Physical Education in schools.

[toddjh]

My high school had a great P.E. program. We'd alternate days: on even days, we'd run laps on the track, progressing from three 4-minute runs up to a single 30-minute run over the course of the year, and do some stretching and weight training along the way. On odd days, we'd play sports. Then we had a "final exam" consisting of a mandatory 5k run at the end of the year.

All the students hated it, of course, but looking back, it was definitely very good for me. I just ran a marathon last week, and I seriously doubt the thought would ever have occurred to me otherwise.

Jeremy

 

[Tmy]

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.

HA HA. Ok we'll reach them somthing useful. Like how to survive terror attacks! We can spend all gym class teaching kids the proper way of running down the street in a hysterical panic!

TERROR TERROR TERROR!! (sorry Ive been watching too many Bush speeches)

 

[TragicMonkey]

HA HA. Ok we'll reach them somthing useful. Like how to survive terror attacks! We can spend all gym class teaching kids the proper way of running down the street in a hysterical panic!

TERROR TERROR TERROR!! (sorry Ive been watching too many Bush speeches)

Are they teaching terrorism drills these days? I wouldn't be too surprised. My mother remembers going through "atomic bombardment" drills in elementary school. Apparently ducking beneath your desk and curling into a ball will shield you from the effects of a nuclear detonation directly overhead.

 

[DaChew]

There is nothing taught in any school that will prepare a person for real life like dodge ball.

 

[TragicMonkey]

There is nothing taught in any school that will prepare a person for real life like dodge ball.

What? "Hide behind the fattest kid in the class" is a maxim for success?

 

[El Greco]

Kids need to get out and get physical but no "phys ed class" is going to make them do it if they don't feel it. Where I live phys ed is mostly a waste of time, where bored teachers are trying to find a balance between hyperactive and sleepy kids.

As far as general health is concerned, I think that what kids are in desperate need for is some kind of nutritional education. It would be far more effective toward general population health than physical education.

 

[TragicMonkey]

As far as general health is concerned, I think that what kids are in desperate need for is some kind of nutritional education. It would be far more effective toward general population health than physical education.

And it would be violently opposed in some places. The last two school systems I was in were receiving subsidy money from soft drink giants. In return for funds, the schools were required to have vending machines of that company's products only, textbook covers plastered with ads, and a twenty-five minute "educational news" program aired daily, which was nothing but thinly veiled commericials for the company's products. The schools were desperate for money. If the soft drink giant threatened to cut funds if a health class suggested that endless consumption of soda is bad, guess what would happen? (Heck, even the US government backs off from criticizing sugar intake!)

eta: the point is to create a market of consumers before they get old enough to make informed decisions. There are millions of dollars potential profit there. That's a stronger motivation than making kids healthy.

 

[toddjh]

As far as general health is concerned, I think that what kids are in desperate need for is some kind of nutritional education. It would be far more effective toward general population health than physical education.

Eh, I think that's a lost cause. It's not like kids don't know which foods are healthy; they just don't like them. And schools can't force kids to eat better. Hell, I'm pushing 30 and I still eat horrible food.

But what you can force them to do is get half an hour of aerobic exercise a few times a week. That has real benefits even if they don't take it with them when they leave.

Jeremy

 

[El Greco]

Eh, I think that's a lost cause. It's not like kids don't know which foods are healthy; they just don't like them. And schools can't force kids to eat better. Hell, I'm pushing 30 and I still eat horrible food.

I'm convinced they don't know ◊◊◊◊. Perhaps I should start a topic about nutrition fallacies. "Sugar is bad". Really ? Why ? "McDonalds is bad". How so ? Please explain. People believe that by eating home-prepared foods with an occasional salad and "low-fat" they "eat well". They also don't have the slightest idea on how much weight they should lose and how much time it will take and how exactly they should eat in order to lose it. They fall victims of countless fad diets and it is unbelievable what kind of crap they believe (eg "eat right for your blood type"). Not to mention the role of non-existent education in the development of eating disorders. Need I go on ?

