APS swim unit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an easy opt-out. Lots of kids are already in the water 2-3x per week with swim practice and meets. Getting soaking wet and then going back to school on a cold day after learning nothing is uncomfortable and a waste of time.

My child is in 4th/swims 5 days a week and he'd love to do this. No reason to opt out even if they swim already. Its not a big deal in the cold. A week to get kids under water and a basic doggy paddle is a good idea.

My kid is a competitive swimmer, and isn’t looking forward to this unit. Dealing with changing in a chaotic locker room and returning to school with wet hair in cold weather sounds unpleasant to her, and me. If there’s an easy opt out we’ll take it. Getting other kids in the water and hopefully comfortable with some basics is worth it, for sure, but that can happen without every single 3rd/4th grader along for the ride. In fact, it would free up instructors to focus on the kids who need attention.

If wet hair is such an issue, send a swim cap.

Swim caps don’t keep hair dry.

Not completely, but putting your hair up in a properly fitted swim cap will keep it from getting soaked. I have a hard time imagining that a competitive swimmer can’t cope with a little damp hair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an easy opt-out. Lots of kids are already in the water 2-3x per week with swim practice and meets. Getting soaking wet and then going back to school on a cold day after learning nothing is uncomfortable and a waste of time.

My child is in 4th/swims 5 days a week and he'd love to do this. No reason to opt out even if they swim already. Its not a big deal in the cold. A week to get kids under water and a basic doggy paddle is a good idea.

My kid is a competitive swimmer, and isn’t looking forward to this unit. Dealing with changing in a chaotic locker room and returning to school with wet hair in cold weather sounds unpleasant to her, and me. If there’s an easy opt out we’ll take it. Getting other kids in the water and hopefully comfortable with some basics is worth it, for sure, but that can happen without every single 3rd/4th grader along for the ride. In fact, it would free up instructors to focus on the kids who need attention.

If wet hair is such an issue, send a swim cap.

Swim caps don’t keep hair dry.

Not completely, but putting your hair up in a properly fitted swim cap will keep it from getting soaked. I have a hard time imagining that a competitive swimmer can’t cope with a little damp hair.

“Unpleasant” =\= “can’t cope.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an easy opt-out. Lots of kids are already in the water 2-3x per week with swim practice and meets. Getting soaking wet and then going back to school on a cold day after learning nothing is uncomfortable and a waste of time.

My child is in 4th/swims 5 days a week and he'd love to do this. No reason to opt out even if they swim already. Its not a big deal in the cold. A week to get kids under water and a basic doggy paddle is a good idea.

My kid is a competitive swimmer, and isn’t looking forward to this unit. Dealing with changing in a chaotic locker room and returning to school with wet hair in cold weather sounds unpleasant to her, and me. If there’s an easy opt out we’ll take it. Getting other kids in the water and hopefully comfortable with some basics is worth it, for sure, but that can happen without every single 3rd/4th grader along for the ride. In fact, it would free up instructors to focus on the kids who need attention.

If wet hair is such an issue, send a swim cap.

Swim caps don’t keep hair dry.

Not completely, but putting your hair up in a properly fitted swim cap will keep it from getting soaked. I have a hard time imagining that a competitive swimmer can’t cope with a little damp hair.

“Unpleasant” =\= “can’t cope.”

So don’t give permission and your kid can twiddle her thumbs in the back of another class while her class goes to swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an easy opt-out. Lots of kids are already in the water 2-3x per week with swim practice and meets. Getting soaking wet and then going back to school on a cold day after learning nothing is uncomfortable and a waste of time.

My child is in 4th/swims 5 days a week and he'd love to do this. No reason to opt out even if they swim already. Its not a big deal in the cold. A week to get kids under water and a basic doggy paddle is a good idea.

My kid is a competitive swimmer, and isn’t looking forward to this unit. Dealing with changing in a chaotic locker room and returning to school with wet hair in cold weather sounds unpleasant to her, and me. If there’s an easy opt out we’ll take it. Getting other kids in the water and hopefully comfortable with some basics is worth it, for sure, but that can happen without every single 3rd/4th grader along for the ride. In fact, it would free up instructors to focus on the kids who need attention.

