I'm wondering if I can get some advice from some of you familiar with youth swim teams and how they deal with disciplinary issues. As a backdrop, some of you may remember my previous description of my son as having Asperger's syndrome. He is 11 years old and, as you might imagine, a target of bullying and harassment in school. One of the offenders is a boy on his swim team who is 12 and much more physically mature. In school he has been cursing at my son, falsely telling one of the teachers that my son is "talking" and getting him in trouble (occurring on almost a daily basis, I have filed a complaint against the teacher), degrading him, etc. Most of this is primarily a school issue, but there was one event that I think relates to swimming and the team coaches should know about. One day, one of the trio of bullies went up to my son and asked him if he was any good. My son answered "yes" ( in reality he is OK, 35 sec 50 yard free). The kid called out to the swimmer I mentioned and said "hey, ....says he is good.". The swimmer responded "well, I got a 26 f...r, top that. You suck.". They essentially lured him into a trap, and he is innocent/socially awkward enough to fall into it.
My opinion of young swimmers in general has been very favorable. Most of them are extremely sweet and good kids, so I was very surprised to hear about this one. I am wondering if this type of behavior, particularly degrading fellow swimmers, is one that I should bring up to the head coach. While it did not occur during practice or a meet, I do believe it is relevant to the type of swimmer and person they expect on the team. I do not think any action would be taken at this point, but at the very least the coach could talk to him or even keep a mental record should it continue.
Any thoughts? I really feel that it might have more of an impact than anything the school could say or do.
Icidentally, this swimmer's best time ws 28.5, 55th out of 63 for the 11-12 year-olds at JO. I looked it up:)
a friend of mine is a kindergarten teacher and she uses the
"Self Manager Discipline" System
She's asks the children what are the things that good self managers do?
She builds a list of positive behaviors.
Self Manager is a privledged status the child can earn or lose each day.
She has a list on the chalk board of who the Classrooms self managers are and they get special privledges.
If a child breaks a self manager rule, they have to erase their name from the list, but they can earn it back the next day.
It's extremely effective.
A Self Manager would never bully another student or tolerate another student bullying anyone.
Effective Teaching... by Harry and Rosemary Wong January 2005
• “Self-Manager”
Criteria for receiving acknowledgement
• Satisfactory grades
• Follow school rules
• No discipline referrals
• Class work completed
• Five staff signatures (for example, teacher, teaching assistant)
• Students listed in office for all staff to review
Presentation procedure
• Monthly award assembly
Acknowledgement description
• Button
• Privileges
• In hallways without pass
• Early lunch
• Self-manager lunch table
• Early release (1-2 min. max) from class when appropriate
Dissemination
(letting others know who has received the acknowledgement)
• Honor list in classroom
• Parent notes
a friend of mine is a kindergarten teacher and she uses the
"Self Manager Discipline" System
She's asks the children what are the things that good self managers do?
She builds a list of positive behaviors.
Self Manager is a privledged status the child can earn or lose each day.
She has a list on the chalk board of who the Classrooms self managers are and they get special privledges.
If a child breaks a self manager rule, they have to erase their name from the list, but they can earn it back the next day.
It's extremely effective.
A Self Manager would never bully another student or tolerate another student bullying anyone.
Effective Teaching... by Harry and Rosemary Wong January 2005
• “Self-Manager”
Criteria for receiving acknowledgement
• Satisfactory grades
• Follow school rules
• No discipline referrals
• Class work completed
• Five staff signatures (for example, teacher, teaching assistant)
• Students listed in office for all staff to review
Presentation procedure
• Monthly award assembly
Acknowledgement description
• Button
• Privileges
• In hallways without pass
• Early lunch
• Self-manager lunch table
• Early release (1-2 min. max) from class when appropriate
Dissemination
(letting others know who has received the acknowledgement)
• Honor list in classroom
• Parent notes