By Jeff

April 24, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

PE is the parents’ job. Don’t let them sit in front of the TV all day - or even with a book. Throw them outside - literally if need be -, lock the door, and tell them they are not coming in for x number of hours and they should probably find something to do. Even better if you’re out there with them. (For smaller kids, I’d say it is a requirement, though I am nowhere NEAR as protective as most of the ladies over at Momania!)

Heck, on weekends - even during the week if you’ve got the time - put everyone on bikes and go for a ride for a few miles.

Back to the original point though: ANY parent - even the ones that are dumber than the proverbial rock - knows the basics of excercise. FEW parents know the intricacies of the various academic subjects (the same could be said about many teachers, but that is another blog!). Therefore, logic dictates that school time be used for academics and let the parents handle the PE.

By HS Teacher Too

April 24, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

I disagree. There are many invaluable lessons that are learned in PE. Not the least of those are teamwork, sportsmanship, how to be a fair winner and loser, and what it feels like to be picked first — or last.

We also can’t over look the facts that we have a nation of video-gaming couch potatoes and in Atlanta our backyards are often the size of postage stamps, so kids don’t have the proverbial “go play outside” option anymore.

If we truly value getting our nation out of the obesity decline that it’s in now, one way to do that is to encourage — even mandate — physical education (and recess).

Finally, as to Jeff’s point that schools are for academics: that is true, but there is evidence (anecdotal and scientific) that a little exercise goes a long way toward mental acuity. Goodness knows that when I am knee-deep and starting to get delirious from studying, a quick 20 jumping jacks or something to wake me up does WONDERS!

By HS Teacher Too

April 24, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

I disagree. There are many invaluable lessons that are learned in PE. Not the least of those are teamwork, sportsmanship, how to be a fair winner and loser, and what it feels like to be picked first — or last.

We also can’t over look the facts that we have a nation of video-gaming couch potatoes and in Atlanta our backyards are often the size of postage stamps, so kids don’t have the proverbial “go play outside” option anymore.

If we truly value getting our nation out of the obesity decline that it’s in now, one way to do that is to encourage — even mandate — physical education (and recess).

Finally, as to Jeff’s point that schools are for academics: that is true, but there is evidence (anecdotal and scientific) that a little exercise goes a long way toward mental acuity. Goodness knows that when I am knee-deep and starting to get delirious from studying, a quick 20 jumping jacks or something to wake me up does WONDERS!

By V for Vendetta

April 24, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

Jeff is right. I don’t think we should REQUIRE kids to take part in PE, but it should ALWAYS remain an option. Health is a different matter, of course. It is the job of the parents to ensure their children get adequate exercise. The shame is most of them don’t, most of them don’t want to fight the battle of taking away TV and video games.

I think the more pressing issue (as I’ve said before) is the quality of physical education taught in schools—especially elementary schools. The quality of the phys ed classes is being compromised by our ridiculously PC culture. Team sports has been eliminated from many elementary schools because it makes some kids feel bad.

Maybe kids would be less fat and more inclined to exercise at home if they got picked last for kickball and were teased by their classmates. I was an uncoordinated mess when I was in elementary school and I got teased plenty. I don’t harbor any deep psychological scars; in fact, if anything, it toughened me up a little.

Too bad kids now are too sensitive for that. Trust me, I see it at the high school level. We’re raising a generation of wimps.

By HS Teacher Too

April 24, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

I think I missed the last few questions, sorry!

I am not sure how I feel about substituting art classes for phys. ed. classes. To some extent, I think that carving out a phys. ed. requirement is a very good thing. I have shared before on this blog that I grew up in NY, at (at least at that time) we were required to have a full year of phys. ed. every high school year. It was actually a “half year” requirement, but the way my high school did it was to make us have gym every other day for a full year. I have to say that while I was sometimes anti-gym, it was good for me!

I think it is obvious that our schools value academic classes more than gym, but I think there is an element of shame in that. We need to acknowledge that they are different classes that serve different purposes that ultimately factor into the same broader goal: producing well-rounded members of society.

By JustMe

April 24, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

GOOD GRIEF!!! What all of the ultra important “get schooled” topics happening right now, this is the topic for today?

