Physical Education in schools.

[Tmy]

I read this article that schools were phasing out Phys Ed even though state law requires a # of hrs per week. The thought being that the time can be better used on other subjects (ie We need to teach to the do-or-die standardize test)

What do you think of phys ed?? We hear about kids getting fatter, should we de dropping gym then?

In my day it was kinda a waste. We had a 50 minute class but when you take out time to dress and undress it was really 25 minutes of actual class time. THen we'd just play basketball or sumthin lame to keep us busy.

If there was a good PE class, I think itd be worth it. Not climbing ropes, or that dopey presidental fitness test. Teach them pilates or weight training techniques ect..

 

[TragicMonkey]

Phys ed is important, but more for the younger kids. It should be fazed out by high school. Kids of that age will either be active in their own time or not, but there's no point in forcing it. They need to be ready for the real world, where nobody makes you work out. (Besides, we're talking about teenagers by that time, and they don't need more encouragement to undress in public.)

I'm biased because I moved around a lot, and on arriving in Virginia for my senior year was told on registration that I needed an extra year of Phys Ed to graduate, since Virginia's requirement was two years rather than the one I had had in Tennessee. I stared down the guidance counselor and asked her if she was seriously suggesting I drop a college-level class in order to take Phys Ed, and what exactly did that say about the quality of education in Virginia? She backed down and counted a health class I had taken earlier as equivalent. I hated to have to be nasty, but there were college credits at stake, and that translated directly into tuition savings.

 

[Tmy]

Phys ed is important, but more for the younger kids. It should be fazed out by high school. Kids of that age will either be active in their own time or not, but there's no point in forcing it. They need to be ready for the real world, where nobody makes you work out. (Besides, we're talking about teenagers by that time, and they don't need more encouragement to undress in public.)

.

But its still eductaion. Just like Trig or Spanish. Whether you're going to use it or not.

Plus everyone should have an understanding of the rules of baseball!! How else can you enjoy the Sox -Yankee games!

 

[Lisa Simpson]

I wish they would teach fitness in school, not competitive sports. Aerobics and weight lifting will bring a lifetime of health benefits, but how many people really continue on with competitive sports once they aren't in school anymore?

My oldest has to take two years of PE in order to graduate from HS.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I wish they would teach fitness in school, not competitive sports. Aerobics and weight lifting will bring a lifetime of health benefits, but how many people really continue on with competitive sports once they aren't in school anymore?

My oldest has to take two years of PE in order to graduate from HS.

But children don't really think about fitness much. Doesn't matter how much you tell them exercise is good....they simply cannot imagine themselves getting older, much less getting fatter. They think their metabolism will run like that forever. Let them learn the hard way, like the rest of us! Skinny little punks!

(Okay, I'm really biased. I've reached an age where my metabolism has slowed down and I actually have to watch what I eat. And I'm resentful!)

 

[Tmy]

But children don't really think about fitness much. Doesn't matter how much you tell them exercise is good....they simply cannot imagine themselves getting older, much less getting fatter. They think their metabolism will run like that forever. Let them learn the hard way, like the rest of us! Skinny little punks!

(Okay, I'm really biased. I've reached an age where my metabolism has slowed down and I actually have to watch what I eat. And I'm resentful!)

But when they do get older and start thinking of health it'd be nice to have knowlege on how to weight train, or stretch properly bla bla bla.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

But children don't really think about fitness much. Doesn't matter how much you tell them exercise is good....they simply cannot imagine themselves getting older, much less getting fatter. They think their metabolism will run like that forever. Let them learn the hard way, like the rest of us! Skinny little punks!

(Okay, I'm really biased. I've reached an age where my metabolism has slowed down and I actually have to watch what I eat. And I'm resentful!)

I know they don't think about it much. That's why they have to be taught it. And look at all the fine example of middle aged spread they have in the form of the other teachers.

I have reached that age as well. My kids can eat anything and still stay skinny. OTOH, I don't want to be a teenager again.

 

[TragicMonkey]

But when they do get older and start thinking of health it'd be nice to have knowlege on how to weight train, or stretch properly bla bla bla.

