Situation at school

[romanseight2005]

My son is 10 and attends a Christian school. Last Tuesday during gym class, they went outside to do an activity. My son took off his jacket and hung it over a piece of equipment. He likes this jacket, and there has been a lot of sickness going around his class. He made a statement when he took his jacket off. He said,"Nobody touch my jacket." Now, I realize that wasn't the most polite thing for him to say, but nonetheless he has the right to ask people not to mess with his jacket. Anyway, the gym teacher walked over to his jacket, held it up and told everyone in the class to come and touch it. My husband and I think that she was out of line, and he is going up to the school to talk to the administrator about it. Please pray for our discernment in this matter. How would you handle this?

[RestoreTheRiver]

I think the Gym Teacher created an issue where none needed to exist. You are right to express your concerns. I will pray for your discernment, and for your meeting with the Administrator.

Michael

[TrinityLives]

I agree that maybe your son could have handled it different and thus should have been shown that issue in a different way. Like maybe the Teacher should have went up to him and said " Honey that isn't necessary to say, no one is going to bother your jacket" or something to that effect.
I'm sure that was what the teacher was trying to get across but did it in a poor way.
I may have done that to my own child in my house but certainly not with a crowd of kids.

I don't think it's the worst thing but maybe a heads up to the teacher that there are other ways to get the same point across may be in order.

I know that now days even the Teachers with the best intentions seem to get nailed on all kinds of things which leads them to not wanting to instruct children on even basic manners in life.... So IMO a gentle guiding on this issue may be warranted.



Let us know what happens

God Bless

[under His wings]

I think the teacher was making a statement and by doing so called your son out publicly that which should have been handled privately. She could have done as TrinityLives suggested. I agree that she should be gently reminded that one poor decision does not consitute another (especially by an adult).
Blessings, T

[romanseight2005]

I can remember a gym teacher doing something humiliating to me when I was 6 years old. It was a different situation, and I didn't say anything rude, but that situation somewhat traumatized me and created fears in me that lasted. I think he had the right to request his jacket not get messed with, and yes he could have been more polite about it, but her reaction seems to me to be much more than rude. She used her authority to disrespect the thing he was asking, she had no right to mess with his jacket at all, let alone tell the kids to, and she was setting out to humiliate him and show him she had no respect for him or his jacket. I see this as much bigger than her handling his comments poorly. I teach kids, and I can't imagine ever doing anything like that. I might have told the child that he could be more polite, but my guess is that his jacket has gotten messed with in the past, and that's why he said it. Maybe the best thing to have done would have been to show him another place to put the jacket, or even made him wear it. I just don't think some teachers have any idea of the damage they can do to kids when they do these kinds of things.

[ThenThereWasRED]

I would suggest talking to the teacher first and getting it worked out and if that doesn't work then go to the administrator. I like what several have said here and offering her alternatives to what she did and how she could have treated it differently, will hopefully be an eye opener on behavior. It's not just about common courtesy IMO as a adult teacher but hopefully working at a Christian school she should be a Christian and have higher standards on how she deals with others than just the normal person.
She added to the problem by calling him out, she caused him to lose trust with her as well as show other students, it's ok to pick on another student. She might have taken self-worth from him in how she treated the incident. Teachers are suppose to be examples especially a Christian one on how to treat others no matter what they do first or in return. The Golden rule comes to mind too here.
You also need to talk with your son and teach him people even christians can treat you badly and how to act & react to those situations. Scripture tells us to pray for people who treat us wrong and forgive them.
My brother and I first started at a private Christian school before homeschooling and my brother has several physical & other problems and cause of that he went through some humilating times with teachers and students at the school. Teachers & principals will say things sometimes out of frustration and stupidity.
The teacher might think it's was just a minor thing but stuff like that carries over to adulthood for a lot of people unfortunately.
I hope it goes well with your family in this situation and the teacher won't take it badly and do the right thing. Even at church, I've seen teachers not handle a situation well and caused harm to a person and that's not what being a Christian is about.