Is PE an important class?

[Kortney]

First of all I realise you are a primary school teacher here, but I'll be talking about high school during this post. Primary school PE lessons are very, very different from High School lessons (at least they were for me) and the thread is about high school. So;

1. Learn to throw and catch

Learn to throw and catch off the base of an 80 minute lesson? I doubt it. The kids who can catch are the ones who play sport, are naturally co-ordinated, or were taught to by their fathers. The kids who can't fumble the ball for a few minutes, then go to lunch and forget it all.

2. Learn how to run (believe it or not, there is skill required!)

If by being taught how to run you mean a teacher half demonstrating what to do then being made to run around for an hour, then yes, I guess they are. Nevertheless, the ones who do well are the ones who can run anyway. You can either run or you can't.

3. Learn how to swim

Hah, no way. If you can't swim by the time PE lessons start in high school you are guaranteed to be laughed at and made to feel like shit by the other kids. Absolutely guaranteed, no matter how popular you are. Even if that doesn't happen, you can't learn to swim by going to a PE class once a week for a few weeks before the teachers moving on in a few weeks to the next area of the syllabus.

4. Understand how to make healthy eating choices
5. Do Sex Ed.

I agree with these two.

It's not neccessarily about being the fastest or the best - those kind of social pressures come from being part of a group and being asked to perform, not the curriculum or the teacher themselves, though I am sure there are some exceptions to that rule and some people have bad experiences about what they had to do.

I don't know what experiences you have had, but for me (who has attended 3 schools in three different countries) PE lessons are exactly about being the fastest or the best. All the PE teachers I have encountered are all chummy with the talented athletes (usually because they coach the school teams they are a part of) and the unfit kids just get ignored, or forced to do something that they don't want to do. I do agree with you that the curriculum may not force this to happen, but it does.

Whether you like it or not, there are more obese people and people are less coordinated, because of whatever reasons (technology, society, etc) important physical skills are an aspect of being a capable and successful human being. In fact, some people are paid very well to be successful at hitting a ball or perform some other physical activity.

Yes, you're right. Every year more people become fat and more people become unhealthy. This isn't because of PE lessons, this isn't even because of school - this is because of a change in society, and parenting techniques. These things are 100 times bigger than PE lessons, these things actually have serious impacts.

In regards to your point about people being paid money to hit a ball - then yes, you're absolutely right. But how many of those people ended up like that because of a PE program at school? I'd be willing to wager a lot of money that the answer is: none of them.

Going by that logic, there are just as much if not more people making serious money through music and acting. Why not make active participation in front of the whole class compulsory in those areas? After all, people are making money from it right?

I don't think "because I'm not good at it so it made me feel bad" is just cause for removing the physical element of education.

How about the fact that PE lessons only serve the people who are fit and strong to begin with, and if you aren't fit or strong then you have a good chance to be openly ridiculed or mocked?

The thing I have a problem with is PE lessons being compulsory up until the very senior years of high school. I honestly don't see the point.

I'm sorry if I appear somewhat bitter in this post, but sporting culture annoys the shit out of me. It's "cool" to be able to swing a bat around or kick a football, but it's "uncool" to be about to work out complex physics or mathematical equations, or to be able to write beautiful literature. It's 2010, when the hell are we going to get past this?

And people wonder why the culture we live in is brain dead. Some stupid half wit with no personality and no qualities apart from the fact he is extremely strong gets more air time than the few bright people who are capable of changing the way we live. Kids are brought up to think that the best thing they can be is a sports star. That's ridiculous and my experience with PE lessons have further exemplified this.

 

[linwolf]

Hated it, I am an active person, spend a lot of time outside as a kid.
But PE was just sport and most sport is boring.

 

[Demented Crisis]

Because of 2 schools in my area (one of them I attended) merging together and then splitting up into 3 campus's. (Makes total sense doesn't it.)

The program I do basically lets you do what you want (And this is Year 10 High School) and unless we arrange Physical PE we dont need to do it.

I think PE is important, but all I do for it is waddle down to local Gym for an hour then waddle back. Which is sort of a shame, since I didn't mind mandatory PE. I don't get excersize at home, and I wont stay skinny forever. Q.Q

 

[mrhappyface]

First of all I realise you are a primary school teacher here, but I'll be talking about high school during this post. Primary school PE lessons are very, very different from High School lessons (at least they were for me) and the thread is about high school. So;

1. Learn to throw and catch

Learn to throw and catch off the base of an 80 minute lesson? I doubt it. The kids who can catch are the ones who play sport, are naturally co-ordinated, or were taught to by their fathers. The kids who can't fumble the ball for a few minutes, then go to lunch and forget it all.

