Really specific swimming lessons question - height/deep end

DD is 5.5. She is in a level 2 swimming class and hasn't been happy with it.. she said she got scared and cried when she had to go down to get a diving stick because she couldn't get back above water and that she's not supposed to hold on to the wall but has to....so I kept my eyes on the class the whole time today... she was clinging to the wall with both hands for the whole class. When they did bobs, the teacher held DD like she was a baby. The teacher asked them to put their hands in the air a certain way, DD couldn't do it, she was clinging to the wall. This was confusing to me at first, she's usually pretty good in the water, she can't swim at all but isn't that what lessons are for?

***Turns out they have DD in 42" of water, DD is 44.5".*** How the heck can you participate if you either have to stand on your tippy toes or hold on to the wall? I've seen her jump up and down and put her head under in other pools, Ive seen her pick things off the floor of the pool, etc. but the difference was she always had the ability to stand if she got freaked out.

I talked to the teacher afterwards and she says she prefers to teach the class in deeper water so the kids don't rely on the shallow water and being able to stand in it. The two other kids in her class are tall enough and are bouncing all around. Even if DD was an expert swimmer she'd have to try to float for 30 minutes while taking the course. The teacher seems to be dismissing DD's wall clinging as fear of the water when I think it's her inability to stand comfortably and concentrate on what is going on.

Am I a loon? I'm thinking of calling or emailing the coordinator and asking for a refund of to take the class again free of charge where DD can stand and focus. ***I need you girls to tell me if this is the norm and if I'm being unreasonable with my expectations.***

FWIW, this is the description of the level 2 course:
For swimmers who are willing to submerge themselves underwater, blow bubbles, push off the wall without assistance but cannot swim a coordinated stroke. This class focuses on introduction to freestyle, including but not limited to floating, kicking, side­breathing and stroke technique.

This is the 1 course that she already took somewhere else and I think has mastered these skills:
For children who have the ability to hold themselves above water with a float or on the wall without a parent/caregiver. This class focuses on water adjustment, safety and beginner skills for swimming a coordinated stroke.

Sorry so long!

Re: Really specific swimming lessons question - height/deep end

I would talk to them. DD is in swim lessons and while not doing those types of things just yet, they do have these things they put in the pool to make it so that she has a place to stand when she's not working on a swim thing in the deeper water.

Re: Really specific swimming lessons question - height/deep end

She sounds way too young to for what they are doing!

Really specific swimming lessons question - height/deep end

I taught swim lessons for 10 years. In level 2, they should be in the shallow section unless practicing for a short period of time in deeper water. I'd express my concern again to the instructor.

Is this at a town pool like the town of Hempstead? If so, I'd ask to speak with instructor lieutenant if she refuses to move them.

Re: Really specific swimming lessons question - height/deep end

Level 2 is taught in the 3 feet section. Where all the kids can stand. Lessons in our own don't start until 6 because they want the kids to stand in the 3 feet before starting.

Re: Really specific swimming lessons question - height/deep end

Thanks everyone, this helped.

I emailed the director of aquatics and she is giving me a full refund. She said they SHOULD be learning some of the class in the deep end so that they aren't relying on standing but the water should not have been over my daughter's head for the entirety of the class and has spoken to all of the instructors to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Pretty happy with the resolution. I feel so bad for my daughter who clung to the side of the pool for 4 straight classes, proud she took it so well!