Is it my imagination or have P.E./Gym teachers become lazy? My 8 year old told me at dinner that her P.E. teachers were having them play a game today (yay) on the Wii (wha-huh?). I distinctly remember one of my P.E. teachers being a former college cheerleader and still doing the splits and handsprings. Another one was well into her 50's, was lean as a whip and could do handstands. They led by example. The P.E. teachers I'm seeing today are unimaginative and lazy. My older daughter would report that her middle-school teacher spent the time playing a computer farm game. I could outrun the teachers, and many of the students, and I have an old broken ankle and bad knees. I'm not saying that schools and the teachers are solely responsible for our childrens' health; far from that. I'm saying that families and the schools need to respect and support each other for the best of our kids. I just feel that they're not holding up their end of the deal. P.E. stands for Physical Education and I don't think the children are getting enough. Cup stacking or playing with a Wii while the teacher sits and drinks coffee and texts just rubs me as wrong. Anyone else? My apologies if I've offended.
Maybe the Wii is a ploy to "reach out" to the kids.
I remember my high school PE teacher being overweight and driving alongside the class in a pickup truck as we jogged around the school. That's lazy!
My son's school only had the kids in PE twice a month for 40 minutes. The PE Teacher position had been struck years and years ago, and it was assigned to a 'random' teacher instead. Usually a volunteer... which meant someone who wasn't spending a huge amount of time teaching/grading/researching (or they wouldn't have time), so the position usually went to someone who already WAS pretty lazy. Sometimes one of the other teachers would be incensed and take it over, but usually it went to someone who had 'spare time', and as most of us know, great teachers usually don't have 'spare time'.
In either case, neither had training/background... so the program was just sort of cobbled together.
Not here - the PE teachers that I have seen here, especially in the older grades where they have PE every day, are athletic. Many coach some of the teams at the high school or at the recreational level, and it's common to see them participating in charity basketball and volleyball tournaments as well as road races. They really do seem to lead by example.
First of all I think you should not lump ALL P.E. teachers into one group. Secondly you should not believe everything your daughter says, or whatever any child says without further investigation. Have you gone in an observed a class? Have you checked into what the curriculum is in your district? Have you talked with the teacher or stopped by during a class to check in? You might ask the teacher what standards and benchmarks, or core concepts cup stacking and the Wii meet...you would be surprised at what a child can learn from these activities.
The P.E. teacher in my building is very active and interacts and works out with the children each and every class. The kids come out of class sweating most days.
Not here. My son is in 1st grade, has PE 3 days a week and has been doing lots of sports this year! Rope climbing (like olden days!), volley ball, soccer, basketball, lately they did bowling (super fun) and this week they are doing kickball.
I love that he's getting an introduction to all these sports!
I suspect that it might be regional... our schools in MN are typically pretty good. And, we moved to this school district on purpose.
kids are not allowed to use their phones in school, and neither should the Teachers.
Nope, here in the elementary middle and High school, they are on a Fitness Plan set up by the district. Maybe you should volunteer in there or pop in and observe..
As I was told by a wonderful teacher.. You believe 50% of what your child tells you and she will believe 50% of what your tells her..
I would contact your school district and just ask, whet the curriculum is.
Even on rainy days they have to do their run inside the gym so many times.. And then they can climb the rock wall or play active games..obstacle courses.. Climb ropes.. There is a ton.. that they do..
Even with a sub.. the lesson plans are set.. for a out side day or a rainy day..
Well, I'm 51 and my highschool PE teacher was lazy. We did very little. We actually asked her please could we do more!
PE is an opportunity to introduce kids to lifetime fitness habits, but it's rarely used that way, in my experience. My daughter's PE teacher seems fit and active, but what they do in class is still a lot like what we did way back when. They have those fitness tests every spring and fall where they have to run a significant distance, but they never practice running the rest of the year.... Bizarre...
I'm in MN too, but obviously the PE varies by the district. My 4th grade daughter has PE once a week.
Join the PTA or the School Improvement Council, or volunteer to ASSIST and get some of your actual ideas out there to get the kids going. Another thing: I firmly believe that school is NOT where your children should get "all" their health and education classes. You get out there and get that lifestyle going as a family, because it sure takes more than a couple hours a week no matter how good the PE teachers are.
I do agree that if kids aren't allowed to be on their phones in school (and they shouldn't!) then the teachers shouldn't be allowed to be on their phones except in the teacher lounge on their break either.
I loved my PE teachers. My son is 5, missed kindergarten this year because of his late birthday, so I'm homeschooling him for pre-K and I model our PE time after things I liked a lot from my elementary teachers.