2. Learn how to run (believe it or not, there is skill required!)

If by being taught how to run you mean a teacher half demonstrating what to do then being made to run around for an hour, then yes, I guess they are. Nevertheless, the ones who do well are the ones who can run anyway. You can either run or you can't.

3. Learn how to swim

Hah, no way. If you can't swim by the time PE lessons start in high school you are guaranteed to be laughed at and made to feel like shit by the other kids. Absolutely guaranteed, no matter how popular you are. Even if that doesn't happen, you can't learn to swim by going to a PE class once a week for a few weeks before the teachers moving on in a few weeks to the next area of the syllabus.

4. Understand how to make healthy eating choices
5. Do Sex Ed.

I agree with these two.

It's not neccessarily about being the fastest or the best - those kind of social pressures come from being part of a group and being asked to perform, not the curriculum or the teacher themselves, though I am sure there are some exceptions to that rule and some people have bad experiences about what they had to do.

I don't know what experiences you have had, but for me (who has attended 3 schools in three different countries) PE lessons are exactly about being the fastest or the best. All the PE teachers I have encountered are all chummy with the talented athletes (usually because they coach the school teams they are a part of) and the unfit kids just get ignored, or forced to do something that they don't want to do. I do agree with you that the curriculum may not force this to happen, but it does.

Whether you like it or not, there are more obese people and people are less coordinated, because of whatever reasons (technology, society, etc) important physical skills are an aspect of being a capable and successful human being. In fact, some people are paid very well to be successful at hitting a ball or perform some other physical activity.

Yes, you're right. Every year more people become fat and more people become unhealthy. This isn't because of PE lessons, this isn't even because of school - this is because of a change in society, and parenting techniques. These things are 100 times bigger than PE lessons, these things actually have serious impacts.

In regards to your point about people being paid money to hit a ball - then yes, you're absolutely right. But how many of those people ended up like that because of a PE program at school? I'd be willing to wager a lot of money that the answer is: none of them.

Going by that logic, there are just as much if not more people making serious money through music and acting. Why not make active participation in front of the whole class compulsory in those areas? After all, people are making money from it right?

I don't think "because I'm not good at it so it made me feel bad" is just cause for removing the physical element of education.

How about the fact that PE lessons only serve the people who are fit and strong to begin with, and if you aren't fit or strong then you have a good chance to be openly ridiculed or mocked?

The thing I have a problem with is PE lessons being compulsory up until the very senior years of high school. I honestly don't see the point.

I'm sorry if I appear somewhat bitter in this post, but sporting culture annoys the shit out of me. It's "cool" to be able to swing a bat around or kick a football, but it's "uncool" to be about to work out complex physics or mathematical equations, or to be able to write beautiful literature. It's 2010, when the hell are we going to get past this?

And people wonder why the culture we live in is brain dead. Some stupid half wit with no personality and no qualities apart from the fact he is extremely strong gets more air time than the few bright people who are capable of changing the way we live. Kids are brought up to think that the best thing they can be is a sports star. That's ridiculous and my experience with PE lessons have further exemplified this.

Well to answer your question about why people think it's cool or uncool. The reason why book smarts isn't celebrated as much is because it's something that not many people at that time can sympathize with or appreciate. It may be nice that you know how to set up a Hadron Collider as a high school student, but no one will fuckin care! Maybe 20 years from now, but what are you going to do now? Build one in shop class? Also, amazing literature is something than not something that everyone can empathize with immediately. It may sound great when you read it aloud and may sound very stirring and inspiring, but when you compare the lone receiver catching the game winning ball in his hands, there's no comparison with the reaction. Actions speak louder than words to suffice. Now I'm not saying that it's bad. In high school, the kids that are picked on are the kids that haven't learned to adapt to the present, and are either living in the past, or are so preoccupied with the future, they neglect the present and their bodies. And for American society supporting Sports stars, well I can't really say much. The most celebrated people are often entertainers. If I shout Peyton Manning or Hannah Montana are signing autographs, thousands of people will gather. However, if I shout Norman Borlaug is coming to sign autographs people will say "Huh?" A Nobel Laureate that saved over several billion people's lives isn't necessarily as popular or famous. But fame doesn't necessarily equal success. That's what matters.

 

[Legend of J]

Is PE an important class?