What about updates of Clayton Co?

What about DeKalb Co stealing State money from teacher salary?

What about incoming results of the HSGT?

What about how schools report violence against teachers?

What about the school system budgets - how much is spent on non-classroom costs?

But, this topic is on PE?? Give me a break…..

By V for Vendetta

April 24, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

HST2,

Many of the things you mentioned can’t be learned in a PE class any more; they could make kids feel bad. I’m not joking, either. I have two friends who teach elementary PE, and they’ve both told me the same thing. Only games that include ALL the kids and where there can be no winner or loser are allowed. If the kids start a game on their own, they have to TAKE THE BALL AWAY. If they DO play a game that is traditionally scored, they have to announce at the end that everyone is a winner.

Remember, this is at two different schools.

It’s the wussification of America.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

HST2:

As to the ‘lessons of PE’…. my DAD taught me all of those. But that goes back to the fact that soooo many kids these days don’t have dad in the home. Again, another blog.

‘Postage stamp yards’: I’ve been all over this great state, and ya wanna know the one thing I’ve found constant? There is ALWAYS a place to go out walking/running/jogging/biking nearby. Whether it be (for you metro ATL people as well as those that live within the city limits of many of the regional cities) the local park or simply the road at the end of your yard, there is ALWAYS a place to do this. Not ONCE in my travels have I found somewhere where you can’t. Unless you REALLY don’t want to, and then you’ll find ANY excuse.

As to your point about a ‘little excercise’: OK, I’ll give you that. 20 minute calisthenics right after the bell rings, led by the homeroom teacher. Or even better, take the entire school out to the field and have the principal lead it. You’ve woken everyone up AND got the blood flowing, so their brains should now be ready to be engaged. And you STILL haven’t wasted an hour to an hour and a half in a useless class called PE.

By HS Teacher Too

April 24, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Jeff, we can agree to disagree. My whole point is that I do not believe that phys. ed is useless. I should add the caveat of if it is done right, because V makes a great point about how little phys. ed resembles what we all grew up with.

I’m off to take an exam….

By JustMe

April 24, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Hey Laura - here is a topic for the blog…. pen or pencil? pros and cons.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

HST2:

Nor do I believe phy ed is useless. I believe phys ed taught by the schools is useless. I’m in FULL favor of it being taught, just by the PARENTS.

By SAMMI

April 24, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

I’m going to start this post as I have done before [and I’m sure many will say, TIMES HAVE CHANGED]..BUT “Back in the day” , there was NO PE in elementary school , just RECESS. And JEFF…we did do calesthenics [actually jumping jacks, touching toes, etc] led by our teacher…a few times a week. AND we played dodge ball, tag, and when we were very young, The Farmer In the Dell!!!! PE began in 8th grade and we only were required to have 2 years of it it high school. More than that was optional. There was the occasional chubby kid, but obesity certainly wasn’t an ^epidemic. But, we did in fact spend most afternoons OUTSIDE and all weekends and summer days..OUTSIDE, playing, not organized , absolutely nothing organized by parents or anyone else other than the kids, just pick up games, vacant lot ball,etc. We learned to deal with rejection…being chosen last or not at all. We also learned to deal with skinned knees, and even a few broken arms.

By Vicki

April 24, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

JustMe, No one is making you post on this blog. If you don’t have anything to say about the subject - don’t post. Just stop your constant complaining.

Jeff, You are well, a pain in the a@@. You don’t know EVERYTHING!!! The middle school my son attends they have PE for all of 9 weeks. He is learning about statistics and they are starting the Olympics tomorrow. Oh heck, isn’t that Math and History. I don’t think that is useless.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Vicki:

If he is learning math and history in PE, isn’t PE NOT fulfilling its stated goal of getting kids active????

Sounds to me like they are turning it into an academic class, which while I am not opposed to, is NOT the stated goal of the class.

Indeed, it would seem that academics - sitting in a lecture, taking notes, etc - is the complete ANTITHESIS of the stated objective of PE.

No wonder we live in an age of 400lb 6yr olds….