If wet hair is such an issue, send a swim cap.

Swim caps don’t keep hair dry.

Not completely, but putting your hair up in a properly fitted swim cap will keep it from getting soaked. I have a hard time imagining that a competitive swimmer can’t cope with a little damp hair.

At that age, a child who competitive swims in the winter is swimming 3-5 days a week plus monthly meets depending on the club. Mine does 4 day a week practice, 1 day private plus monthly meets. They are all used to wet hair in the cold and its no big deal. Most would love play time in the pool as practice usually is not free play and pretty serious. Most kids who love swimming would gladly go to the pool regardless so this post makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a very good swimmer and has regular access to a pool He still enjoyed the swimming. He did it in 3rd in the spring and again in 4th in the fall. My understanding is that they do break into groups. Some kids are allowed in the deep pool and others stay in the more shallow pool (this is W-L).

I agree. No one is expecting these kids to learn how to swim in a week but even getting over a fear of water is a great start. Panicking in the water can be deadly.

My son told me a child in his class wasn't allowed to go. His mother wouldn't sign his permission slip b/c he didn't know how to swim. It seems like such a missed opportunity for that child.

I can understand why a parent would opt their child who doesn't know how to swim out. There are a lot of kids and only a limited number of adults watching them. If, as a previous poster said, Marymount offers free swim lessons to FARMS, then maybe the PTA and the school could find funding for a bus to pick up kids from a complex with a high concentration of FARMS for 10-12 weeks (or more if you can find business sponsors) on the weekend, in addition to this water safety unit. I'm in FCPS and the school (I believe through the PTA) funds busses for weekend outings on a regular basis from a high FARMS complex and people close by also walk over to get the bus. I think it's an important issue. The PTA funds reduced prices for after school enrichment, I think this is an equally important (or more important issue).

They probably have a 1-5 ratio or even 1-7 which is fine given probably 2/3 the kids can do a basic stroke. If they go with friends who are encouraging, kids may be more comfortable going underwater as its more fun with friends. My kid has gotten others under water who wouldn't as he'd just play and make it fun. My concern is the locker room in a public pool as anyone can enter and are there enough staff to supervise. Getting kids to at least doggy paddle is a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a very good swimmer and has regular access to a pool He still enjoyed the swimming. He did it in 3rd in the spring and again in 4th in the fall. My understanding is that they do break into groups. Some kids are allowed in the deep pool and others stay in the more shallow pool (this is W-L).

I agree. No one is expecting these kids to learn how to swim in a week but even getting over a fear of water is a great start. Panicking in the water can be deadly.

My son told me a child in his class wasn't allowed to go. His mother wouldn't sign his permission slip b/c he didn't know how to swim. It seems like such a missed opportunity for that child.

I can understand why a parent would opt their child who doesn't know how to swim out. There are a lot of kids and only a limited number of adults watching them. If, as a previous poster said, Marymount offers free swim lessons to FARMS, then maybe the PTA and the school could find funding for a bus to pick up kids from a complex with a high concentration of FARMS for 10-12 weeks (or more if you can find business sponsors) on the weekend, in addition to this water safety unit. I'm in FCPS and the school (I believe through the PTA) funds busses for weekend outings on a regular basis from a high FARMS complex and people close by also walk over to get the bus. I think it's an important issue. The PTA funds reduced prices for after school enrichment, I think this is an equally important (or more important issue).

They probably have a 1-5 ratio or even 1-7 which is fine given probably 2/3 the kids can do a basic stroke. If they go with friends who are encouraging, kids may be more comfortable going underwater as its more fun with friends. My kid has gotten others under water who wouldn't as he'd just play and make it fun. My concern is the locker room in a public pool as anyone can enter and are there enough staff to supervise. Getting kids to at least doggy paddle is a great idea.

