EMAILED COMMENTS

I agree with what you are saying. I also have not put my volleyball
skills to good use . It has to do with money. sure, it would be great
to have a health club but-who will fund that?
and we need to look at where these kids are beginning. many begin
school at the age of 6 weeks! it is the early years that are the most
important for guiding children to choose a "healthy" lifestyle-as well
as educating their parents (who happen to come from these types of phys.
ed programs you are speaking of). I currently work with 2-4 year olds.
we spend the bulk of our day out of doors running, chasing, hopping,
climbing, etc. But I also work at a major university where we can
afford to have a huge space for the kinds of large movement and
exercise beneficial for the children. what about the schools and
programs that can't afford such space?
and as far as the janitors not doing a good job, why not pay them more?
Lisa

Response:  Schools could do whatever is possible now.  Cardiovascular exercise, such as running is Free, and many schools have a weight room for muscular training.  In addition, if there isn't a great demand for separate sports classes then this equipment could be sold.  As for the janitors, they should take pride in their work and do a good job cleaning the whole school.   When I was in elementary school there was only one janitor, and he lost his arm in the war.  He did an excellent job, and even opened my milk carton for me when I was in first grade, and I have two arms.  The middle school, and high schools I attended had several janitors, and all I ever saw them doing was standing around while the school smelled like a barn, especially that gym locker room.  In addition, I was in this profession in my early adulthood, and I got paid minimum wage.  I enjoyed taking a filthy place, and making it look clean & new.  If people don't like their job, or are to lazy to do it right then they should go elsewhere.

To Whom it May Concern,

I really enjoyed your dissertation on phys. ed. classes. I have to agree that many phys. ed. classes are very poorly organized and administrated. Of all of the classes in a school, I don't think that any one class can have as much impact on students like a phys. ed. class can. Phys. ed. classes and phys. ed. teachers suffer from a lack of respect from administration, parents and fellow teachers. 

As phy. ed. teachers we need to do a better job of acting in a professional manner and justifying our existence. Our classes need to have the same quality lesson plans and progressions as other classes. We need to encourage a paradigm shift amongst students, teacher and administrators. Competence leads to confidence. This applies to both our discipline, and to our students.

Phys ed. classes need to challenge students physically on a daily basis. My one disagreement with the author of this report, is that students need to be taught skills for the various sports (which will lead to competence, hence confidence) then be given the opportunity to apply these skills.

I enjoyed the article and used it to stimulate my colleagues.

Sincerely,

F. Craig Kennedy
Phys. Ed. Dept. Chair
Lee-Scott Academy

Response:  Thank you for your comments

Just wondering... do you have any background in physical education at all? 
Or did you just have a bad teacher in high school? If that's the case, then 
you should realize that there are bad teachers for every subject, but they 
do not reflect the entire profession. I am a physical educator, and take 
offense to your comments. I am the first to admit that there are problems 
with many physical education programs. We have been given a bad wrap thanks to "gym teachers" who simply roll out the ball and let kids play. If you 
knew what the objectives of properly taught physical education classes were, 
I'm sure you'd agree that they are more than worth while.

I teach eye-hand coordination, gross motor movement, kinematic awareness, 
fine motor skill. I stress the five components of physical fitness. I also 
teach decision making, critical thinking skills, and goal setting, which are 
lacking in the academic classes you say nothing about. I does not matter to 
me if my fifth graders are great basketball players. I would go so far to 
say that almost none of them will play basketball after high school. But I 
don't teach basketball. As I already said, I teach eye-hand coordination 
and kinematic awareness. And I teach them through basketball. I teach 
decision making and critical thinking skills by not giving them the answers, 
but rather letting them find it out themselves by asking questions. In the 
real world, no one sits you down and gives you a list of instructions. My 
students will be prepared for that.

As far as your comments about physical educators taking on the role of 
personal trainers, I think you should ask the parents of my students if they 
work hard every day on bettering their scores for physical fitness testing. 
Everyday, my students have activities that work their cardiovascular system, 
build muscular strength and endurance, develop better flexibility, and 
improve their body composition. Were you aware that those were the five 
components of physical fitness? If your not sure what they mean, feel free 
to ask. By suggesting that I should "train" my students so there are less 
obese or "sickly" children, as you call them, you also suggest that any Joe 
off the street who lifts weights and runs could do my job. Sir, would you 
allow your child in a classroom with an instructor like that? What if we 
had some guy who knew a lot about science, but never learned how or what to 
teach, work at your children's' school? Would you put your child in that 
class?

I spent five years in college at one of the top physical education schools 
in the country, Slippery Rock University. I took pedagogy classes, Exercise 
Physiology, Anatomy, Kinesiology, Motor Development and Learning. I know 
the educational history of every major civilization. I presented work at 
national conferences. And I graduated with a 3.825 GPA. I was offered four 
jobs before I ever student taught. And I will not turn my class into Gold's 
Gym.

Jody

Response: I don't have any physical education background. I am simply a dissatisfied former gym student. I agree with what you are doing at the elementary level. You sound a lot better than the gym teachers I had in elementary and junior high school. In second grade I had a male gym teacher who though he was so great. He set up a rope for tug-o-war with him on one side and all the little girls on the other side. As he was straining to beat the little girls, some boys would come up behind him and try and help because he was really straining with a red face. He would tell them not to help. Then I did the same thing, and he pushed me down to the gym floor and yelled "NO!". After a few minutes he finally won and his manhood was proven to the little boys because he beat the little girls. This is just one example of the type of macho male gym teachers I had throughout school and the boys used gym to pathetically try and prove themselves in the same way. My comments were mainly directed at the high school physical education classes, which should be preparing kid's physically for adult life. I really would have liked to learn proper health & exercise lessons when I was in high school instead of being picked on by kids because I wasn't good at sports I never played ever again. I finally learned these lessons on my own twelve years later. I attended three different high schools, and it was always the same routine. Switch into gym cloths in the smelly locker room, play the macho sports for 20 minutes so the boys can prove their manhood, and back to the locker room for a 1-minute soapless shower. It was the biggest waste of time I ever spent in my entire life. It was the only class I couldn't get an A in, and I never achieved a 4.0 GPA until my senior year when gym was no longer required. It was also the only class where the teacher's would yell at me, and use profanities. I am sorry you took offense to my sarcastic comments. Although I have had some high school physical education instructors who have written me and said they agree with the point I am trying to make. I might have been better off with more women teachers. Thank you for your feedback.

I am so glad to know that you were not a Physical Education major and
that you are not a Physical Education teacher! I have been teaching
Physical Education at the middle school level for 11 years. You have
no research other than your own experiences to support your claims. If
you did a little research, you might just find that schools are teaching
the exact things you speak of, and MORE!
Students at my school, in addition to exercising, are required to write
three research papers. Core curricular areas are also incorporated into
Phys. Ed. Students of ALL abilities have the opportunity to earn an A in
my class!!!
As far as cleaning the locker room and taking pride in their jobs, the
janitors at my school work very hard, and would be offended by your
comments!
Two suggestions I have for you before writing another "review" like
this: 1) get out and do some research! and 2) have someone proofread
your work before putting it on the internet!

SUSAN      Cindy Clinkenbeard

Response: I have done research and many people have agreed with me. You must be one of the exceptions. I wish I had attended your school. Thanks for the comments.

 New York Times Books@barnesandnoble.com

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