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To Sam

My school P.E. Teacher.

Hi Sam,

              So today I was at school and it was 2nd lesson which was P.E. At my school we have to line up to go in to the changing  rooms to change into our P.E. Kits. A couple of girls (this is out 60 girls approx) were talking and messing about so we had to stay lined up outside in the freezing cold until we were all quiet and lined up in a perfect straight line. 15 mins later we were still outside because a few girls failed to stop talking and then we were let into the changing rooms and were told to change into our P.E.Kit  and go back outside. We all got changed in 3mins and went back outside in the -1 degree weather  in our P.E. Shorts and short sleeved shirts. We stood outside for 1 hour in the cold and the bell went for break. We ask our teacher politely if we can get changed but she said NO. Now students started to come out of the classrooms and the saw us in our P.E. Kits lined up and laughed at us. They even took pictures will the teachers smiled at our embarrassment. 20 mins later we were told to go inside and get changed so we did. While I was getting changed I heard one of my friends shouting "HURRY GET MISS, SHE CANT BREATH" so I went to see what was going on and I saw my friend crying and struggling to breath I told my other friends to give her some air and I felt as if I was going to burst out tears. She looked so destroyed. So she finally recovered and when I was finished getting changed she was sat down by on off the teachers. The teacher was laughing at her. I was very upset, but I always keep my anger inside. However I was in agony and the veins in my arms were twitching. I coughed so much and even in my warm classroom I felt a huge amount of cold in my shoulders and arms. I'm not going to get into all of the story but there's more to it. 

                      I hope you read this.

Ask Sam

Sam

Hello there,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me. 

It sounds as though you had a horrible day at school and it has left you feeling really angry and upset at the way the teacher behaved and the effect it had on you and your friends.

Teachers sometimes do things to make a point or treat somebody in a way that sets an example to the rest of the class. From what you have said it sounds as though your teacher wanted to highlight the behaviour of the people who were messing about in line and did this by making you all stand outside in your PE Kits. Making you all stand there for an hour in the freezing cold sounds as though she went a bit far. I can hear how embarrassing it was for you when other children started to look at you during break. You don't mention if you have told anyone at home about this, like a parent of carer.

You have told me about what happened to your friend and I want you to know that it was not okay for the teacher to laugh at her. Teachers are there to support you and make sure you are safe whilst at school and it doesn’t sound as though your friend got much support from this particular teacher and that you all ended up feeling embarrassed. Embarrassment is really hard to deal with as it can happen so quickly and we feel exposed. Often it feels like something is happening that we can't control.  Sometimes people who make us feels embarrassed do not realise what they have done and it can sometimes help to let these people know how their actions and words have affected us.

It sounds like there is a lot more that you wanted to say. I just want you to know that you can talk to the counsellors here at ChildLine. You can talk online using the 1-2-1 chat service or you can simply call 0800 11 11 for free. You can also send an email to a counsellor and then when you get a response you can reply to them when it suits you. The counsellors are there to listen and support you in any way they can. They will never judge you or make you say anything you don’t want to.

Take Care,

Sam

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