She's been injured before, does she have to do P.E.?

Question

Okay, my daughter is thirteen, and has really bad feet problems. She's been in a cast four times since the third grade, and she is now going into eighth. At her Middle School, every time she has done Physical Education she has either gotten a sprain which called for a cast, fractured a bone (cast needed), or broken a bone. In two years, she has been in P.E. three times, and every time has had a serious injury. My question is, if I write a note from, me, her parent, before she gets injured asking for her not to be in P.E., does she have to do it? I don't want to have to continue to pay hundreds of dollars for doctor's appointments or casts. I do not want her in P.E. this year, by law, can they force her to do it, if before school starts, I tell them this?

P.S. We are in Tennessee.

Answer 1

Get a doctors note then they cant fail her if she doesnt take it

Answer 2

Hmm...that's weird. All of your other questions say that YOUR thirteen. Talk to your parents about this situation.

Answer 3

There are several things you should and could do.

A note from you might be ignored, or argued with, since some school authorities think they know better than the parents what is best for a child.  Something in writing from the doctor is far more valuable here.

You could also attempt to get the school system to pay the medical costs.  After all, the injuries occurred on school property, during activities required of your daughter by the school system.  If we are injured in a shopping mall, or retail establishment, it has insurance to compensate the victims.  If we are injured on the job, there is employer insurance to compensate the workers.  Should a school be any different?  If a student is injured at school, the parents should have reasonable expectation that the school has insurance to compensate the medical expenses.

The school system will fight your claim tooth and nail, but your real goal is to stop them from making future demands upon your child that put her at risk of this happening again.  If you are fortunate, maybe some of your doctor costs will be reimbursed by the school system insurance.

Some other answers relate some teacher or official demand their kids be in PE & not care about special situation.  If this happens with you, document name of person who is being a s****t, then add that person name in your bill to school system for medical expenses caused by their stupid policy enforcers.  

The school system can try to ignore you, so also inform the news media.  Discuss this with your daughter.  She may not want to be in a media circus, where TV is showing X-rays of her broken bones, interviewing doctors about how painful this must have been, railing at the school system for making her go through this torture again and again.

PE exists for good reason.  You need to look into alternative ways for her to grow into a healthy young woman.  I suggest swimming is one great way to get good exercise without placing weak bones at risks comparable to those associated with exercise on land.

If your finances are constrained, I suggest you check out the YMCA YWCA.  They exist in most decent sized communities, often have an indoor swimming pool, for year round access.  Membership costs much less than private health clubs.

You should ask your doctor for guidance on this.

Depending on traffic and other safety and opportunities in your community, bicycling and boat rowing, might be additional good ways to get exercise, with dramatically lowered risk of more foot or leg damage.

There are doctors who specialize in sports injuries, who should understand the risks of different kinds of physical activities on various parts of our anatomy, and advise on the alternatives available.  The more she can try out, the higher the odds she will find something she enjoys, that has little or no risk, and will be an important building block for her future physical health and well being.

I have found it useful in my life after bad incidents to analyse what changes in my personal habits are wise to avoid risk of THAT ever happening again.

e.g. If it is raining, do not run for shelter.  Better to get wet, than slip and fall.

There's more I'd like to say, but Yahoo Answers space limited..

Answer 4

If you give a signed note, I think she should be okay to not participate

Other options:

- a talk with the gym teacher/principal.

- a doctor's note

Answer 5

I think a doctors note would be best.  Yes they can force her if there are no physical reasons.  Being clumsy does not count.  

Answer 6

Yes she has to do PE if it's part of the school requirements.  Unless your school lists alternatives.  Often in cases like this they will just say you have to come to class but you can sit out and do these other assignments I have for you.

Let the teachers know of the problem.

Answer 7

To be exempt from the physical education requirement, you must obtain a doctor's note that she has a high risk for physical injury if she is in PE.  Then, bring it to the school nurse and tell them that your daughter can not be in PE.  If they make her take PE even though you gave them a note from your doctor exempting your daughter from it, then you will have grounds for a law suit.  

Note:This is on a general basis on school district and county laws.  I need to know the school district to give you accurate information on the applicible laws.

Answer 8

Give them a note and a list of previous injuries.  Hopefully they will understand, if not your daughter will be running with the rest of 'em.

Answer 9

I reside in California and my daughter has Kidney Disease.

They would force her to do P.E. I told them why she couldn't and she would be sent home because she would be in pain and she would swell. In California it is the law and they still tried even with doctors notes stating that she was not allowed to. My other daughter broke her foot and was in a cast up to her knee. I was called by the P.E. teacher who stated that my daughter was not participating in P.E. I told him that Hello she is in a cast and has a note in the office for no P.E. he didn't care...

Make sure that you get physicians notes and sue the H out of them if they force her.

Best Wishes