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Picture of DrStrangelove
Registered: March 13, 2002
Posts: 3477
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quote:
Originally posted by Meagan87:

I think the key is to remove the competition aspect of the classes and focus on any way they can get students up and moving and having a good time. I think introducing them to fun physical activities would spark an interest to get them moving out of class, and would do exponentially more good than boring and incredibly challenging activities. (Not that there is anything wrong with challenging oneself, just that physical challenges shouldn't necessarily be required by the schools.)


Competition is one of the BEST parts of PE. I was never on any sports teams, nor was I an athelete, but man it was fun to play dodgeball or volleyball in gym. Especially when you crushed the other guys, ha.

My worst experiences in gym were the wishy-washy non-team oriented activities. Those were just plain boring.


"Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?"
Picture of Meagan87
Registered: May 07, 2003
Posts: 7624
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I hated PE, but it should continue to be mandatory.

It's good to keep kids moving around and burning some energy, especially since childhood and teenage pastimes are growing more and more towards stagnant activities such as TV, computer and video games which does not require physical activity.

I think the key is to remove the competition aspect of the classes and focus on any way they can get students up and moving and having a good time. I think introducing them to fun physical activities would spark an interest to get them moving out of class, and would do exponentially more good than boring and incredibly challenging activities. (Not that there is anything wrong with challenging oneself, just that physical challenges shouldn't necessarily be required by the schools.)


"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
Registered: March 14, 2007
Posts: 6
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I like PE. We're doing kickball now
Picture of FreeToBe
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 3
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I think some form of physical eductaion should b required, but you have to admit that the constant six-inches, hitlers, push-ups, quick feet, lounges, ect. can be Hell on a person, especially a teen. I myself have to push mself to do a situp and I never have been able to do one because of my back. I try, and it's hard, and it hurts, and I can't do it because of my bad back problems. Honestly, I think these different 'traditional' excersizes should be optional and that school should subject a student to different types of sports (changing at least once every 2 months of course. Doing the same sport might intrigue some but bore others. Such as my gym class, we all work out on the track excerizes, whether we are in track or not.). The should incorporate sports that the students will enjoy, not just that they will approve of. I think a student should have a mandatory P.E. eveyday, but it doesn't have to be Hell on them. The coaches could make it fun (Think about trying street hockey, skate boarding, biking, basketball, ect. in school) or at the least have to do what the students do (Ha! I'd like to see my two fat coaches do six-inches and Hitlers.)


"People should not fear their government. A government should fear their people." - V from V For Vendetta.
Picture of noisey2010
Registered: March 07, 2007
Posts: 2
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Okay heres another from me I dont think kids should be forced to take it. I dress out 1 or 2 days of the week depending on the week becuase I'll have PE 2 days one week and 3 the next.
Picture of noisey2010
Registered: March 07, 2007
Posts: 2
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quote:
Ignored post by yogore posted July 04, 2005 02:11 PM Show Post
WorthWaitingFor
Picture of WorthWaitingFor
Registered: June 14, 2004
Posts: 2692

Posted July 04, 2005 01:49 PM Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Those are some weird high-school schedules....we had A and B days in middle school but went to a more normal schedule in high-school.

We have 2 semesters each year, four classes in the first semester (fall), and four different classes in spring semester (spring). But it doesn't switch up classes every other day, just in the next semester. And we only have to have one class/credit of PE our freshman year. If we pass, no more.


Belief makes things real/Makes things feel, feel alright/Belief makes things true/Things like you, you and I
Ignored post by WorthWaitingFor posted July 04, 2005 01:49 PM Show Post
benje309
Picture of benje309
Registered: January 03, 2005
Posts: 2427

Posted July 04, 2005 12:06 PM Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post

In my school we only have too have two semesters of PE and we take those our Freshman and Sophmore year and I dont like PE
Picture of worthwaitingfor
Registered: June 14, 2004
Posts: 2739
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My elementary school gym wasn't even that fun after about 2nd grade or so. Then we got a new teacher. Mr. Hitchcock.

