Physical Education in Schools

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Originally posted by 2kitties
Childhood obesity in the US is reaching epidemic levels. And, an obese child is almost certain to be an obese adult. I'd like to see twice the PE in schools at all ages. Fitness is important to health and gives us quality of life.

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I agree. I think that we need to push kids to be more active. We have to teach them to take care of their bodies from a young age.

With that being said, I totally know how you feel. I was never athletic. I was especially bad at softball. I catch and throw right, so I have to tear my glove off to throw the ball. And half the time, I'm such a dork that I accidently throw the glove. I can't bat worth a dang either. My teacher was a softball coach, so that's all we ever did. I used to neraly have panic attacks when I knew it was a softball day. Swimming...out of the question. I can swim to get by. But it was humiliating for me to have to swim in front of people as a test. I do remember those feelings.

My best advice (and it was a solution for me), is to talk to your teacher again. Ask her if you can substitute the activities that you are uncomfortable doing for something else. I used to walk the track or jog bleachers while everyone else played softball.

I thought my friends would make fun of me because they were all athletic, but I think they were more relieved to get me off of their team. lol.

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Originally posted by 2kitties
Childhood obesity in the US is reaching epidemic levels. And, an obese child is almost certain to be an obese adult. I'd like to see twice the PE in schools at all ages. Fitness is important to health and gives us quality of life.

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I agree, 100%!

In my school district, its required to take PE all 4 years of high school. I think PE is VERY important, especially with how bad the obesity rates are in our country, especially amongst the younger generation. I don't know how to swim either.............not really anyway. I would ***never*** take swimming classes at school ***ever***. Its a good thing we have so many choices here, from running/tennis/bowling to swimming and almost every other sport. If I *had* to take swimming, I would find some other school, but there is no way I would swim in a place where boys and girls are swimming, pretty much naked. Bleh. I ***hate*** bikinis and swim suits.........absolutely hate them, so I know how you feel. I never go near any public pool only because I cannot stand looking at people dressed like that (or should I say.....*undressed* like that). :p

But swimming aside, I think physical education is a neccessity and SHOULD be required. I'm all for it...........not because of looks, but because its important to take care of your health, and physical activity should be a way of life, for everyone. When you get in a habit of something when you are young, its stays with you. I think its very important to start exercising at a young age, because that is when you can best take control of your health, before it is too late. Not all parents are well educated in the nutrition/fitness field, so I think schools play an important role in guiding the younger generation in leading healthy lives.

So.........while I understand what you're saying, I'm still all for PE as as obligation in schools. They should just provide students with more options, AND, in my opinion, they should have seperate facilities for boys and girls, because I noticed a LOT of girls and boys at school don't feel comfortable doing certain exercises in front of the opposite sex, and many (especially girls) become self concious. I think its humiliating for students who aren't comfortable with it. Personally, I don't feel comfortable around guys...........I just don't. With girls I'm perfectly fine, but I really don't feel comfortable around boys, especially when it comes to working out in front of them. I'm ok with sports that aren't exposing, but for things that I can't participate in, I just tell the teacher I can't for religious reasons (which is true.......I can't do exposing things in front of guys for religious reasons, or participate in sports for which I would have to wear exposing clothes), and they let me off. The other kids glare at me and all the other students who get excused for religious reasons, because they can't do that and are jealous (they SAY they are jealous!). He he he. :p

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Originally posted by Felicia's Mom
I took PE in the late 50's and early 60's, and it is probably a lot different now. We had to take it through 12th grade, but skipped a day in between.

I didn't like it. That started back in grade school when captains
(other students), would choose their teams. I was always the last one to be chosen. That didn't make me want to win for my team. I love to jump on the trampoline (sp), and things like that. I couldn't do those because of my epilepsy.

Teachers were not rude.

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I had the same experience when I was in grade school, the formative years. I was always picked last, because I started kindergarten when I was four, and, was always the youngest in all of my grades. And, I'm only 5'1, now, so, I was almost always the smallest person too. I never participated in competitive team sports, because my self esteem was zero in that area. I hated PE, but, I still think it's a good idea to be required. I also think, though, that it has a lot to do with the teacher. My gym teachers overseas at American schools were crap. The gym teacher when I went to Nurnberg was overweight and did nothing but sit down and scream. Ugh.

I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill where ALL students are required to complete 2 semesters of a PE and
ALL students (except the handicapped) MUST pass a swim test in order to graduate. Some trustee way back when lost his daughter to a drowning so he donated an obscene amt of money to the school if they would require all students to pass the swim test. So, now, every student must pass that test in order to get their degree. 5 minutes in water over your head. No exceptions.

I think it is Fantastic. You would be surprised how many people can't swim. And, since 2 PE's are required, then those who can't swim are able to take swimming as one of their PE electives.
Poppy, they do make arrangements for students who prefer single sex facilities.

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Originally posted by 2kitties

Poppy, they do make arrangements for students who prefer single sex facilities.