By a high school mom

April 24, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

My son is a high school jr. He has participated in three sports each year. He is matriculating in college prep studies and also takes band. So, he had no room for PE in his schedule. He has no room next year either, but it is a requirement…one semester. So, he will pay to take it over the summer. To me, that is absolutely ridiculous as he has been more than active, and clearly within his height and weight requirements—- because of his sports activities, he is required to take a physical each year.

However, I do think those students who do not participate in sports should be required to participate in some sort of PE or fitness class, at least one semester of it in high school, maybe one year in middle school. If recess is not mandatory in elementary school, then there should be PE. Students should be exposed to ways to lead a healthy lifestyle. The kids, who play school sports learn about healthy eating, hydration, proper ways to exercise, etc. in addition to self-discipline. These are things that are not taught in recreational leagues or in pick-up games. If the parents don’t know it or follow it, then how will their kids learn it?

By DB

April 24, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

“Back in the day,” I had PE/gym every year until senior year, when it was optional. (I started gaining weight my senior year, between off-campus lunches and no P.E.!)

Part of me wishes that they DID still have a decent P.E. program — the kind where you got hot and sweaty, learned a little bit how to play tennis, had a segment in gymnastics, basketball, softball, field hockey, etc, did the 600 once a month, then spent a month practicing for the President’s Physical Fitness challenge.

On the other hand, there are so many kids now that spend a couple of hours after school each day in some sort of sports practice, it’s hard to say that they should also be sacrificing a fine arts class or technology class in order to add more PE to their daily schedule. I realize that’s not every kid, but I can see where folks whose kids are at school from 7:30 am until 6 pm in school and practice might not be excited about adding a P.E. class.

And that bit about not keeping score — yeah, right. :-) My 19 year old can still tell you the score of a hard-fought, hotly contested soccer game when he was 5 at a church-sponsored soccer league that presumably didn’t keep score. The adults may not be keeping score, but the kids sure do!

By Old School

April 24, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

There was once an amazing GHP instructor, Betty McBrayer, who promoted “Fitness for Life” not only for the GHP students but back at her own school. She got everyone moving and over all these many years still inspires this old teacher to KEEP moving. If we could clone Betty or implant her wit, drive, and determination into more PE teachers, kids would WANT to get up and move; behavior would likely improve in schools; we might even see better test scores and fewer children left behind.

By .

April 24, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

Parents are not the best qualified people to teach the subjects of exercise physiology, health, and nutrition. People get degrees for that stuff.

PE, or Physical Education, is exactly where we should start teaching our children these scientific, public health courses.

So, Jeff, you’re wrong. You usually are. But who isnt’ at your age…

By Vicki

April 24, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

Jeff, They are not turning this class into anything but PE. He is on block scheduling (100 min. classes) and that give amply time to sit for 15-20 mins. and then actually play a good game of basketball or run a mile and a half.

In the Olympics they actually throw the discus, shot put, run relays, etc. They actually have to WIN to earn a medal. To me, that is active class.

BTW, in my 47 years of living, I have never met a 6 year old who weighs 400 lbs. However, you may have.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

.:

Ya know, we programmers have a name for ‘excercise physiology’, ‘health’, and ‘nutrition’ as majors:

CAKE

You don’t need to know the names of every muscle you are moving to know that running a mile or two and doing a few dozen situps and pushups a day is a smart, healthy thing to do.

You don’t need a degree to know that calorie-laden foods and a sedentary life do not bode well for the waistline or overall health.

And you don’t need the advice of some professor to know that not getting enough vitamin C means that you’ll probably get sick more often.

People survived for literally THOUSANDS of years without any of those cake majors you named, and for the vast majority of that time they were generally healthier than we are today.

By jim d

April 24, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

YO Vicki,

As anyone on this blog will attest, JM and I rarely agree on any topic. I doubt, however, that I’ve ever suggested she not post to the blog. She has a way of causing one to think through their comments—regardless of if one agreees with her or not.

Lighten up!