He treated us like we were already in middle or high school. We ran. A lot. I walked just to p*ss him off.


Belief makes things real/Makes things feel, feel alright/Belief makes things true/Things like you, you and I
Picture of freedomordeath
Registered: June 02, 2004
Posts: 8352
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I liked PE on certain days. I hated middle and high school gym though, almost always. Elementary school was a different story because, and I hope this was true for you guys too, we played simple games and were not that competitive.


Live and Let Live. Love and Let Love.
Picture of missblake
Registered: April 11, 2005
Posts: 613
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quote:
6 people are against it
7. There were SEVERAL times in elementary school when I would fake sick because I was dreading P.E. Something tels me that that is not the desired affect of P.E. And back then, if you got in trouble, you wouldn't get to go to P.E. Too bad I was such a goody-goody-two-shoes...


I love you. Yes, you there, reading my sig- I love you. Very much so.
Picture of worthwaitingfor
Registered: June 14, 2004
Posts: 2739
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Nah...I'm an obsessed N.C. State fan. But even I have to admit that we didn't have a chance this year because:

1.Herb Sendek is a terrible coach

and

2. We missed seniors like Marcus Melvin and Scooter Sherill a lot. Hodge, while a decent player, really isn't that big of a deal to me...


Belief makes things real/Makes things feel, feel alright/Belief makes things true/Things like you, you and I
Picture of AMF8
Registered: June 20, 2005
Posts: 337
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yes you must love the college basketball season you NC person you.

WTF! Wake shouldve dominated all
Picture of worthwaitingfor
Registered: June 14, 2004
Posts: 2739
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quote:
Comeon...are you serious? In PE, you get a grade on your participation...as long as you actually try in the class. You might do poorly in PE, but that doesn't mean your going to fail!


At my school, most of it was participation...except for the fitness test. If it weren't for the fitness test, I would've had an even higher grade then I did. It sucks that you try your hardest and still get a C on the fitness test. That's based on performance only and it sucks.

quote:
In NY, health is also needed to pass...


In NC, the PE and Health class is combined. 1/3 is spent in the Health room and 2/3 is spent in the gym. If we could have a choice between a full time health class and a full time gym class, that would make me happy.

quote:
More times than not, kids have a good time in PE and its not like the tv PE...please! You don't do what is shown on TV. You play all sorts of sports, try your best and forget the others. Who cares? As long as your having fun, who cares? HAVE FUN!


1. Not all kids have fun in PE and therefore shouldn't be forced to take it.
2. I never said it was like PE on TV. I'm going into my junior year...I've already had PE and I know exactly what it's like.
3. We didn't do sports. We did stupid games. Like Ultimate Football.
4. I didn't care about trying my best because I didn't want to do it in the first place. It wasn't my idea of fun. I spent my time in gym trying to find the best way around actually participating...and so did a lot of other kids.
5. It's not fun so how could I possibly have fun?

quote:
Okay, I am a smart kid and that kinda hurt. What a generalization (sp?)! Team sports!


I don't understand this statement. I'm a smart kid too (4th in my class) and I played community basketball until after 8th grade. What's you're point? How did I generalize?

quote:
Singling out...happens..don't worry about it...Does it mean you are never going to take part in sports?


Yeah, pretty much. I don't like being singled out. I'm not that good at sports. I don't think it's fun to do stuff I'm not good at. Therefore, I don't play sports. I might shoot around with my bf or my dad and I'm glued to the TV during college basketball season. But I'm not going to take part in sports because, frankly, I don't care that much about playing them.

quote:
I may sound insensitive, and I am sorry! But this is life, stuff happens. I am smart and not the best at sports, but I try my best. I go into bad situtions with an open mind...not thinking..."This is going to be terrible, I hate Gym!"


You are assuming things. I tried to make the best out of gym even though I hated it. I stuck with a couple of people who hated it too and we came up with conniving schemes to get around actually participating. I loved my gym teacher and some of my best friends were in my class. I just didn't like the class. "This is life, stuff happens." Well if I wasn't forced to take this class, this stuff wouldn't happen.

quote:
Oh and one last thing, PE should count in your GPA. A GPA should show all the parts of a person in school. Colleges should care about extracurriculars and electives. They want to see what the person is like in many areas. Even though Gym may seem like a garbage class to many, it really isn't its very important for the reasons stated before.


