PE at school. Have they got the methods wrong?

aliasojo

I arrived at daughter's school early today to pick her up and I ended up sitting in the car park for half an hour just waiting.

The school playing field is beside the car park and I watched the kids 'doing' P.E. I say 'doing', because a large portion of the time, they were just standing huddled in a centre circle presumably listening to the teacher talk.

Nothing odd in that..........only the rain was absolutely bucketing down. I'm not talking about a wee shower, it was literally on for ages and was bouncing hard off the pavements.

Some of the kids were wearing the school regulation gym t-shirt, so were sodden. I silently questioned how much attention they were paying, given the state they were in. I genuinely cannot understand why PE is enforced in weather conditions such as this.

I then thought back to my own PE days. I hated it with a vengeance and did all I could to get out of it. That never changed and I still avoid exercise to this day, rather than embrace it.

I can't help feeling the school PE regime put me off and things might have been different if PE was less regimental and more fun.

Competitiveness was encouraged, emphasis was put on sports day and the like. It was all about racing or winning points for your team). You were yelled at if you lagged behind.

We were out in all weathers despite the school having a perfectly good gym that could have been utilised for an alternative lesson if the weather was bad. We spent many a PE period feeling resentful and just not understanding why we were being barked at in the rain to 'run faster'. When we got a bit older, a lot of the 14/15 year olds just bunked off during the PE lesson and came back for the lesson after.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for encouraging the young to become active. I think sports are important and I think it's best to start this off at an early age BUT if the way it is taught in schools is something to be endured and it puts people off, then is it not time to look at the methods used?

There were a few sporty souls in our class who enjoyed PE but the majority of us didn't. Kids generally enjoy being active, if they hate PE, is that not down to the teaching methods rather than the activity?

Tish_P

Well said. I hated PE and after school it took years to start enjoying exercise again.

janninew

Just seems to be a right of passage for kids I'm afraid! Won't harm them playing in the rain!

I remember having blue legs and numb hands playing netball in the freezing cold in just a polo shirt and gym skirt! The teachers were nicely wrapped up in fleeces, hat and scarves!!

gingin_2

We had to wear green P.E knickers ( nothing else on top) with a a pale green airtex shirt up to the age of 16. It was humiliation every time.

We used to have to run around the school, I think it was a mile, on the public pavements for "cross country" ( it was in the centre of town) wearing these stupid knickers. I'm 34, so I'm not ancient, this was in the '90s

Cherry_Bomb

I loved PE as a kid. Especially when it was hammering it down outside.


How old were the kids?

DS is 6 and came home yesterday soaked and caked in mud but with the biggest smile on his face telling me they played dodgeball ''in a hurricane''

Apparently wind and rain is not an acceptable way to describe the weather anymore.

aliasojo

janninew wrote: »

Just seems to be a right of passage for kids I'm afraid! Won't harm them playing in the rain!

No I agree, they wont melt.

I just honestly feel that this isn't the best way to get/keep kids interested and get the best out of them.

Most kids I know will moan their faces off about how they hate PE, they don't understand why they have to do it in the rain, the teachers are sadistic gits etc etc....just all the same things we used to think really. :rotfl:

We used to love when they took out the wallbars or made an assault course up outside, we were more animated, engaged more, made an effort more.

Sadly those times were few and far between, because the rest of it was akin to Army training.

aliasojo

Cherry_Bomb wrote: »

How old were the kids?

13 ish at a guess?

milliebear00001

How old is your daughter!?

I am a primary school teacher and would say for us, the most important thing is to engage the children with physical activity and develop an enjoyment for it in them.

Everythig else is secondary to that really. PLaying in the cold and rain, while not moving about to keep warm, is not my idea of a 'good' PE lesson, but perhaps what you saw was a one off?
How much of the lesson did you see?

I do much of my 'explaining' in the classroom, and make a conscious effort on colder days to make sre they are wearing warmer kit and keep moving constantly.

aliasojo

gingin wrote: »

We had to wear green P.E knickers ( nothing else on top) with a a pale green airtex shirt up to the age of 16.

See I have serious problems accepting what I see as stupid rules.

That's a stupid rule.

I would have had to rebel. :rotfl:

aliasojo

milliebear00001 wrote: »

How old is your daughter!?

These are Secondary kids I'm talking about. I watched them for half an hour or thereabouts.

It wasn't daughter's class btw.

gingin_2

aliasojo wrote: »

See I have serious problems accepting what I see as stupid rules.

That's a stupid rule.

I would have had to rebel. :rotfl:

Catholic girls school. No rebelling allowed . Once we discovered boys, alcohol and cigarettes we rebelled big time. DD is definitely going to a mixed sex school lol.