3.28. My daughter's gym classes are interfering with her ballet training.What can I do to make the school listen?
Description
This article is from the Ballet and Modern Dance FAQ, by Tom Parsons twp@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.
3.28. My daughter's gym classes are interfering with her ballet training.What can I do to make the school listen?
A great deal depends on the form the gym class takes; don't panic
until you have found exactly what the gym classes entail and have discussed
the matter with your daughter's (or son's) teacher.
As for what to do if it is indeed a serious problem, one poster on
this group replied as follows:
Primarily we have found it difficult to deal directly with PE
teachers; rather, we have educated our doctor! By finding numerous
articles related to ballet biomechanics and running, we were able to
show our physician that good running form contradicts good ballet
form. The doctor signed the school district exemption for us with the
diagnosis "serious ballet student". (Similar exemptions are given to
sports athletes.)
If the PE teacher still fails to heed the physician's note,
(which we have been told to expect in junior high here), it has been
suggested to us to say to the principal "Under advice of counsel, we
need the names of all who are involved in undermining our medical
doctor's advice." Get from him the names of the individuals that will
appear on a legal suit, whether or not you intend to proceed, including
the PE teachers and the principal, or anyone else who desires to take
responsibility.
At this point, the principal will probably wake up. While you
have his attention, explain:
1) the number of years your child has devoted to training; explain
the commitment; iterate the time and expense you have
contributed to support the pursuit of her dream;
2) show the state's minimum PE requirement in minutes per week,
compared to the number of minutes per week your daughter trains
--usually the ballet training exceeds the PE requirements by
four- or five-to-one.
3) show the body of evidence that you presented to your physician,
along with the physician's exemption.
4) explain the damage that PE commonly inflicts on a serious ballet
student.
5) Impart the information that if your daughter does suffer
injury, you will request damages based on a full ballet career,
which has been denied her because of the school's inflexibility
and shortsighted stupidity.
In these times, authorities prioritize matters by legal threats, thus
attracting what they hope to avoid.
Best of luck. Write back if you are successful.
--William Fitzgerald wdfitzgrld@pplant.ucdavis.edu
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