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I know.............They do in some schools, but not all. I think they should have that facility in all schools. In my school, it depends on the sport. For some sports, there are seperate facilities for girls and boys, but for others, they are mixed. Funny thing is in my school, tennis is seperate, but swimming isn't! I find that ridiculous. :p

that is strange, pops. It's too bad that some kids have to miss out on getting to swim at your school, but they don't give you trouble for sitting out due to religion, do they? I would think they should be respectful of that choice.

My high school didn't have a pool, so we didn't do any swimming. There was a swim team, but they swam at the local Y. I think it would be a pain to have to get my hair wet and refix it at school. :) i know I know. I'm a girlie girl. lol

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Originally posted by 2kitties
but they don't give you trouble for sitting out due to religion, do they? I would think they should be respectful of that choice.

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Nope, not at all. They're very respectful of such issues at school.

I hated P.E. as well. I think the majority of kids did.

We had NO choices. Everyone did the same thing, at the same time, in the same gym. Period. So it was NO fun.

But, I survived. We all did.

I think it's important, not only to teach kids about getting and staying in shape (because some kids have NO clue), but also because simply having to do it builds some self-confidence sometimes. I think having to do things that make us uncomfortable sometimes forces us to broaden our horizons and become a little stronger. And everyone needs that.

You have my full empathy, PE was compulsory in my day, and still is in most schools I believe, I hated it with a passion, I used to get my mother to write notes, and get out of it as much as I could, she also hated PE as a youngster, probably the only reason she let me off.

I can always remember a comment in my school report to this day for PE," Carole does not over-exert herself", you better believe it, I dreaded it.

However I do agree with the others on the fitness thing, kids do need more activity these days, so I would say its here to stay, if not more of it, also today there are so many new options, the kids today get really good choices of sport to play etc.

Luckily both my children are keen sports people, (not like their mother) so I encourage them as much as I can.

I know its tough when you hate it, and it seems so unfair, but its life and you will get through it , hey five years ago this so called PE hater was addicted to the gym, so there ya go, only gave it up because of injury, and hope to return this year if possible.

So try to make the best of a bad situation, I know easier said than done, but unfortunately its here to stay, as for the swimsuits, again I am suprised , no bikinis allowed here, especially not skimpy ones.

Having asthma can be tricky, but my son is an asthmatic and plays sport constantly, especially cricket, but then its his passion, but if you manage your condition properly, you should be able to cope, maybe it will hinder you some, but you will be ok.

Anyhow GOOD LUCK!!! I am really on your side.:D

I don't think I agree that having PE as a compulsory class encourages a healthier lifestyle. In fact, it's often such a negative, degrading, humiliating experience that all physical activity becomes something associated with embarrasment and pain. So people avoid it outside of school.

I wish PE wasn't compulsory here. Or, at least that we had some choices. We have to take it for four years, and there are no choices in units. Everyone does the same, from Year 7 to 11. Swimming is also a core unit from Years 7 to 10.

For me, team sports like Netball are the worst. They're humiliating because I'm awful at them, and so I feel really bad for the team that I'm on. You become self concious of the way you play, and every time you miss a ball it doesn't make you stronger, or boost your self esteem. It just makes you want to go the toilets and cry.

I hope things get better for you YellowLabLover. I guess the only thing to do is keep on keeping on.

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Originally posted by zanzanfergie
For me, team sports like Netball are the worst. They're humiliating because I'm awful at them, and so I feel really bad for the team that I'm on. You become self concious of the way you play, and every time you miss a ball it doesn't make you stronger, or boost your self esteem. It just makes you want to go the toilets and cry.

I hope things get better for you YellowLabLover. I guess the only thing to do is keep on keeping on.

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Yeah, I know what you are saying. I thinks kids should be encouraged to try sports though. Perhaps it would be a better solution if physical activity was required at school, but they could choose what they were going to do. Like at my brother's highschool, he could choose from dance class, basketball class, swim class, etc... I know that would be expensive though. His highschool was huge.

I would be interested in an age related poll on this. Seems to me the kids in high school are the majority of those who want no PE and those of us who somehow made it through see the value.
Maybe, maybe not.

i used to take swimming at school every other year and i hated it when i had to do it, but i missed it when we didn't. i didn't like how we had it before or during school because i never dried all the way and then my clothes would stick to me...and when we had it before schoole i would just wear my swimsiut under my clothes there so i wouldn''t have to change in front of everybody...of course that didn't work becuase half the time i forgot to bring underwear to chaneint to afterwards :o :rolleyes:

Honestly, I don't enjoy PE.................I just like that its there because its good for us. I agree with Sarah that it doesn't boost your self esteem when you aren't comfortable about something. It makes you want to cry. I personally prefer working with weights, on the treadmill, etc. things we don't do at school...........but still, physical education is important, and should be there. They should just have more options, and more privacy. :p

2kitties, that would be interesting. I am happy that I had PE in high school. I know it is what made me have better health today. Maybe not mentally, LOL, but physically I have stayed in pretty good shape. I think it comes from the workouts I had in PE.

You look at what is does for your future, though now I know I need to get out there and start working out again. Got behind on it when I feel and broke my foot, resulting in getting lazy!!

Willie