No one is learning to doggie paddle in a week of these classes. I'm not sure getting a child comfortable with putting their head under water but no swimming skills is worth the expense and disruption of academic time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a very good swimmer and has regular access to a pool He still enjoyed the swimming. He did it in 3rd in the spring and again in 4th in the fall. My understanding is that they do break into groups. Some kids are allowed in the deep pool and others stay in the more shallow pool (this is W-L).

I agree. No one is expecting these kids to learn how to swim in a week but even getting over a fear of water is a great start. Panicking in the water can be deadly.

My son told me a child in his class wasn't allowed to go. His mother wouldn't sign his permission slip b/c he didn't know how to swim. It seems like such a missed opportunity for that child.

I can understand why a parent would opt their child who doesn't know how to swim out. There are a lot of kids and only a limited number of adults watching them. If, as a previous poster said, Marymount offers free swim lessons to FARMS, then maybe the PTA and the school could find funding for a bus to pick up kids from a complex with a high concentration of FARMS for 10-12 weeks (or more if you can find business sponsors) on the weekend, in addition to this water safety unit. I'm in FCPS and the school (I believe through the PTA) funds busses for weekend outings on a regular basis from a high FARMS complex and people close by also walk over to get the bus. I think it's an important issue. The PTA funds reduced prices for after school enrichment, I think this is an equally important (or more important issue).

They probably have a 1-5 ratio or even 1-7 which is fine given probably 2/3 the kids can do a basic stroke. If they go with friends who are encouraging, kids may be more comfortable going underwater as its more fun with friends. My kid has gotten others under water who wouldn't as he'd just play and make it fun. My concern is the locker room in a public pool as anyone can enter and are there enough staff to supervise. Getting kids to at least doggy paddle is a great idea.

No one is learning to doggie paddle in a week of these classes. I'm not sure getting a child comfortable with putting their head under water but no swimming skills is worth the expense and disruption of academic time.

So opt your kid out and get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was such a waste.

For kids who already know how to swim, it was worthless.

For kids who don't know how to swim, one week was way to short to teach them.

For non-swimmers, I would rather they give free vouchers to take the Arlington co swim classes so they actually could learn how to swim.

honestly- this is how I feel too. I know some of the kids who don't know how to swim. I have seen what the school swim class does. For one child it meant that he has gone from being afraid to put his face in to being willing to put his face in. That's great and I'm pleased he can do that. But if he fell into deep water- he'd drown. Getting them to the class took out a huge amount of instructional time- getting on a bus, etc.

incidentally- a couple years ago Marymount was offering free swim classes to any child who received free lunch. I'm not sure if they still are or if anyone took them up on it. Getting to Marymount for the classes is a challenge when you are FARMS.

SIGH. The point is not to teach a child how to swim in one week. Everyone knows that's impossible. But it IS possible to teach a child a few basic life safety techniques and very basic familiarity with the water.--and that's what these programs do, and very well I might add. Since the program's adoption in the 1970s, no APS child has drowned. Arlington Parks and Rec ALREADY has drastically reduced swim lessons. Guess what? There are not a lot of very low income kids there! There are many, many reasons why a child doesn't have access to swim lessons--lack of parental involvement, lack of transportation, ingrained societal resistance to water.

You people in your UMC bubble--why don't you get that? I'm sorry your kid has to suffer for a couple of weeks in the pool. Yeesh.

Bubble? Have you ever stopped to think about how this unit would work for a student with a disability? Spoiler alert - not well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a very good swimmer and has regular access to a pool He still enjoyed the swimming. He did it in 3rd in the spring and again in 4th in the fall. My understanding is that they do break into groups. Some kids are allowed in the deep pool and others stay in the more shallow pool (this is W-L).

I agree. No one is expecting these kids to learn how to swim in a week but even getting over a fear of water is a great start. Panicking in the water can be deadly.

My son told me a child in his class wasn't allowed to go. His mother wouldn't sign his permission slip b/c he didn't know how to swim. It seems like such a missed opportunity for that child.