Yes we need more harsh physical pushing in schools everyone gets it way to easy. BUT it should be optional if you don't do PE you should have to copy out the bible or dictionary from cover to cover.

PE is whats needed those who disliked PE cause they couldent do it...well whos fault is that your unfit...seriosly.

 

[__Anarchy__]

The way it was taught in my high school (or perhaps my attitude toward it), it was one of the most important classes. It was a necessary physical release for myself and many other students, but more importantly it promoted leadership and encouraged teamwork in a way that no other high school class so much as hinted at.

There were a lot of classes that were a waste, a half assed LOTE program isn't worth it's weight in dogshit (really, you're going to get the greek teacher to take italian this semester?). I don't even want to think about the history course that did a units study of world war one without mentioning Franz Ferdinand (or any of the lead up to the war).

Yea my Japanese teacher is a Russian whose third language is English . . . fun times

 

[Yarggg]

Me personally am not a big fan of PE but I find that it is rather important in school.
You may think that if you run around every lunch break it's just like a session of PE. but PE is more than just running around. It goes through a list of sports (granted some of them are shit) and can help you learn more.

 

[dancinginfernal]

I've never really had an issue with it.

Actually, as of my move to High School, I've enjoyed PE substantially more than beforehand.

 

[zehydra]

it's not a class. Yet somehow it always makes the list of mandatory ones...

 

[mrhappyface]

it's not a class. Yet somehow it always makes the list of mandatory ones...

Because how else are we going to motivate the children to work than through cruel harassment for being unfit and flattering praise for being the pinnacle of human biology? Cuz the play an hour a day commercials on TV don't seem to being having much effect...

 

[Kortney]

Well to answer your question about why people think it's cool or uncool. The reason why book smarts isn't celebrated as much is because it's something that not many people at that time can sympathize with or appreciate.Also, amazing literature is something than not something that everyone can empathize with immediately

You mean because they are too stupid to appreciate it right? Yeah, that's kinda my point. Maybe if kids had a larger desire to be able to understand not only literature, but social science, history, economics, science, physics and mathematics instead of trying to run faster than each other the world might be a bit of a better fucking place. Ignorance like that breads a huge part of the hatefulness and violence that exists today.

It may be nice that you know how to set up a Hadron Collider as a high school student, but no one will fuckin care! Maybe 20 years from now, but what are you going to do now? Build one in shop class?

Oh, Mr Happy Face! That may be the one of, if not the most ignorant thing I've seen on here. Congratulations.

Yeah! Curse those kids who can build the most complex and amazing physics-defying devices ever known in history! Who "fuckin" cares about them and their extreme intellect. Why don't they just go outside and throw a baseball like the normal kids!

With that disgusting attitude, the radio would not have been invented. The telephone would not have been invented. The television would not have been invented. Nor would the airplane, the car, the boat, the internet, nor would modern medicine for fucks sake.

You see my point now? You are acting awfully ignorant and unaware of the mind boggling genius that allows you and I to communicate right now. If only the people who allowed that realised that no one gave a shit about them and their little play inventions. Right?

It may sound great when you read it aloud and may sound very stirring and inspiring, but when you compare the lone receiver catching the game winning ball in his hands, there's no comparison with the reaction.

Move aside Shakespeare! Move aside Lennon! This lone receiver and his amazing ability to close his mitt at the right moment has "no comparison" with the reaction you inspire!

Are you reading what you are writing man?

In high school, the kids that are picked on are the kids that haven't learned to adapt to the present, and are either living in the past, or are so preoccupied with the future, they neglect the present and their bodies.

Heh, that's weird. In my experience I would say the kids who are picked on are the ones who are different, and the ones who pick on them are the disappointing human beings who are not accepting or understanding enough. But maybe I just had a weird experience, and maybe you are totally right.

So according to you, the people who are picked on are the people who "neglect the present". Can I ask, what the fuck does that mean? Oh wait, I just remembered that you don't know.

So it's not the socially awkward kids? It's not the unnatractive kids? It's not the weak kids? It's not the eccentric kids? It's not the different kids? It's simply the ones who "neglect the present!". HA!

From now on I will call bullies "the defenders of the present!" instead of "jerks". Thanks for the lesson man.

And you are right. Once, my teacher was telling me about this nerd called Albert Einstein. Man, he was such a present neglecter. Ha, what a **** he was.