 

[toddjh]

I'm convinced they don't know ◊◊◊◊. Perhaps I should start a topic about nutrition fallacies. "Sugar is bad". Really ? Why ? "McDonalds is bad". How so ? Please explain. People believe that by eating home-prepared foods with an occasional salad and "low-fat" they "eat well". They also don't have the slightest idea on how much weight they should lose and how much time it will take and how exactly they should eat in order to lose it. They fall victims of countless fad diets and it is unbelievable what kind of crap they believe (eg "eat right for your blood type"). Not to mention the role of non-existent education in the development of eating disorders. Need I go on ?

No, but I'm not convinced that education really helps with any of that. It's like "abstinence education" -- kids will do what they want, even if they know it's potentially bad. Kids know by six years old that vegetables are good for them, and that junk food is bad...but what do they eat? What good does nutritional education do children, especially if the parents aren't helping?

It might make sense to focus on nutrition in the last year of school; that way, they might remember some of it when they reach adulthood and decide to be more responsible (ha!).

On the other hand, consistently getting exercise during their main developmental years has lots of benefits even if they don't take anything with them after school. At the very least, it has helped them get into better shape during a critical time in their lives, and hopefully has instilled some appreciation for physical activity and keeping active.

Jeremy

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Are they teaching terrorism drills these days? I wouldn't be too surprised. My mother remembers going through "atomic bombardment" drills in elementary school. Apparently ducking beneath your desk and curling into a ball will shield you from the effects of a nuclear detonation directly overhead.

They have lock-down drills in my kids' schools. All the exterior doors are locked and the children sit on the floor farthest away from windows and doors. I don't think it's for terrorism, exactly, but in case of police activity. For instance, one day some nutjob holed up in a house across from son #2's elementary school, threatening the police with a gun. The students were locked inside all day.

As for kinetic kids, PE and recess don't do much to aleviate that, at least according to son #3's fourth grade teacher. She is trying to teach them that if they have to move, they should twiddle their thumbs.

 

[TragicMonkey]

They have lock-down drills in my kids' schools. All the exterior doors are locked and the children sit on the floor farthest away from windows and doors. I don't think it's for terrorism, exactly, but in case of police activity. For instance, one day some nutjob holed up in a house across from son #2's elementary school, threatening the police with a gun. The students were locked inside all day.

Disturbing. Sad when the Red Scare era counts as the country's days of innocence!

As for kinetic kids, PE and recess don't do much to aleviate that, at least according to son #3's fourth grade teacher. She is trying to teach them that if they have to move, they should twiddle their thumbs.

Perhaps the children should take up smoking. It would give them something to do with their hands, as well as knock some of that wind out of them. A hyperactive child can't get too active if he's always stopping for breath.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Perhaps the children should take up smoking. It would give them something to do with their hands, as well as knock some of that wind out of them. A hyperactive child can't get too active if he's always stopping for breath.

I'll bring that up at the next PTA meeting.

 

[El Greco]

No, but I'm not convinced that education really helps with any of that. It's like "abstinence education" -- kids will do what they want, even if they know it's potentially bad. Kids know by six years old that vegetables are good for them, and that junk food is bad...but what do they eat? What good does nutritional education do children, especially if the parents aren't helping?

It might make sense to focus on nutrition in the last year of school; that way, they might remember some of it when they reach adulthood and decide to be more responsible (ha!).

On the other hand, consistently getting exercise during their main developmental years has lots of benefits even if they don't take anything with them after school. At the very least, it has helped them get into better shape during a critical time in their lives, and hopefully has instilled some appreciation for physical activity and keeping active.

Jeremy

It doesn't matter whether kids will do what they are tought to. Some knowledge will be very useful sooner or later. Even if they just learn to read behind the lines of the food labels, it's something. If there were some nutritional education, I think that everything would be different in our societies, from food ads to Bodywatchers.

As for physical education, don't misunderstand me; I believe that it is crucial for kids. I just don't see how it can be applied effectively, at least in my country. For starters, the weekly hours are very few. Any exercise regime should be strictly personalized if it is going to be effective. I don't see how this can be done without a complete reorganization of the system.