Instead of being indoctrinated into the ritualized tribalism of Organized Sports, what would be so awful about a program of Tai Chi, Yoga, anatomy, and nutrition, to teach kids how to live in the bodies they will be in for the rest of their lives? The current football-based P.E. model will leave most of them drinking cheap beer and eating fatty foods in a smoky bar by age 30. As for strategy, learn to play chess. As for teamwork, how about a civics class where we learn to get along and reach reasonable compromises, instead of beating each other to a pulp and risking brain injuries. School districts would have enough money for academic programs if they weren’t dumping tax revenues into athletic facilities that have nothing to do with the core educational mission. I’ll never vote for a bond issue that includes astroturf and lights for a high school stadium. I pay too much already for things I don’t agree with.
Instead of being indoctrinated into the ritualized tribalism of Organized Sports, what would be so awful about a program of Tai Chi, Yoga, anatomy, and nutrition, to teach kids how to live in the bodies they will be in for the rest of their lives? The current football-based P.E. model will leave most of them drinking cheap beer and eating fatty foods in a smoky bar by age 30. As for strategy, learn to play chess. As for teamwork, how about a civics class where we learn to get along and reach reasonable compromises, instead of beating each other to a pulp and risking brain injuries. School districts would have enough money for academic programs if they weren’t dumping tax revenues into athletic facilities that have nothing to do with the core educational mission. I’ll never vote for a bond issue that includes astroturf and lights for a high school stadium. I pay too much already for things I don’t agree with.
I used to regularly get "C"s in middle school gym class. Then I got to Vocational high school. They had very simple criteria for their gym class. 1-“be prepared” (have your shorts & sneakers) 2-“participate” (if you took 10 minutes to do 1 push-up, but the teacher could see you about to burst a blood vessel straining to do so, you passed) 3-“take showers”. If you failed to do any of these things on any given day (we had gym 5 days a week), you could lose a grade a day. You could FAIL in a week. After I got a “B” the first semester, I got straight-"A"s the rest of the 4 years.
Meanwhile, an annoying, arrogant, obnoxious muscle-brain I knew (and hated) wound up getting "D"s and at least one “F” in gym. I thought it was hilarious.
I was very annoyed, however, that in 4 years, I only ever learned swimming ONE year, my 10th grade, because of a teacher who had a very simple “system”. He’d demonstrate the next thing you needed to learn, you’d practice, you’d show him you learned it, he’d check you off on the list. NEXT step. At the end of a year, I’d attained the 1st of 3 levels for “Red Cross” swimming certification. I figured, great, by the time I graduate, I’ll have all 3. NO CHANCE. He went to another school, his replacement was an idiot who never taught us anything. What a waste of time, and tax-payers money.
margueritem about 11 years ago
That could be at the heart of a lot of people’s troubles.
pcolli about 11 years ago
We always wondered why our gym teachers wore such tight shorts……..we laughed at the various rumours going around.
grainpaw about 11 years ago
Instead of being indoctrinated into the ritualized tribalism of Organized Sports, what would be so awful about a program of Tai Chi, Yoga, anatomy, and nutrition, to teach kids how to live in the bodies they will be in for the rest of their lives? The current football-based P.E. model will leave most of them drinking cheap beer and eating fatty foods in a smoky bar by age 30. As for strategy, learn to play chess. As for teamwork, how about a civics class where we learn to get along and reach reasonable compromises, instead of beating each other to a pulp and risking brain injuries. School districts would have enough money for academic programs if they weren’t dumping tax revenues into athletic facilities that have nothing to do with the core educational mission. I’ll never vote for a bond issue that includes astroturf and lights for a high school stadium. I pay too much already for things I don’t agree with.
grainpaw about 11 years ago
Instead of being indoctrinated into the ritualized tribalism of Organized Sports, what would be so awful about a program of Tai Chi, Yoga, anatomy, and nutrition, to teach kids how to live in the bodies they will be in for the rest of their lives? The current football-based P.E. model will leave most of them drinking cheap beer and eating fatty foods in a smoky bar by age 30. As for strategy, learn to play chess. As for teamwork, how about a civics class where we learn to get along and reach reasonable compromises, instead of beating each other to a pulp and risking brain injuries. School districts would have enough money for academic programs if they weren’t dumping tax revenues into athletic facilities that have nothing to do with the core educational mission. I’ll never vote for a bond issue that includes astroturf and lights for a high school stadium. I pay too much already for things I don’t agree with.
profh0011 about 11 years ago
I used to regularly get "C"s in middle school gym class. Then I got to Vocational high school. They had very simple criteria for their gym class. 1-“be prepared” (have your shorts & sneakers) 2-“participate” (if you took 10 minutes to do 1 push-up, but the teacher could see you about to burst a blood vessel straining to do so, you passed) 3-“take showers”. If you failed to do any of these things on any given day (we had gym 5 days a week), you could lose a grade a day. You could FAIL in a week. After I got a “B” the first semester, I got straight-"A"s the rest of the 4 years.
Meanwhile, an annoying, arrogant, obnoxious muscle-brain I knew (and hated) wound up getting "D"s and at least one “F” in gym. I thought it was hilarious.
I was very annoyed, however, that in 4 years, I only ever learned swimming ONE year, my 10th grade, because of a teacher who had a very simple “system”. He’d demonstrate the next thing you needed to learn, you’d practice, you’d show him you learned it, he’d check you off on the list. NEXT step. At the end of a year, I’d attained the 1st of 3 levels for “Red Cross” swimming certification. I figured, great, by the time I graduate, I’ll have all 3. NO CHANCE. He went to another school, his replacement was an idiot who never taught us anything. What a waste of time, and tax-payers money.