There's a multimillion dollar magazine, book, and health club industry for that. Good heavens, you're actually suggesting people remember things from school.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

There's a multimillion dollar magazine, book, and health club industry for that. Good heavens, you're actually suggesting people remember things from school.

My son is learning volleyball. Which would last him longer--volleyball or fitness? Because they are going to teach him something. He has to take two years of it.

Besides, I remember things from HS. Like "Donde esta la casa de Pepe? "

 

[AtheistArchon]

(Okay, I'm really biased. I've reached an age where my metabolism has slowed down and I actually have to watch what I eat. And I'm resentful!)

- You think that's bad? Yesterday I found four gray chin-whiskers. Gray!! (Yes, on my own chin, not on the sidewalk.)

 

[HarryKeogh]

true story, for one school quarter in high school, for gym class, we had to do square dancing.

yes...square dancing.

 

[TragicMonkey]

My son is learning volleyball. Which would last him longer--volleyball or fitness? Because they are going to teach him something. He has to take two years of it.

Besides, I remember things from HS. Like "Donde esta la casa de Pepe? "

Pepe's house is next door to mine. He doesn't go out much. He weighs 486 pounds and has been glued to his sofa for six years. The only exercise he knew was the volley ball he learned in high school, and he hasn't found another player in decades.

Lol. I agree, if they're going to teach something, it should be something practical. My PE classes were generally alternated with a health class one day a week, where we learned anatomy and the major systems. That's pretty useful knowledge, being able to tell your coccyx from the end of your humerus.

Also, la casa de Pepe esta en el infierno con los bobos de sangre. I remember some Spanish, but it's invariably crazed.

 

[TragicMonkey]

- You think that's bad? Yesterday I found four gray chin-whiskers. Gray!! (Yes, on my own chin, not on the sidewalk.)

Snort. I started getting white hair at age 25. I still can't grow a beard all the way in, though.

 

[TragicMonkey]

true story, for one school quarter in high school, for gym class, we had to do square dancing.

yes...square dancing.

That's handy compared to what we learned: the Electric Slide!

 

[Tmy]

Pepe's house is next door to mine. He doesn't go out much. He weighs 486 pounds and has been glued to his sofa for six years. The only exercise he knew was the volley ball he learned in high school, and he hasn't found another player in decades.

Lol. I agree, if they're going to teach something, it should be something practical.

Well its a good thing high school taught Pepe the atomic weight of cobalt. That really came in handy through his life!

 

[c0rbin]

It's not always about getting fat as it is simply, for younger kids especially, the need to be jittery, loud, run, and move about--kinetic energy.

A lot of the attention issues kids have is because they are not programmed to sit still and listen for 6 hours.

Phys Ed is an important release for children and to denie them that release opens the door to creating conduct issues and "AD HD" snake oil sales opportunities.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Well its a good thing high school taught Pepe the atomic weight of cobalt. That really came in handy through his life!

Education is difficult. I think it's really a matter of throwing general information at people and hoping some percentage sticks. As long as the kid learns enough to get interested in something to pursue in real depth, it's good enough.

So I'm altering my position. P.E. is fine for high school, but should be taken outside of class, and the student should get to pick what he wants to do for it. If he's on a sporting team, that should count. If he just wants to run laps, or lift weights, he should do that. No bloody square dancing.

 

[pgwenthold]

My son is learning volleyball. Which would last him longer--volleyball or fitness? Because they are going to teach him something. He has to take two years of it.

Volleyball is a great activity for adults. I need to get back out and play...

Besides, I remember things from HS. Like "Donde esta la casa de Pepe? "

You listened to Steve Martin albums in high school?

 

[Tmy]

How about YOGA for all high school kids!! Myabe thatll calm them down.

Hey do they still do that rediculous presidental fitness test?? That was the basis of my gym classes final exam.

 

[TragicMonkey]

How about YOGA for all high school kids!! Myabe thatll calm them down.

Certainly not! It's bad enough to encourage them to undress in front of each other; we certainly don't want to teach teenagers to reach new and amazing bodily positions through increased flexibility.