First of all, since gym isn't weighted, it's pretty pointless to my GPA.

Second, the colleges are going to be looking at my 8 straight semesters of band, not the one semester I took gym. They are going to be looking at my academic electives (the only electives I take outside of band) and see Creative Writing and the award I got for having the highest grade in that class. They are going to be looking at all of my honors and AP classes with the nice pretty A's in them - not gym. They might look at gym once and say, "Oh, she took all her required courses to pass." But that's the only comment they will say about my gym class.


Belief makes things real/Makes things feel, feel alright/Belief makes things true/Things like you, you and I
Picture of benje309
Registered: January 03, 2005
Posts: 2470
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quote:
Benje, if PE is really that fun, why is it that aproximatly 6 people are against it, and 3 people for it? It seems popularity runs to the other side of the debate.


Well, I guess I am going against the grain in this debate...I don't always follow the popular vote/idea/opinion/decision. And another thing, 9 people don't make up the world, sorry.


"When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of alot more important than the one on the back." Herb Brooks
Picture of Brehon
Registered: January 22, 2005
Posts: 860
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Benje, if PE is really that fun, why is it that aproximatly 6 people are against it, and 3 people for it? It seems popularity runs to the other side of the debate.


'I consider that there is nothing better or more enjoyable than life itself. It is not therefore to be wondered at if I am willing to purchase my life with my material possessions.' Geoffrey of Monmouth
Picture of benje309
Registered: January 03, 2005
Posts: 2470
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PE is not about athletics! It's not about who is the best at dodgeball! I am not a "jock." My friends aren't "jocks." We have a good time in PE. It isn't useless! Physical Education. It is very necessary. Kids our age need to live an active lifestyle. Maybe it's your terrible PE teachers. Blame them, not the class! I have had great PE teachers...really nice men and women ((shoutout to Naz and Beatty)).
quote:
But otherwise, it's school funding gone to waste. It's not the schools's responsibilities whether or not you take care of yourself physically, that's your job.


What? Going to school is about developing. Developing as a student, as a person, as a citizen, and as a kid. School is a place to develop as a person, and that includes teaching you to be responsible about many things, including work, life, and health! Watching Fitness Made Simple Infomercials wont get you anywhere! School is a place to learn about your self and the world. PE is necessary to teach you, not humiliate you. That is not the goal. If you have real problems with your school's PE program I suggest you talk to the Principal or Athletic Director. I will finish this post with this thought: My school has a lot of different people but when we step into that gym or on that field, we don't care about who is the best. We get excited about dodgeball and speedball (what a great game! My school's PE staff made it up,...its a combo of soccer, basketball, and another sport...). We are happy that it is a break in the day of classroom classes (the best way to put that). PE is great. I feel bad for those who have a bad time. It isn't PE class, it's your teacher. Step up and talk to someone about it because PE is fun!


"When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of alot more important than the one on the back." Herb Brooks
Picture of CelticNewAger
Registered: December 11, 2003
Posts: 9501
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quote:
kids have a good time in PE and its not like the tv PE...please


It is.

PE is a humiliation for the kids who aren't jocks. I spent my childhood feeling not good enough because I couldn't do gymnastics or swim or run as fast as the other kids. It was such a huge blow to my self esteem I later took on sports that I didn't even like just to shut up these kids. I don't care who likes sports, but I don't want to be forced into something that's useless.

PE is a waste. Being an athlete doesn't get you anywhere in life unless you happen to have such a HUGE talent that you can land on the NBA or something, or at the very least a decent circus. But otherwise, it's school funding gone to waste. It's not the schools's responsibilities whether or not you take care of yourself physically, that's your job.


"Regardless, I have always, and will always, succeed."
Picture of benje309
Registered: January 03, 2005
Posts: 2470
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quote:
2) It gives a break from the regular mundane school day.
-----...for the people who at least do okay in it.