Here's an article I found on using Wii in P.E. It can be beneficial and get the kids moving when instructed the right way, it's just a non traditional way of doing it and meant to spark the kids interest. And, no not all PE teachers have become lazy, I know several excellent ones who really care a lot about improving the students health. If you're concerned, don't just take your daughter's word, go in and talk to the teacher about it and ask what this Wii thing is all about.
Heck, last year my nieces school cut P.E. to once a week. We had it EVERY day, and our coaches were fit! Her P.E. teacher was a fat women who sat barking at the kids. I visited her one day at school, it was a sad site. They hardly did anything to promote physical activities. (Her school being one of the best districts in the state.) Personally, I think it's a matter of time before they have no P.E. A lot of schools are cutting recess. And teachers wonder WHY their children have so much energy and attention problems. They sit around for 7-8 hours with no way to get any energy out of their system. They are just wound up balls of pent up energy.
Anyway, I totally agree with you. Also, nothing you said is offensive!!
Funny you mention this, when I was in Jr High, I had two P.E. teachers and neither one EVER participated in that which we were doing and I should also note, both teachers were fat...therefore, to a bunch of teens, neither were much help or inspiration to those of us they were making run laps............ now, at my son's school.. they outsource P.E. and the teacher who teaches it is really great and VERY energetic. However, they have had a couple of subs who had the nerve to be on their cellphones and didn't interact with the kids very much.. I think it depends on who the teacher is.. In my opinion and this goes for fitness teachers in general, if you aren't into "working out" why the heck are you teaching it.........
I remember playing ping-pong in HIGH SCHOOL PE, lol, that's how I met my bff!!!
I think PE of the past was a joke compared to today.
My kids only got PE twice a week in elementary school and their teacher was awesome. She kept them MOVING.
In middle/high school it's required DAILY through 10th grade, including running the dreaded mile every Monday. Sure some of the kids (and teachers) slack but at least it's better than what I grew up with, and in our district we score very high on the President's physical fitness test so no complaints here!
It depends on the game. Our PE teachers had our kids doing Dance Dance Revolution as an aerobic activity. That game really gets your heart pumping, works your balance, eye and limb coordination, and rhythm.
I always scratched my head at cup stacking, too, but it takes very fine motor skills to stack those cups quickly without them falling down.
Like in every profession, there are great ones, bad ones and everything in between. Go and observe, then talk to the teacher without any accusations, just curiosity.
It is hard for any adult to be ACTIVE hour after hour every day. If the PE teacher plays Wii occasionally I would be okay. Go observe a class and I will bet money that your PE teacher will be active that day. :)
I got more exercise walking up and down the stairs to class than I did in P.E. Add to that walking to and from school. It wasn't my P.E. teache rper se but the competitive environment that was a detriment to my partcipation. The popular folks were always picked as team captain and I was uncoordinated. See where this is going? If P.E. just encouraged noncompetitive movement then it would be more succcesful. As an adult I run daily and for myself...
I live in Austin and I have to say we are very pleased with our PE teachers. At our school, there are a lot of games and a lot of running. Every once and a while they watch a video on health or safety. I do know they work towards Marathon Kids throughout the school year (in PE). The PE teacher has also started an after school running club on her own. I think she's awesome. My girlfriend's kid's elementary school has a great PE program too. Maybe you could suggest a running club to your PE teacher.
I agree 100%... at least where I am at. You would be shocked at what I saw the high schoolers doing for PE the other day. And the gym teachers were just standing around chatting. Over half of the kids were obese too, very sad.
I recall in HS my gym teachers having beer bellies and standing around while we did what they said. Although we never played video games in gym class. They didn't lead by example, they lead by do as I say, not as I do.
That is not the case with my daughters' PE teacher. She has run a marathon in all 50 states and is an excellent role model to our children. She even started a program where the kids run a marathon one mile at a time and then run their 26th mile during the Pittsburgh Kids' Marathon.
Get involved with the school so you have first hand knowledge as to what goes on during the school day.
I went to visit a friend of mine in a rehab center...after a broken hip. He was having morning therapy at that time so I had to go to the room where they did it. It was loaded with patients...and only 2 therapists. But there were 3 Wii stations sat up....and they were playing games like bowling and tennis etc. I couldn't believe my eyes...and one of the therapists was with a patient...she had a band around his ankle...as he raised his leg up and down....she was completely turned away from him...and was watching the television across the room. I guess it's the new age!!!
School PTA's payed alot of money for these Wii's for the school. It is set up in a classroom. It is set up so the whole class can play. They are actually doing physical fitness with the Wii not playing games. It is a special treat and a nice change to the boring day to day schedule. The kids love it. Its
really awesome to the kids get so excited over physical fitness. This should not be thought of as a negative thing at all.