I can understand why a parent would opt their child who doesn't know how to swim out. There are a lot of kids and only a limited number of adults watching them. If, as a previous poster said, Marymount offers free swim lessons to FARMS, then maybe the PTA and the school could find funding for a bus to pick up kids from a complex with a high concentration of FARMS for 10-12 weeks (or more if you can find business sponsors) on the weekend, in addition to this water safety unit. I'm in FCPS and the school (I believe through the PTA) funds busses for weekend outings on a regular basis from a high FARMS complex and people close by also walk over to get the bus. I think it's an important issue. The PTA funds reduced prices for after school enrichment, I think this is an equally important (or more important issue).

Yes, THIS. Staffing ratio for kids who don't know how to swim or who have a physical issue - is just not safe in APS swim "classes."

[Anonymous]

They probably have a 1-5 ratio or even 1-7 which is fine given probably 2/3 the kids can do a basic stroke. If they go with friends who are encouraging, kids may be more comfortable going underwater as its more fun with friends. My kid has gotten others under water who wouldn't as he'd just play and make it fun. My concern is the locker room in a public pool as anyone can enter and are there enough staff to supervise. Getting kids to at least doggy paddle is a great idea.

What do you mean "probably." Obviously you never asked. Ratios are NOWHERE near what you say. Ask the school or ask your child. When we did it, they had two adults teaching swimming - one PE teacher and 1 APS aquatics person - for 50 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

They probably have a 1-5 ratio or even 1-7 which is fine given probably 2/3 the kids can do a basic stroke. If they go with friends who are encouraging, kids may be more comfortable going underwater as its more fun with friends. My kid has gotten others under water who wouldn't as he'd just play and make it fun. My concern is the locker room in a public pool as anyone can enter and are there enough staff to supervise. Getting kids to at least doggy paddle is a great idea.

What do you mean "probably." Obviously you never asked. Ratios are NOWHERE near what you say. Ask the school or ask your child. When we did it, they had two adults teaching swimming - one PE teacher and 1 APS aquatics person - for 50 kids.



And yet, nobody has ever drowned or been harmed during the swim unit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an easy opt-out. Lots of kids are already in the water 2-3x per week with swim practice and meets. Getting soaking wet and then going back to school on a cold day after learning nothing is uncomfortable and a waste of time.

My child is in 4th/swims 5 days a week and he'd love to do this. No reason to opt out even if they swim already. Its not a big deal in the cold. A week to get kids under water and a basic doggy paddle is a good idea.

My kid is a competitive swimmer, and isn’t looking forward to this unit. Dealing with changing in a chaotic locker room and returning to school with wet hair in cold weather sounds unpleasant to her, and me. If there’s an easy opt out we’ll take it. Getting other kids in the water and hopefully comfortable with some basics is worth it, for sure, but that can happen without every single 3rd/4th grader along for the ride. In fact, it would free up instructors to focus on the kids who need attention.

Wow. So inconvenient and unpleasant for your competitive swimmer. You should definitely opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They probably have a 1-5 ratio or even 1-7 which is fine given probably 2/3 the kids can do a basic stroke. If they go with friends who are encouraging, kids may be more comfortable going underwater as its more fun with friends. My kid has gotten others under water who wouldn't as he'd just play and make it fun. My concern is the locker room in a public pool as anyone can enter and are there enough staff to supervise. Getting kids to at least doggy paddle is a great idea.

What do you mean "probably." Obviously you never asked. Ratios are NOWHERE near what you say. Ask the school or ask your child. When we did it, they had two adults teaching swimming - one PE teacher and 1 APS aquatics person - for 50 kids.

And yet, nobody has ever drowned or been harmed during the swim unit.

Yet.

[Anonymous]

Some people are bizarrely offended by the fact that the swim unit doesn’t jazz everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are bizarrely offended by the fact that the swim unit doesn’t jazz everyone.

I think it must be Yorktwon pool mom. An oldie but a goodie:

https://www.arlnow.com/2016/06/09/arlington-mom-swim-instructors-man-boobs-should-be-covered-around-my-daughter/