By HB

April 24, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

Re: sports and tight schedules

I’ve heard of high schools, in Washington state I believe, that allow students to take at least some of their P.E. as independent study. The student meets with a coach advisor regularly to develop a program and track progress, and depending on how it’s set up, sports practices can count as “class” time. Parents or teachers (if the student’s activity is on campus before or after school) sign off on exercise logs. In a lot of ways, monitoring/approval is similar to the way some schools handle community service requirements.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

Vicki:

I may have exaggerated SLIGHTLY with the 400lbs, but this is FACT:

I once knew a KID in SECOND GRADE that had to have hip replacement surgery because he was so fat. He LITERALLY was as big - or bigger - AROUND as he was tall. To the tune of his pant size was literally something like 48/22. His parents were some of the worst I’ve ever seen - and I’ve seen some doosies - not counting abusive parents.

By V for Vendetta

April 24, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

DB,

The keeping score thing has really only started changing in the past 5-10 years. And, like I said, not all schools do it. (Thankfully there are still some schools out there with half a brain!)

By Jen

April 24, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

You know Jeff, as a someone with a Masters degree in Statistics who is married to a professor of exercise physiology I have to say that what you said about these people is not only offensive but patently untrue.

I know about programmers. I do most all my own programming. You’re not any smarter than my husband who studies the effects of exercise on peripheral muscle nerve innervation after transection. In fact, if you only have a bachelor’s degree, or even a Masters, you’re less educated than he is and you are not someone trained to do research or interpret it accurately, which takes real brains.

Please don’t be so condescending about something you clearly know little about.

Only a truly stupid person would make statement like that about other people.

By jim d

April 24, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Spellings sidesteps congress

By Vicki

April 24, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

jim d, Some days it’s better to not post if you have nothing to say. That is all I was pointing out. She was fussing because she didn’t like the subject.

As for lightening up, well…. :)

By little PE

April 24, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Hi Laura,

Will you please state (if you know it) the state’s requirement for the minimum hours of PE for elementary schools?

And, you’re saying districts can add requirements on top of it?

Do you know the policy for APS, at the elementary level?

When I taught for APS, our kids got 45 minutes of PE a week. 15 of that was EASILY spent standing in line, waiting for the teacher, or lining up at the end. But, it was 45 min on paper.

I always wondered —- Isn’t that less than some requirement, written SOMEWHERE? I could never figure out the answer. Then principal hated the fact they were even getting 45 min a week.

Add that to the fact that NO recess was allowed —- It was a fidgety, extremely violent bunch.

And we have to keep that in mind, esp. w/ the inner city crowd —- No PE, no recess — you’re getting A LOT OF FIGHTS. Yes, ‘playground fights’ happen. But let’s say a playground fight happens once a week —- Going out and playing, working off that energy — you’re preventing an easy 3-5 classroom fights a week.

Thank you!

By jim d

April 24, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

How important are teachers employment rights?

The Supremes will hear the case.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Jen:

Your husband is also in a highly specialized area. MY point was that you don’t need those degrees to adequately teach a kid physical education. Same as the fact that you don’t really need a degree to teach Languages or Social Studies.

And I AM trained to both do research and interpret it accurately. It really AINT that hard. Heck, I once taught EIGTH GRADERS how to reach the same conclusions John Kerry’s PhD level advisors were coming to that Weds morning of the 2004 election.

By Jen

April 24, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Jeff, my husband started out taking those so-called “cake” classes in college while getting his “cake” degree in exercise science.

Have you ever taken any of those courses?

If exercising and physical education and the benefits are so EASY then please explain why is there the American College of Sports Medicine? Why does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have an entire Division dedicated to researching it?

There is nothing worse than a bunch of people who really don’t know what they’re talking about authoritatively relaying information amongst each other.

You really must stop and think and realize that you really do not know everything. You never will.

By jim d

April 24, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Democracy at Risk hot off the press!

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Jen:

Actually, I have. And my advanced software engineering classes were a full order of magnitude harder.

Realize here that we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about a knowledge level sufficient enough to give kids a solid understanding of the basics. You’re talking about a knowledge level sufficient enough to enable you to work for CDC.

The proverbial rock has the first. Many docs do not have the second.

By Jen

April 24, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

What class was it that you took, Jeff?

