Whats the status on P.E. in schools?

GobbledyGook

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Am I the only one that thinks depressed is overused these days?! I've seen people with depression, most struggle to get out of the house or get dressed, not hate two lessons a week of school. Apologies to the OP if her daughter is actually depressed rather than just unhappy. If your daughter is depressed get her to the GP and then tackle the school afterwards.

I don't, I think it's just better diagnosed. I think there's also a tendency nowadays to think that if someone isn't undressed or suicidal then they aren't 'really' depressed. There are varying degrees of depression as well. It's better to catch someone who is on the way to being depressed if you can than wait until it's completely set in. Depression is such a difficult thing to escape that if there's the chance that the OP's daughter is sinking to depression rather than being an unhappy teen then I'd be asking the school if there is anything that can be done. There may be no need to see the GP if a few changes at school can make life seem so much better.

Janepig

Maybe things are different now, but when I was 15 I wouldn't have wanted my parents within ten miles of the school. The last thing I'd have wanted was my parents getting involved in getting me out of a particular subject, I'd rather have just mitched off, got detention or written lines. Not saying that's right, but at 15 your parents are just embarrassing. Or was that just me? :D

Jx

GobbledyGook

Janepig wrote: »

Maybe things are different now, but when I was 15 I wouldn't have wanted my parents within ten miles of the school. The last thing I'd have wanted was my parents getting involved in getting me out of a particular subject, I'd rather have just mitched off, got detention or written lines. Not saying that's right, but at 15 your parents are just embarrassing. Or was that just me? :D

Jx

I was the same, it took a long time before I involved my grandparents in my issues at school (I skipped school completely for 2 months before cracking). I don't think they are different which is why I have the thoughts about it I do. Things would have to be really, really bad for any of the teens I know to have let on to their parents how much they hate it.

j.e.j.

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Am I the only one that thinks depressed is overused these days?! I've seen people with depression, most struggle to get out of the house or get dressed, not hate two lessons a week of school. Apologies to the OP if her daughter is actually depressed rather than just unhappy. If your daughter is depressed get her to the GP and then tackle the school afterwards.

Possibly the term 'depressed' has changed in use? It used to be that if someone said "I'm depressed", it meant they were unhappy or depressed about something, ie it was a temporary state of mind.

Nowadays with much more awareness (and indeed prevalence) of depression the illness, the word 'depressed' is taken to mean suffering from the mental illness depression.

Anyway, hopefully it isn't depression the girl is suffering from. The PE lessons seem to be causing distress, I'd say.

jackieb

My daughter is 16 and hasn't taken PE at school for about 3-4 years. She has bowel problems and PE was uncomfortable for her. The school also noticed she was absent more often when she had PE. She also has balance problems and she isn't very co-ordinated. All in all she was very miserable. It was suggested by her guidance teacher that she dropped PE. She gets extra help with her maths or does homework instead.

janninew

jackieb wrote: »

My daughter is 16 and hasn't taken PE at school for about 3-4 years. She has bowel problems and PE was uncomfortable for her. The school also noticed she was absent more often when she had PE. She also has balance problems and she isn't very co-ordinated. All in all she was very miserable. It was suggested by her guidance teacher that she dropped PE. She gets extra help with her maths or does homework instead.

I think if there is a medical reason and its backed up by a Doctor/Specialist then the school would have to withdraw the child from PE (which would be the right thing to do). If the OP's Daughter is depressed and the PE lessons are affecting her overall health maybe a trip to the GP is in order. I really don't think the school will (or should) allow a child to drop a compulsory subject without a very god reason.

Wicked_witch

Out of interest, the school can say 'it's compulsory' but is there anything they could actually do if OP makes up her mind to back up her daughter? Can't imagine they could get away with excluding her, still less legal action.

janninew

Wicked_witch wrote: »

Out of interest, the school can say 'it's compulsory' but is there anything they could actually do if OP makes up her mind to back up her daughter? Can't imagine they could get away with excluding her, still less legal action.

Its not the school that say its compulsory, its part of the National Curriculum. If the child refused to go to her PE lessons I should imagine she would be disciplined the same as a child refusing to go to a maths lesson or a RE lesson would be.

jackieb

janninew wrote: »

Its not the school that say its compulsory, its part of the National Curriculum. If the child refused to go to her PE lessons I should imagine she would be disciplined the same as a child refusing to go to a maths lesson or a RE lesson would be.

If that were the case i'd hope the school would look into the reasons why a child would refuse to go to any class, and maybe organise a meeting between guidance, the pupil and the parents, and if needs warranted it, maybe the school psychologist. My daughter's school has been very good in accommodating my daughter when she's had problems with any of her classes.

adelight

The humiliation/pointless view of PE reminds me of something my school regularly did called a "festival". It consisted of humiliating activities that noone wanted to do, so people were picked at random and forced to sing, dance or act solo in front of the entire year + sixth formers and be judged on it. It was just cruel! This was a very strict academic school with lots of very shy girls whose parents would have gone nuts at them if they'd not done it and got in trouble. There were always tears and falling outs/bullying over the judging and people not scoring enough points for their team but the school thought it was a brilliant idea :eek: Why they didn't include actual team events in this team festival I do not know!

Anyway. OP i do think your dd should take part. Doesn't she have friends who hate it too that she can basically just doss off with? Or just ask if they can do laps round the courts while people play sport?