uncle or any male figures. I have a couple of kids in the two classes I teach that have fathers that are in jail or gangs or just "missing". A district where when you call home you many times find that the phone has been disconnected or they switched numbers again and didn't let us in on that fact or the more popular thing they do, put the phone on call intercept. Our school nurse can't even get in contact with parents when kids are sick. That or you get the line, "You deal with it" because they are not in the parents care at that time. It's a shame, but it's part of the reality of teaching in an urban district. Things are different. I didn't realize it either until I started working in one.

The fact that this man is taking time out of his day to show an interest in these boys is amazing to me. They know he cares and they shape up because they respect him and don't want to disappoint him. I guess if I taught in some wealthy suburban district things might be very different, and I understand that. From my point of view (and my principal's) this guy is providing a great service to kids that really need that extra push.

I have a deal going with one of the boys in my class right now that if he does his homework every night for the entire month of January, he is going to be able to show us some of his stuff from his class. And yes, Sensei will be there when he makes it The kid never did homework before but now does it every single night. He asks me several times a day if I marked his homework in my gradebook because he wants to be able to get this rewards.

The PE class thing could be an entirely different thread. I don't with the law, but it is what it is. Kids can be pulled out of math, reading, writing, science or any of the specials classroom for just about any reason. Try to pull a kid from PE and there is trouble. Makes no sense. I put up a big stink one year because one of our PE teachers decided to start a Juggling club. Yes, you read that right...Juggling. So he would pull kids out of math to go Juggle. And then when our state test scores come back, they question the classroom teachers as to why students aren't passing. I put an end to that and refused to let my students go. Sorry, if I'm being held responsible, you are not leaving my class to attend clown college.

Don't get me wrong, I think its wonderful for him to care enough about his students to do that, it just seems like and overstepping of boundaries for him to give you his cell and expect updates. If the parents are okay with it, then thats fine, but I don't think I would be supportive of that if my ds's Sensei did the same. As far as our principal, she would not allow any personal info about a student being shared with anyone other than herself or the parent/guardian of the child.

In reference to the bolded-

I