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Jen:

Physiology of Excercise. Took it cause it sounded interesting at the time. Turned out to be a MAJOR bore.

By high school teacher

April 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Jen, my husband was a PE major. I was quite surprised at the difficulty of his classes. On a final exam for one of his muscle behavior classes, he had to list all of the muscles involved in serving a tennis ball, in order of action. The next question was to list all muscles invovled in shooting a free throw. I couldn’t do that!

Of course, I don’t have a level of knowledge that is superior to all others. If only I were that lucky…

By Lisa B.

April 24, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

No Child Left Behind is the reason so many kids these days MISS PE. If Little Johnny struggles in reading ad/or math, Little Johnny doesn’t get to take PE. He takes additional reading and/or math classes instead. Little Johnny can’t run around and play after school, because he’s in the After School Program to build up his reading and math skills. He can’t play on Saturdays either, because Little Johnny attends Saturday School. Little Johnny may be in poor physical shape, and at risk for all sorts of illnesses, but, by golly, he’s going to pass the CRCT!

By Jane

April 24, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

P.E. is a wonderful idea. these children are in school Monday through Friday for 8 hours and then most are in after school - they do get time to play outside then but with the American workday being longer - our children need/deserve time outside everyday. Teachers agree that letting them out for a bit each day allows for excess energy to be burned off and less bad behavior in the classrooms.
I remember many years ago, kickball, track and field day at the elementary schools and getting the ribbons for winning, a picnic lunch outside with the entire school - it was something everyone including the teachers looked forward to - I participated in this from grade 1 thru 7.
Then we went to High School where P.E. was required for 2 years; the hated gymsuits were required attire and having to dress out daily was not optional. Being outside in the sun is good for everyone - children especially.

By End Of Discussion

April 24, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

PE is Impotent so you dont get real fat!!

There are to many fat people in AMerica and they need to work out. Fat people are gross and disgusting and shoudd be Forced to take PE!!

Make fat people take PE

By MyOpinion

April 24, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

PE should be required in elementary and middle school, but optional for high school. When the time spent PE slowly started to recede in school, almost a decade ago, the students in school slowly started becoming bigger and bigger. Now there is rarely PE/recess in school, but there are a lot of junior obesity. Does anyone else see the relationship?

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

Fat people should be forced to work out and take care of themselves— there are so many Slobs in USA NOW — I would never hire a fat person (they are lazy, and eat too much)

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Also Fat people are leading to Higher food prices and Global Warming!!

Hillary 2008 for Skinnier people

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

There are 350 Million fat so in America- You eat rice now!!! and take PE!!!

PE for Fats

By Jen

April 24, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Jeff, you can’t compare a first year exercise physiology course with a fourth year engineering course…

By Bett Rutler

April 24, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Tamika - too bad your daddy wasn’t “impotent”.

By Jeff

April 24, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Jen:

Actually, it was a 4000 level (senior level) class. I took quite a few upper level non-major classes when I had the prereqs for them and they sounded interesting, with the goal of taking at least one in every college. For the college of Health and Phsyical Sciences, it was Physiology of Excercise. (I also took Scriptural Lit - a 3000 level class -, The World Since 1945 - a 4000 level class - and several others.)

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

Bett Rutler You need to take PE so you can lose the 200lbs of McDonalds Fat you have.

PE for Fat A## Bett

By Barbara Timenskaming

April 24, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

I am thinkin PE shud be foced in all Skools. Kids know a day our extremly large and fat. Kids know a day our eatin to many fast foods wich our makin them much fat. PE will be a way fout thems to lose all that weit. PE will make srong muscels and make them kids healthy people for us all to be better people and help them out with them through PE class so they dont drink any mor cola!!

I sought to get kids oi PE CLADSS now

By Jen

April 24, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Jeff, I have no idea what 4000 means at whatever school you went to.

I suppose, after taking that class, you can now write me an exercise perscription? Can you tell a group of 7 years old how to exercise? As the mother of a 7 year old…I seriously doubt it.

Can you read and interpret and EKG or EMG?

Can you tell me how carbohydrates are metabolized in people who are insulin resistant (often the overweight) and how exercise changes that? Can you explain the phyisology?