Comeon...are you serious? In PE, you get a grade on your participation...as long as you actually try in the class. You might do poorly in PE, but that doesn't mean your going to fail!
quote:
ell, it's perfectly sensible to create a Health class separate from PE.


In NY, health is also needed to pass...

quote:
Interact on a different level? That different level, as I have seen it, has been a humiliating level for naturally overweight kids and kids who are not athletically inclined. It's torture. Yes, it lets students interact on a different level but a different level in which they become humiliated and stressed out and intimidated by kids whose butts they could kick in an academic class.


More times than not, kids have a good time in PE and its not like the tv PE...please! You don't do what is shown on TV. You play all sorts of sports, try your best and forget the others. Who cares? As long as your having fun, who cares? HAVE FUN!

quote:
As for a nice break in the day...I didn't view gym as a nice break in the day. I dreaded it. I had it the last period of the day and all day I would pray that we wouldn't have to do anything that would single me out and that I could just get through the period without feeling completely tortured. A nice in break in the day my butt.


Okay, I am a smart kid and that kinda hurt. What a generalization (sp?)! Team sports! Singling out...happens..don't worry about it...Does it mean you are never going to take part in sports? I may sound insensitive, and I am sorry! But this is life, stuff happens. I am smart and not the best at sports, but I try my best. I go into bad situtions with an open mind...not thinking..."This is going to be terrible, I hate Gym!"

Oh and one last thing, PE should count in your GPA. A GPA should show all the parts of a person in school. Colleges should care about extracurriculars and electives. They want to see what the person is like in many areas. Even though Gym may seem like a garbage class to many, it really isn't its very important for the reasons stated before.


"When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of alot more important than the one on the back." Herb Brooks
Picture of Brehon
Registered: January 22, 2005
Posts: 860
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aninvertedlove, I hate PE with a passion that is far too intense for me to describe. I am quite possibly envolved in the most random sports, like fencing, tai chi and badminton, and find sports that require running, jumping, catching, throwing or tackling impossible.

Gaaaaaaahhhhhhh, I HATE PE!!!!!!!


'I consider that there is nothing better or more enjoyable than life itself. It is not therefore to be wondered at if I am willing to purchase my life with my material possessions.' Geoffrey of Monmouth
Picture of AMF8
Registered: June 20, 2005
Posts: 337
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i dont have to do PE at my school because i play on the sports team, pe doesnt give you a grade at my school anyway, its only pass fail. what i meant by having an A+ was being the typical overacheiver also. you know all the extracarriculars etc. and yes anything community service will help you get into college
Picture of aninvertedlove
Registered: May 31, 2005
Posts: 74
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As I see it, the pro-PE people have made only a few points so far:

1) If kids do not participate in gym, they will never lead healthy lifestyles
-----If you force a kid to take PE and they hate it, they might just get traumatized into never wanting to do any physical activity - ever. Health classes are good (though the ones at my school give so much homework I almost cringe at the thought of it, and then realize it's much better than basketball or running)

2) It gives a break from the regular mundane school day.
-----...for the people who at least do okay in it. Other people, as Worth pointed out, dread the class.

3) Without PE, kids who don't exercise at home wouldn't get the exercise they need.
-----I've heard that in many schools, people who don't feel like participating don't really have to. It'll affect the participation grade, but it's not really forced. I sort of have to, but I can halfass it because my heart rate monitor sometimes reads my heart rate incorrectly so I can walk and get in zone.

And as a note to AMF: I heard that most colleges will not count non-academic courses in the actual GPA, such as band or art or PE. It might not give you a perfect 4.0 in school, but it shouldn't hurt your college chances that much. And having an A+ average won't exactly make Stanford jump for joy - a lot of these colleges get a lot of competition in terms of admission and you're going to need a lot of solid extracurriculars - like showing leadership roles, initiative, etc.
Btw: Does anybody know if service trips are viewed positively or negatively when you apply for college?


*-- I don't know what awaits me in this love. I merely take your hand quietly and wish for it to last forever. --*
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