To think PE is a waste of time

[ICantfindagoodusername]

I'm totally prepared to be flamed, but please take the time to read the thread rather than just saying YABU because of the title.
I think PE is a waste of time because:
•Why is it the school's job to make sure our kids get enough exercise? An example of the government parenting our kids for us.
•Why does it always have to be team sports? Schools could do other more interesting PE choices, such as zumba, aerobics, and other things that don't involve running around outside in the cold and rain.
•What good does it do for your education? If a kid is overweight, a couple of hours of standing on a football pitch won't change anything. The time could be better spent covering more of the curriculum. Kids run around at lunchtime anyways.
•PE is supposed to make kids foster a life long love of sports. But in reality, lots of kids LOATHE it, and as soon as they are 16, quit PE, never to do it again.

[bigredtractor]

Are you fishing OP? because it sounds like it!!!

[EsmeCordelia]

I agree about expanding the range of pe activities. My dd is sporty and so much happier in pe than I ever was but even she says she hates football and wishes they could do dance or a workout or aerobic class.

[Jaimx86]

It's roughly a 25th of school time. Lots of students love PE, and it gives students that may underperform academically to hold their own against their peers.

[Soubriquet]

I hated PE. Really resented doing it.

I'm the least sporty person you could find. But when they started to introduce aerobics and aquaaerobics I actually enjoyed them.

I think that expanding the choices would be a better idea

[Mishaps]

PE is nonsense and puts many children off school - it should not be compulsory. I hated it all with a passion - I looked sporty (tall and thin) but I had very poor balance and hopeless eyesight, so it was all a nightmare.

Other things should be on offer than traipsing round a wet field or messing about on gym equipment. Line dancing, street dance, trampoline, badminton. It is a throw back to posh private schools - time it was kicked into touch.

[Lalunya85]

Are you serious??

OK, so to just mention one reason for PE (and there are so many others): a bit of exercise will make kids so much more able to concentrate and absorb new information. Learning doesn't only happen by sitting down and staring at a book/teacher.

[DeleteOrDecay]

Education isn't just about sitting behind a desk and reading textbooks. By your logic why should schools teach anything? Why is it the schools job to ensure our children can read, write, do basic maths and use a computer?

I agree that PE in schools needs to be looked at. I don't know if much has changed in the 10 years since I left school but we spent a heck of a lot of time playing badminton/tennis which was okay for a while but more variety would have been appreciated. I love the idea of things like Zumba, Yoga and Aerobics being introduced.

[HmmmmBop]

PE put me right off sport. Took until my 40s to start enjoying exercise after that and I would never do a competitive sport after the experience of being forced to play horrible sports being shouted at by horrible teachers, having to wear hideous PE knickers in god awful weather.

We were able to give up as part of our options - not a moment too soon.

[cardibach]

Ok, you hated PE Mishaps. So did I as it happens. What about the kid that hates maths though? Easily as many do. Is that a reason not to have school maths? After all, parents could teach them to add up, and what difference will a few hours a week make

[TaggySits]

Every subject should aim to foster a lifelong love of the subject, but many pupils also hate History/Music/Physics/ whatever subject you can think of and drop them as soon as they can. So if you are going to drop PE from the curriculum for that reason you may drop every subject.

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

The way it was taught when I was at school it seemed calculated to kill any sense of doing sport for enjoyment. 16 a side football on full length pitches aged 12 (so the biggest/hardest/kids who could belt the ball furthest dominated and running in the summer, in a wholly made up distances - the 6500m anyone? Or 'cross country' which was laps of the schoolyard and the fields.

Waste of everyone's time.

[bigredtractor]

I think we mistake PE for sport too often - and it certainly isn't all team sports at my DS's primary (state).

The do balance, coordination and movement of the body - dancing, hopping, side stepping, walking with things on their heads, plus once a week a 'stations' session where thru try different thibgsm. And they LOVE it!

Children need exercise and the opportunity to try differebt activities. But it does of course depend on the quality of teaching, enthusiasm and good resources etc.

As for your point about obesity and PE not making any difference, read up about the Daily Mile and the amazing results it ha had reducing obesity levels in schools that have adopted it.