You’re beyond absurd.

By Jeff is an Idiot

April 24, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Software engineering: that means you still live with your parents in their basement and have no friends except for the ‘ladies’ whose pictures you check out on those “special” websites you visit several times a day.

By Sam

April 24, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

Ummmmmm Barbara What was it you are trying to say? I am confused?

By Skeeter

April 24, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Waaay back when I was in high school, PE classes were the bane of my day. We never saw our ‘teacher’ because she spent all day, every day in her office yakking with the other ‘teachers.’ All we ever did was run around the yard, do jumping jacks, and maybe through a ball through a hoop. What a big yawn! It’s no wonder I HATED that hour of the day. Now, if the ‘teacher’ had put even an ounce of energy into making the class interesting - maybe some dance, square or round, or other structured activity - rather than just ceding the hour to her favorite students, maybe I’d be more interested in physical activity for its own sake today. I have to imagine that there are tons of people who had a similar experience.

By Todd

April 24, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Jen — Sounds like you have bad genes— Poor Kids!!

By skeeter

April 24, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

Tamika and Barbara: Ummm, I’m thinking you could both spend a LOT more time in English class, and forget PE…

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

My Boobs need a PE class— Cause they are so big and fat!!!

By Grace

April 24, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

PE does NOT matter at all if mommy & daddy are bringing home * pizza & a bucket of chicken* every night for dinner.

By Jane

April 24, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

This is a topic regarding P.E. -lack of physical activity will make an individual lose muscle, have trouble breathing, carry excess weight. All of which can cause health related issues. However, NOT all (and I stress this point) overweight individuals are that way because they don’t exercise, or because they eat to much. Some of it is medical issues - and for anyone to make a blanket statement without the facts is just ignorant. P.E. would be helpful for all students - I do agree that it should be a fun time-dance, baseball, aerobics, gymnastics, etc but once again until the PARENTs and the SCHOOLS work together this will not happen.

By Craig

April 24, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

Read “Spark” by Dr. Ratey to learn about the relationship of neural growth and development to strenuous physical activity even among adults.

By Jane

April 24, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

If Mommy and Daddy are bringing home Pizza and a Bucket o Chicken each night -PE might be the saving grace in keeping the child from being overweight - however, if the child only eats one slice of pizza or one piece of chicken - everything can be eaten in MODERATION

By Lisa B.

April 24, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

I am sorry you are all so worried about fat kids. The government only cares that students pass required tests. Who cares if kids are fat as long as they pass the CRCT, End of Course tests, and the high school graduation test? It’s all about THE TEST. Smart kids can take PE. The not-so-smart kids take more reading and math.

By Another Jen

April 24, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

Jen, You don’t usually post here, and I don’t know if you ever lurk around these pages … so I will assume that you don’t and offer some friendly advice: difficult as it may sometimes be, walk away from Jeff’s comments. Jeff is a self-proclaimed authority on everything, because his life has been extraordinarily difficult on levels most of us don’t understand, and he apparently is brilliant and acclaimed in his (latest) career of choice. He also got run out of the school where he taught. I believe he lasted less than an academic year, which is saying quite a bit, don’t you think? He’s also, though as yet childless, an authority on the finer points of the art and science of parenting.

Sometimes when you can push all that aside, he has something of merit to contribute, and sometimes he’s just a normal guy with a different perspective — but as you saw today, most of the time it’s like arguing with a rock. No matter what you say, or how right you may be, he will never pause to consider the possibly.

I am not saying this to be mean, but as a frequent reader of this blog, and on the guess that you may not be, I’m trying to save you some headache. You sound intelligent and I hope you continue to contribute!

By Of course HPE

April 24, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Health & Phys. Ed. classes are not just running around. There’s nutrition, health education, motor skills development, etc. it’s not just dodgeball and tag. And pretty much every study done on the topic shows that children do better in school and on standardized tests when HPE is part of the cirriculum. Healthy body, healthy mind. It worked when we parents were kids, and it works still today.

By Tamika

April 24, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

My Poop Needs PE class!