 

[demoman_chaos]

You won't find someone who did well in the games that hates PE. People who hate PE are the ones who weren't good at anything. The lazy ones who hate it because they are the last ones picked and feel bad.
News flash: That's life. Those that are picked first are picked first because they worked to get into shape and worked to get better. Try working for what you have, makes everything hold more value. Give a man a fish these days, and he'll expect more tomorrow. If he sees someone who caught a bigger fish, he will complain that he isn't given a fish of the same size.

Self-esteem is just that, it is how you feel about yourself. Self-esteem issues cannot be fixed by taking away PE, they can only be fixed by the person themselves. Let no outsider influence how you feel about yourself. Nothing can lower it without you allowing them to.

And for the record, I was (and still am) one of the ones who got picked last. Being the little scrawny fellow isn't helpful for stuff like basketball.

 

[mrhappyface]

Well to answer your question about why people think it's cool or uncool. The reason why book smarts isn't celebrated as much is because it's something that not many people at that time can sympathize with or appreciate.Also, amazing literature is something than not something that everyone can empathize with immediately

You mean because they are too stupid to appreciate it right? Yeah, that's kinda my point. Maybe if kids had a larger desire to be able to understand not only literature, but social science, history, economics, science, physics and mathematics instead of trying to run faster than each other the world might be a bit of a better fucking place. Ignorance like that breads a huge part of the hatefulness and violence that exists today.

It may be nice that you know how to set up a Hadron Collider as a high school student, but no one will fuckin care! Maybe 20 years from now, but what are you going to do now? Build one in shop class?

Oh, Mr Happy Face! That may be the one of, if not the most ignorant thing I've seen on here. Congratulations.

Yeah! Curse those kids who can build the most complex and amazing physics-defying devices ever known in history! Who "fuckin" cares about them and their extreme intellect. Why don't they just go outside and throw a baseball like the normal kids!

With that disgusting attitude, the radio would not have been invented. The telephone would not have been invented. The television would not have been invented. Nor would the airplane, the car, the boat, the internet, nor would modern medicine for fucks sake.

You see my point now? You are acting awfully ignorant and unaware of the mind boggling genius that allows you and I to communicate right now. If only the people who allowed that realised that no one gave a shit about them and their little play inventions. Right?

It may sound great when you read it aloud and may sound very stirring and inspiring, but when you compare the lone receiver catching the game winning ball in his hands, there's no comparison with the reaction.

Move aside Shakespeare! Move aside Lennon! This lone receiver and his amazing ability to close his mitt at the right moment has "no comparison" with the reaction you inspire!

Are you reading what you are writing man?

In high school, the kids that are picked on are the kids that haven't learned to adapt to the present, and are either living in the past, or are so preoccupied with the future, they neglect the present and their bodies.

Heh, that's weird. In my experience I would say the kids who are picked on are the ones who are different, and the ones who pick on them are the disappointing human beings who are not accepting or understanding enough. But maybe I just had a weird experience, and maybe you are totally right.

So according to you, the people who are picked on are the people who "neglect the present". Can I ask, what the fuck does that mean? Oh wait, I just remembered that you don't know.

So it's not the socially awkward kids? It's not the unnatractive kids? It's not the weak kids? It's not the eccentric kids? It's not the different kids? It's simply the ones who "neglect the present!". HA!

From now on I will call bullies "the defenders of the present!" instead of "jerks". Thanks for the lesson man.

And you are right. Once, my teacher was telling me about this nerd called Albert Einstein. Man, he was such a present neglecter. Ha, what a **** he was.

OK, I sort of sugar coated it right there. I'm saying that if you're into stuff outside the norm of the school masses, that's cool and all, BUT if that's all that you're preoccupied with then you'll become an instant target for bullies. It may seem nice that you can potentially find the cure for cancer for the future, but that still doesn't help the fact that the douchebag just turtled your bag and dumped it into the toilet. This may seem a little bit of a bizarre analogy, but I think it'll work: During Roman times, Christians were hated and despised for being different. The ones that were openly Christian were roughed up and thrown into the Colosseum. All the other ones were Christians in secret or affiliated to patricians. Now coming back to the present, I'm saying that it's okay to be different, but just be different at home. Or do something that identifies yourself with a powerful clique so you have more freedom and people are less likely to pick on you. Hey, I had glasses and was smart, but being affiliated with the varsity football team and being a track star had significant perks. Not trying to be mean, just trying to be realistic.

