Fail Fitness Test, Take PE Again

[missypie]

Hi, hops_scout, I went to Sparta High my freshman year!

There is a reason that Texas schools are known for having awesome sports teams and national champion cheer and drill teams...they take it as a class. Our school is on an AB block schedule, and sports, cheer, dance and marching band are double blocked, meaning that your sport/cheer/dance/band class takes up 2 of your 8 periods, or 1/4 of your schedule!!! Of course, all of those DO count toward your PE requirement, but those kids end up with 8 PE credits instead of the required 1.5. If you have a double blocked sport, it is very hard to fit in the state requirements; many take summer school.

[hops_scout]

other APs

Why can't those students take COLLEGE classes in COLLEGE like everyone else??

I would like to see PE required K-12 EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think there would be a drastic reduction in obesity in youths which means less diabetes, CVDs, etc. That would also lead to lesser healthcare expenses!

But it'll never happen...

[missypie]

Again, it totally depends on what they DO in PE. At our middle school, everyone has to take PE in 6th grade. It's a pretty tradional PE class where they do quite a bit. In 7th grade, they can either take Athletics or PE. The PE teachers (incorrectly) assume that everyone who doesn't take Athletics is a slug, so they do next to nothing in 7th grade PE. No one should have to take 13 years of dodge ball!

[BunsenBurner]

hops_scout, I second your opinion! Across the board physical activity in HS in the long run will be more beneficial for our society than every kid taking 6 APs per year. Our SD requires 2 yrs of HS PE and Health. PE req. can be waived by participation in HS athletics (1 season of HS sports equals 1/2 semester of PE, and there are teams with no "cuts" for participation), Health can be taken in the summer, at a CC or on-line. Lots of options for band and arts AP-crazy kids to free up that PE slot for other classes.

[hops_scout]

Once again missypie, we agree! A more active approach needs to be taken toward PE. Not "toss out a ball and play" mindset but an "Exercise is Medicine" mindset. There are things that PE instructors could do with what they have now that would improve things, but they are also seeing obstacles that are hard to overcome.

BunsenBurner, sounds to me like there are too many options so that those "AP-crazy kids" can avoid taking regular PE.

[missypie]

"BunsenBurner, sounds to me like there are too many options so that those "AP-crazy kids" can avoid taking regular PE. "

My son will be a senior next year and still has a semester of PE to go. When it was time to sign up for classes, a guy at the very top of the class wanted to take both AP Stats and AP Calculus, but couldn't fit it in if he took his final required PE class. My son had to convince him that he would not graduate without PE!

[zoosermom]

My kid's high school has PE every day as a requirement. She's enjoyed it a lot (Yoga, volleyball, etc.) except for the required semester of swim gym. That was a semester from heck and I am glad I never have to hear my kid complain like that.

[missypie]

I WISH our kids had the option of swimming. The natatorium is off campus but they have 90 minute classes. The only kids who can use the school pool are members of the swim team. Doesn't seem right.

I bet if they taught things like Pilates, spin, aerobics, yoga, you'd have lots of kids signing up, even if it wasn't required.

[zoosermom]

"I WISH our kids had the option of swimming. "

The pool and natatorium is skanky and dirty. They also can't dry their hair.

[HisGraceFillsMe]

I would like to see PE required K-12 EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think there would be a drastic reduction in obesity in youths which means less diabetes, CVDs, etc. That would also lead to lesser healthcare expenses!

That's a great plan...except that in most Public High Schools, PE is a joke. Especially at my school...the laziest kids take PE. All they do is run. They might as well be on Track. The kids who actually want to do something productive play sports. I played Varsity Golf for 3 years to fill my PE requirements, and I really enjoyed it. But I'll tell you right now, this new plan isn't going to do crap.

missypie-boy are you right! I'd love to take a spin or yoga class.

The reason kids hate PE is because they don't get to choose it...it's forced upon us. Right now at my school we can only do sports, general PE (which again, only the laziest kids take), dance, ROTC or marching band (and you only get credit for that for 1 semester, so you end up having to take it all four years to fill the requirement). Now if we were given the option to do something like missypie suggests, something that WE got to choose and we actually would enjoy, things might be different.

Also, you know there are going to be kids who slip through the cracks. Who's really going to check and make sure that every single kid that failed the test the previous year is in PE class? The government doesn't have the time or the resources, and most public schools could care less as long as the kid in question puts up good standardized test scores. It's a good thought, but the plan itself will never work.

[zoosermom]

"The reason kids hate PE is because they don't get to choose it."

My kid's school has awesome PE. Step dancing, all kinds of stuff and they do get to choose. I love that.

[HisGraceFillsMe]

See, THAT would be fun. >_<

[Bay]

I don't know about boys and the 9-minute mile, but going by my own female middle-aged abilities, I can WALK an 11 minute mile! I don't think the requirements are stringent at all; in fact, if a student can't achieve those requirements in an entire year of P.E., then something is seriously wrong with our kids or P.E. teachers.

[PackMom]

My S2 took regular freshman PE, then took Strength and Conditioning (weightlifting...football player) for two years. This year as a senior he is taking Racquet and Paddle Sports (tennis, racquetball, badminton, ping pong, etc). He has it first period which is kind of a pain but other than that, he's having a blast.

S1 took lots of AP's but worked Team Sports into his senior yr. schedule. It was his favorite class of senior yr.

Only a few schools in our system have pools. Our swim team practices after school at a community pool. All team sports here practice after school so don't interfere with PE classes.

[fevoldj2]

Why don't sports count as PE credit? Surely athletes do not need PE. PE does not help obesity. That's absurd.