By V for Vendetta

April 24, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this

Another Jen,

You forgot to mention that he’s learned all this knowledge in the span of twenty-five years. Amazing!

By Jen

April 24, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this

Another Jen and V for Vendetta,

Thanks for the word of advice. After my last post I sat back and thought about things and came to that same conclusion.

Don’t worry, young men like him are the ones he learn the hardest lessons.

When I saw the headline of this blog I forwarded it to my husband and told him he should post something. He took a look, saw the types of things posted here, and said it’d be a waste of his time…he had test papers to grade and a research manuscript to finish….one on the effect of slope (walking) on hind limb kinematics and muscle activity.

I’m an educated scientist mom with a child in APS. I check this blog out of things are slow at work (as I imagine you all do). I hope I have something constructive to add in the future.

No more arguing with rocks.

By Stew

April 24, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this

Kids are fat because the schools do not have enough PE. My Dads ( a PE teacher) high school in the 1960’s had PE 5 days a week and guess what? New York was # 1 in education in the USA at the time and the USA was also #1 in the world in education. He said that teacher unions would destroy the American educational system. Guess what, he was right. Lets get rid of PE because we are so smart. I am discusted.

By Stew

April 24, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

PE also includes an active intermural after school program like I had in New York in the 1970’s. The gym teachers got paid extra and we used the gym facilities after school hours and saturdays. I asked the great Coach Hunter of Brookwood lore upon my sons arival to explain the intermural program at Brookwood and he told me there was’nt any because of lack of facilites. God forbid the 2 gyms be used other than the exclusive use of the football and basketball teams. This is what is going on. Wake UP Georgia.

By DB

April 24, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

Well, while it’s easy to point a causal finger at “no p.e. is making kids fat”, I personally don’t think it is the ONLY thing making kids fat. It could help take the edge off, surely, but one can also look at the differences in the kid’s family lifestyles these days, vs. when many of us were in school. I don’t know about you, but my family rarely ate out. A hot breakfast was on the table before I went to school, I ate a decent lunch at school (with pizza as a rare treat instead of a daily diet), and we ate a home-cooked dinner at home each evening at 6:00 pm. I walked to school until high school, and only ate out on Friday nights, my mom’s “night off.” We weren’t scarfing Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits for breakfast, Doc Green salads for lunch and deciding between Boston Market and Sweet Tomatoes for dinner. Many kids have very poor eating habits because their parents are too rushed or too lazy to take the time to fix a proper meal for their family.

That, and there were only 3 channels (and I couldn’t watch after 8 pm anyway) and no computer to suck large chunks of time out of your life. :-)

By Lovemy4kids

April 25, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this

I think that some sort of daily physical activity is necessary for good mental and physical health for children and adults. Weekly exposure to art and music is also very important for cognitive development. Our home school begins with a morning 5 minute “walk-run” before breakfast. We usually take another one at our lunch break. This is easy and cheap and assures us at least minimum exercise every day. One son also takes Tai Kwon Do twice a week. The class is held at a public elementary school gym after school. My other two children and I run laps on the playground track and then the kids play on the playground equipment with other children until the class is over. Another child takes a weekly Saturday tennis class. This summer we will start swim lessons and afternoon free-swim. My kids look forward to these exercise opportunities as much as I do. If we go a week without any, I can really tell a difference! Art instruction is also a very important part of our curriculum. My 11 year old works on 3-D animation projects daily with a professional program called Maya. All three are very good at origami and work on daily projects. They have all taken drawing classes and my seven year old enjoys copying pictures of animals from one of our many drawing books. We often listen to CD’s of poetry or classical music while we eat lunch. I can’t imagine a home school day without these “extras”.

By Lee

April 25, 2008 5:34 AM | Link to this

At the elementary grades, I think recess is more important than having structured PE.

Back in my day (60s-70s), elementary students had three recesses per day. A fifteen minute morning, thirty minute after lunch, and a fifteen minute afternoon. We also had honest to goodness playground equipment; swings, seesaws, jungle gyms, slides.

One of my hometown elementary schools actually tore up the old playground equipment to put in classroom trailers. The remaining equipment looks like a cheap imitation of a McDonalds playground.