 

[conflictofinterests]

Well, government is always looking to cut back spending so they can put it elsewhere, and as far as I've experienced in my relatively short life thus far, public schooling is one of their favorite places to "cut fat." The reality is the more things you offer the more kids will find something that inspires them and could potentially keep them off the streets. The more things you make them try (And the key word is try, not mandatory year of obscure thing you'll never use again) the greater the chance they'll find something like that, and offering courses like that will help the society in general. As it is, the big-wigs like to think they're helping by figuring out the "minimum curriculum necessary" Reading, writing, arithmetic, you know the drill. The thing is, they are all heavily influenced by supposedly superfluous things like Music, Art, P.E. even. And even the "minimum curriculum necessary" isn't the minimum necessary anymore in today's workplace.

Long story short: People who try to minimize or cut P.E. or any other "extra curricular" type activity out of schools are either a) retarded or b) not possessing of the slightest inkling of the mechanics of learning.

 

[Firia]

To answer the question in the subject line; YES! More than ever, yes. I'll tell you why more than ever; because of the continued progress of the internet, and the common collective diet practices (in general).

More people of all ages are using their computers and internet for any number of reasons. Using the internet for gaming, homework, work, friends and networking, whatever. It's a low energy physical activity that does nothing for your health. Combine that with the quality of food that is in circulation in US markets (high salt contents, MSG, any number of "others"), and you already have a diet that isn't good for even active people. Combine the two issues, and you have a serious problem for a persons health.

PE stands for Physical Education. You learn good health practices for keeping active and fit. Learning how to stretch, run, climb, any number of these things. It helps keep kids fit in and age that rewards what is essentually inactive behavior.

I didn't really care for PE back in the day. But now? I'm glad for it.

 

[Dags90]

Play learning is pretty invaluable to kids in certain age groups (elementary school), I don't see why school districts wouldn't require a P.E. class in elementary school. It seems a bit presumptuous to assume that children have ready access to something like team games.

I was pretty terrible in P.E., in high school I had it first thing every year and I've never been athletic due to physical limitations. The one time I did get to shine was when we were doing pull-ups.

That said, the state of PE classes is pretty poor as are related Health Courses in most public schools in the U.S. I'm pretty glad my school district had nice programs.

 

[darkorion69]

I think that human society is leaving behind physical fitness as a survival trait. With ever increasing industrial automation, we seem to need far more engineers/scientists than heavy lifters these days.

Today, I see PE as a class that tries (in vain perhaps) to stem the tide of bad PR (and guilt) that comes from people that continue to insist that physical prowess somehow determines the measure of a person.

Just let fat people stay fat. Just let thin people stay thin. Don't call one healthy and the other unhealthy. Healthy is a very subjective thing, despite what crowd tries to insist on which is 'better'.

 

[zehydra]

Oh, Mr Happy Face! That may be the one of, if not the most ignorant thing I've seen on here. Congratulations.

I wish people would stop misusing the word "ignorant"

 

[Downfall89]

In Australia, P.E has no outdoor recreational part of the subject. Its all about health and shit. And yeah it is important

Too right, besides it is important, unless you mean the PHYSICAL part of PHYSICAL EDUCATION, because is obviously important.

 

[Kortney]

it's okay to be different, but just be different at home..

Wow, okay.

I'm not even going to bother with this. It's so incredibly strange and the attitude you have is exactly the attitude that created the world we live in where children are made to conform and to be just like everyone else, or they get harassed. And I hate that. No, I despise that.

It's not too much to ask that people should be allowed to be themselves and to be encouraged to learn and grow and to make the world a better place is it? Apparently it is too much to ask for. Apparently it's only ok if they do that when no one else has to deal with them. Heaven forbid they challenge others to show some fucking empathy, consideration and dare I say it some intelligence. Apparently if they want to be at school, they have to act just like every other brain dead moron out there. Well, what a fantastic world we are shaping.

So it's best for the thread if we stop conversing here. Cheers, and I hope you grow some sense. When you leave school you'll realise that it is the individuals that accomplish things in the real world. It is the different people. Only a very select few manage to become successful athletes. If you keep up this attitude, you'll leave school and blend right in with the rest of the idiots. Good luck.

Oh, Mr Happy Face! That may be the one of, if not the most ignorant thing I've seen on here. Congratulations.

I wish people would stop misusing the word "ignorant"

Sorry, but what part of someone claiming that no one "fuckin" cares about a Hadron Collider or the intelligence that goes with it isn't ignorant? Ignorant means one who is lacking in knowledge or is misinformed. I can't think of a better example of ignorance than that.