Mum refuses to send toddler to school because of obese teacher

Hilary Freeman, a London-based mum and journalist, has been receiving death threats over a recent article she wrote about not sending her child to school with an obese teacher.

She wrote for the Daily Mail admitting the reason she chose not to enrol her 2-year-old daughter at a nursery school was because the assistant teacher was obese.

“I was expecting some level of backlash, given that this is such an emotive subject,” Freeman exclusively tells Us Weekly. “But I had no idea quite how big it would be.”

Freeman began by recalling the day she toured the facility and observed the assistant playing with her little girl.

Though the woman was “kind and great with children” Freeman had concerns about her health.

“She was only in her 20s but she moved slowly and breathlessly, her face flushed,” Freeman claimed in the Daily Mail

“Would she, I wondered, have the lightning reflexes needed to save an adventurous toddler from imminent danger?”

She also questioned the “unhealthy habits” her daughter might learn.

“Looking around, I noticed that she wasn’t the only extremely overweight member of staff. I couldn’t help worrying about the message this was sending to the children in their care: that being very fat is normal — and when children adopt role models so readily — even desirable,” Freeman continued.

She chose another school where the staff are all a “healthy” weight.

Her article received more than 2,600 comments. But many have messaged Freeman personally. “Unfortunately some of my good friends have been hurt by my article, which was not intentional, and I regret that,” she tells Us Weekly.

“I wanted to generate what I think is a much needed debate.”

“I never said I wouldn’t allow a fat teacher to teach my child. I just said that I was concerned that a morbidly obese nursery assistant, not a qualified school teacher, might not be able to keep up with active toddlers and that when choosing between two nurses, this was one influential factor in my decision,” Freeman tells Us Weekly.

“At that nursery they were eating jam sandwiches . . . something I wouldn’t give my daughter. At the other they have hummus and cucumber and tomatoes.”

Read her full post on Daily Mail HERE

Should teachers/carers be better role models?

Do you think she makes a fair point? Or is she being totally offensive?

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11 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 17 Sep 2017
    6:09 pm
……but aren’t we supposed to be teaching our kids about inclusitivity? lol this behaviour is too rude and shallow.

- - jen1234 said
  - 17 Sep 2017
    9:46 am
I agree with the parent. The first 5 years are important and kids learn from their environment. If they are surrounded by people who aren’t energetic and eat jam sandwiches all day, they are not wonderful messages. However, I wouldn’t be fat shaming the place. That doesn’t help anyone’s self esteem.

- - Ellen said
  - 14 Sep 2017
    7:31 am
It’s her decision and she has the right to act on that, but personally I don’t think there is a need to share on social media.

- - mom206279 said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    7:34 pm
Its her decision if she wants to send to to a nursery school with healthier food. I really don’t think it was appropriate to instantly post her decision online for all to know about.

- - nealsq said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    4:42 pm
you would be surprised how fast anyone can move when they see someone in danger, especially a child!
- mom93821 replied
  
  14 Sep 2017 , 8:19 am
  Absolutely 100% agree with your comment – adrenalin kicks in and training too.
- - mom93821 said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    4:29 pm
It would appear assumptions are being made; equating healthy weight with sharp reflexes as stated in the article. Healthy weight and attention and reflexes are all different things. I would hope other factors such as teaching and learning etc are also factors in choosing a school. In this situation it is probably best that the parent and child are at another school as the relationship would not be harmonious anyway with judgments being made. At least the journalist was prepared for the backlash.

- - mom112217 said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    4:26 pm
I do believe she has taken it too far but she has every right to do what she think is right.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    3:31 pm
I do understand where she’s coming from, but at the same time I think it’s a bit harsh!

- - mom160421 said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    2:44 pm
Years ago when I wanted to enroll my daughter into a pre-school, I visited three in the local vicinity and chose the one where I felt the most comfortable and where the children appeared the happiest. I guess we all make judgments. I’m not sure if I agree with the author of this article, but she is entitled to her opinion.

- - mom90758 said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    2:12 pm
Mmm… This is a difficult one. I am not sure about a teacher even if, in case of a nursery school, I understand her concern. Small kids are very active and you want security that they are good taken care of.
In my case one overweight doctor puts me off personally. I wouldn’t be very willing to listen to health suggestions from a person that doesn’t take very good care of his body.