As far as the obesity issue, there are a lot of culprits. A sedentary lifestyle due to TV/computer/video games and more processed/fast foods are probably the most common causes. Also, don’t forget what you drink is just as important as what you eat. Back in my day, Coke came in 6 and 10 ounce bottles and 12 oz cans. 20 ounce bottles are the norm today. A “medium” drink at Wendy’s is probably a whopping 32 ounces.

Anyway, that’s my take. I’ve gotta go eat breakfast. The Pop-tarts just came out of the toaster…..

By jim d

April 25, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this

Lee,

Speaking of the golden arches.

I don’t recall seeing them around much as a child, and I don’t recall the “king” of burgers or big “dave” being on every street corner either.

By What would the ajc do?

April 25, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution filed a complaint with the attorney general’s office Wednesday, alleging the Clayton County school board illegally closed meetings.

Whoopty F’n do!! Guess CCPS dosen’t have the same clout with the AJC as GCPS, who has been doing this for years despite an opinon from the state attorney general that they are violating the law.

By Hick from the Sticks

April 25, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Cancel P.E.?

Maybe the bill will pass to start weighing children in schools as well.

My dearest mother expressed sheer outrage, and a violation of civil rights in connection with that bill.

My reaction?

“Allow me to smoke in Waffle House again, and I won’t weigh your fat kids.”

Perhaps the government’s next step will be to outlaw video games to fight obesity.

By Jeff

April 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

V and another Jen:

You really would be AMAZED at what you can learn in 25 years when you have a passion for both learning and reading.

God’s honest truth: For the first 12-15 years of my life, from the time I could read until roughly the time I could drive, I LITERALLY would sit for hours and read the encyclopedia. And ya know something, when you have a mind that can soak in and retain nearly every piece of information you’ve ever read, that actually accumulates quite a bit of knowledge. (That, combined later with reading virtually every word of most of my non-math textbooks. That started in MS and continued through college.) Add in the various research projects I’ve done on my own, and you can begin to get an idea of why I was so good at Academic Team matches. Oh, and I do admittedly have one weakness: When it comes to the more ‘normal’ types of trivia, such as sports trivia or music trivia, I am completely useless. But academic trivia? Let’s just say that it is rare indeed to find someone I can’t at least hold my own with, and MOST of the time I wind up winning pretty convincingly.

For human nature studies, history is a good place to start. But then you can go to the mall or the park or the grocery store and just watch people. You’ll find that not much has really changed in the past few thousand years.

By Old School

April 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

We (teachers, parents, adults) can point fingers and lay blame all over the place and call it PE but the bottom line is this: I must step up to the plate myself and take personal responsibility for my own actions and the expectations I have for my children. I have 2 adult children who continue to be physically active and will no doubt pass that on to their own kids.

Little by little change will happen. We chose to make the first step because health is important to us as is education, character, and family.

To each of you bloggers: are YOU up to that challenge? I’m a 34 year veteran full-time teacher and a 57 year old grandmother who gets outside and plays hard with my grandson. We run, jump, tumble, laugh, scrape our knees, and generally have a blast. I’ll continue to do so because I need it as much as he does. I’d say it’s quite a legacy to pass on to the future generations.

By .

April 25, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

I think Jeff needs his own reality show.

By Cheryl McTasire

May 2, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

The sight of grotesque, fat children waddling down the street makes me sick to my (very, very slim) stomach. If I ate, I would be vomiting my tofu all over the treadmill. But PE is useless; the monsters stand around with vacant eyes until the bell goes and they can waddle back inside to the A/C. Ship them off to northern Canada. They’ll lose weight in the wilderness, and if they don’t, Canucks have free health care; we can give them lipsuction!

By Cheryl McTasire

May 2, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

The sight of grotesque, fat children waddling down the street makes me sick to my (very, very slim) stomach. If I ate, I would be vomiting my tofu all over the treadmill. But PE is useless; the monsters stand around with vacant eyes until the bell goes and they can waddle back inside to the A/C. Ship them off to northern Canada. They’ll lose weight in the wilderness, and if they don’t, Canucks have free health care; we can give them liposuction!