I loved PE. It raised my grade point, as I always got an E, or an A..depending on the grade level. I don't remember feeling self conscious in front of boys...but, I have always been pretty athletic. I do remember NEVER taking a shower...cause of my hair, make up and the 2.5 seconds between class ending and the next one starting.

I don't agree that taking PE either gets you in shape, makes you athletic, or gives you good 'skills' for later in life. BUT, for ME neither did math or science. (I mean- mean anything or do anything for me in later life, not that math didn't get me in shape..he he) Talk about feeling inadequate, self conscious, like a 'loser'...that is what those classes did to me. To this day, I can't do much more than basic math without the aid of a calculator.

But, what PE, and all those other "stupid" (I don't really mean that) classes like math and science, do is give you exposure. Exposure you might not get any other way (and, with the obesity rate what it is, we apparently aren't getting the exposure). Many, many kids won't EVER speak or use a foreign language (state side only), but, for my high school, you needed two years of foreign language. I never planned a musical career (good thing for Janet, eh?), but, I had to take music/chorus(and I still scare Binx when I sing).

As to PE teachers being mean, nasty, fat, etc., they are just like everyone else, subject to the same faults we all have. Just because my science teacher 'taught' me science, didn't mean he was up for the next Nobel prize (it IS Nobel for science, isn't it? Do I mean Grammy or Emmy?). So, why should a PE teacher be expected to be the next Arnold S? You take the class, do your best (as that is all you can do), and take from it something, hopefully, that opens your mind. Maybe the ONLY thing you will learn is to be less focused on someone's physical attributes?

And, finally, the only way I think the grade in PE should be based on 'effort' , rather than skill, is if that same scale is used across the board. I tried VERY hard in math, and still got barely passing grades. Should I have received an "A" for effort, rather than a "C" for skill level? I don't think so, sadly. I would have had a 4.0!