The more things change, the more they stay the same...
Apparently those shining stars of the class still get to choose the teams. Every time. Lesson after lesson after lesson ad infinitum. This actually translates into 'choose all your best mates whilst seizing that irresistible and golden opportunity to publicly exclude anyone not considered A list du jour' in the ever changing and cruel popularity contest that is year 10.
Abusive and insulting comments still bellowed extensively and full blast at anyone perceived not to be performing as required? Of course.
PE teachers tolerating, encouraging and overlooking the above? You bet.
Being given 30 seconds to get changed in a smelly changing room before the wrath of said PE teacher is unleashed? Well it wouldn't be PE without it, would it?
Ah yes, thankfully the awful enforced showers of yore are no more. Well that's something at least, I suppose. I used to have the added humiliation of a communal shower to endure. But many aspects are alive and well 35 years down the line.
Dd (15) told me forlornly that today's PE 'lesson' was all of the above and often is for her
. The thing is dd isn't exactly hopeless when it comes to sport but hey, why let a small detail like that get in the way now that she's sunk forever under the PE teacher's benevolent gaze? Her problem here is that she's quiet. Un-pushy. Doesn't stand out where a loud gob is a useful accessory. We don't seem to be able to relate too well to quieter people in PE at our school.
The added irony is that as a family we've always encouraged our dc to be very active by involving them in all kinds of sports. Although unsurprisingly dd is much less keen nowadays. I wondered why, now I guess I know.
Why is PE core subject? Why not let those that so wish just to drop it? They can then avoid the ritual humiliation and leave those that think are god's gift to the world of sport bask in uninterrupted glory without ever having to utter the sneering words 'Oh miss, do I have to be with her..?'
Dd would welcome the chance to go and partake further in any one of the many other lessons she's good at. Lessons that strangely don't involve a teacher who conveniently turns a blind eye to what is little more than a nasty popularity contest with a large dose of humiliation to boot
Ah yes, but the constant message we hear is that sport is good. Desirable for all. So it astounds me that post Olympics when there was so much enthusiasm and bon homie sloshing about, plans for more funding to encourage everyone, (especially for this age group) to get active, join in, be sporty blah blah blah, that this negative aspect persists.
Is this the default for PE at school? Sad if school PE is your main (for some their only) experience of it. If your face doesn't fit you're stuffed.
Hardly an endorsement for an activity that says it wants to be inclusive. The only message dd gets repeatedly is that she must be crap at sport, which clicks the switch firmly off in the 'things I might enjoy' category; probably for years to come.
As a parent I'm often pointing out to dc that school isn't ever going to be a bowl of cherries and that much of what they may dislike about it is frankly tough. Dc know that life isn't always going to be fair, but this disappoints me hugely. Not because it's not fair, but because it's plain mean and because that's exactly how I remember PE at school and I thought - assumed - things surely must have changed and they haven't. Not one iota. Despite all the fanfare and bigging it up in the media and all the famous sports people saying give it a go. It falls at the first hurdle for some kids in the dubious environment of the PE lesson.
I hope there are inspirational, innovative and inclusive teachers of this subject in some quarters. Sadly not for us. Such a shame that sport, at our school anyway, so often struggles to be the most important thing of all: sporting.