[averylongtimeago]

If you believe that the purpose of education is to help children develop into well rounded adults, with all the skills they need, then there is an important place for pe at school.
PE should enthuse all children with a love of physical activity, of whatever type they enjoy. However, as I'm sure we all know, in the vast majority of cases, the syllabus fails miserably. The over competitiveness, the reliance on the same few team sports and the pushing for excellence for the few leaves the majority put off sport.
I know those who enjoyed sport at school will disagree, but for many the weekly ritual humiliation of "games" has made physical excise much more difficult as adults.

[Bubblebloodypop]

I don't really think they should give up on PE as such, but it does need a massive overhaul. Variety is good but also the ability to choose a sport you enjoy and work on that, when you spend a few weeks on each sport it gives no chance to excel.

I don't know how they would actually put that in to practice though. It's a tough one.

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

My son is a very physically motivated child. He struggles to contain himself for the other 22 teaching hours each school week. Why should he and his classmates suffer because some people don't think 2 hours of pe is worth it in the school day?

[Artandco]

Huh? It's great they do sports at school. Yes they only go 6hrs a day. Yes mine walk to and from school and do sport after and at weekends with us. But still, and extra 45mins sport every day is great. For some children who take the car to school and then home to watch tv it's all they do

[user1471524661]

I loved things like rounders and cricket. Hated netball and hockey. And wished I could do aerobics, gym, self defence, etc. By the time I was 16, I was skiving to get out of it. None of that affected my education, but it did lead to me hating exercise, not understanding how fitness linked with healthy lifestyle and being 18 stone by the time I was 23. Flash forward 10 years and I am a fitness freak - running, HIIT, spinning, CrossFit... you name it, I love it. Except of course netball and hockey. Lesson: schools should offer more variety and, until they don't parents should help their children enjoy fitness. Shame too many don't bother. So I agree with you OP, but I think, until parents are all doing their part (which, let's face it, the number of fat lazy parents around shows they are not), the government through the schools have a responsibility to keep our kids moving.

[Artandco]

It's also like some saying ' why do they teach kids to read, when mine can already read'. They always gain extra even from something they already do

[Love51]

We did aerobics as a PE option back in the mid 90s. And I thought most kids could use the school gym. Team sports are good because you can choose your role, not all have to do the same thing. And I'm glad kids get a school swimming lesson, even if they as spend longer travelling and getting changed than in the water! It means once they are old enough they can make use of the leisure centre.
I think PE could be taught a lot better, but I think that about Maths and Science and Home Ec. I may not be right! Dropping them doesn't seem the wisest course of action.

[Puppymouse]

I also agree about not always doing team sports. My school introduced aerobics and gym membership as alternatives when I was in sixth form. I was much more comfortable than humiliating myself and letting a whole team down on a pitch.

I loathed PE at school and got out of it at every opportunity for music and drama practice. But as an adult I have a passion for running (haven't had time for a while now but used to run 8 miles three times a week). And my horse keeps me lifting, bending, using my core and out in the fresh air. I could easily have written off any kind of sport based on my PE lessons but just needed to find what suited me.

[nennyrainbow]

PE isn't just about giving them exercise. It's about teaching them and letting them practise the skills they need to take part in sports. It would be difficult to teach a range of skills at home, particularly if you don't have a large garden or can't afford after school sports clubs.

[mineofuselessinformation]

1. Because it's the law
2. Some schools do
3. Have you been in a school in recent years?
4. That's life

[TealGiraffe]

It depends on the school surely. At mine (primary) there are loads of different things covered. We do football / netball / cricket / athletics / swimming / dance / gym / judo etc.

Its not just about them running in the rain. Its about them learning it's ok to not be good at something, that skills improve over time / how to work as a team / improve coordination / improve strategic thinking.

It also helps you spot the underlying issues, eg who cant catch a ball ever? Who cant balance? Who cant coordinate their limbs, etc.

Plus most of all, the kids enjoy it!

[EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs]

I hated PE at school because I was the kid who came last in every single race, got lapped by everyone in cross country & never got picked for teams.

Twenty years later I'm into Week 7 of C25K and feeling damn proud of myself for being able to jog over 2 miles without stopping. Even if I am slow I don't have to compare myself to anyone else.

I'd have loved being able to do aerobics or dance in PE instead.

[TheFirie]

DS2 in primary school did dance for one term. All the boys hated it, but the girls annoyed it. If you don't want to do team sport, you can do yoga this term.
DS1 in high school had to select one between: surfing (we are in OZ), kayak, rock climbing, parkour, power walking, zumba, fitness, ....

PE in schools makes a lot more sense than scripture