Change PE in schools

[Teainthesun]

https://chng.it/rQPphZpzhq
Please sign this petition to make school sports less about competition and more about fitness.

I don't really agree with this as school is - for some children - the only opportunity to try team sports. For others, it is the introduction to a life long love of team sports. For others, it is an opportunity to learn enough about them, to retain a social interest, even if they don't have such a love for playing.

I’ve no issue at all with schools offering team sports as extracurricular activities (as they do now) I just don’t think this competitive approach to PE lessons is helpful, as it can be off putting for some (my DD included) and fitness is something that should be encouraged.
although my DD is not great at ball games, she’s always been very positive and enthusiastic about all activities and enjoys running, cycling and swimming outside of school- she just doesn’t like the very competitive aspect of school PE lessons she is now experiencing and I am concerned it could put her off sport for good.

I signed it earlier. PE in schools is soooo badly taught. It scares young people and puts them off sport far more than encouraging a love of sport or exercise. In many cases for life.

It's the forcing of team sports for those who are unsuited to them that is a large part of the problem.

I was a slim and fit child but PE ruined my school life. Hated it. Humiliating and demoralising. I’d have rather walked for an hour. I agree the national curriculum should be about physical fitness not competitiveness.

I would say you get into the habit of fitness for life, by finding the right sport or fitness activity for you, and that will be different for everyone.

Therefore, the approach taken by most schools, of offering 1/2 a term of several different activities (incl dance, gym, trampolining, etc as well as swimming, racquet sports, team sports and things like trampolining) gives children the opportunity to try all sorts of things and means they are more likely to find something they do enjoy.

Plenty of people don't enjoy maths, but they all still have to do it.

I think it can and should be both. I won't be signing though as I don't think this is a good idea. People should raise concerns with the individual school and motivate their own children to exercise and participate in P.E. as far as they can instead. Remember that they don't have to enjoy everything they do at school.

DS is sporty and competitive. He doesn't really like it when P.E. lessons don't involve some sort of competition, which they often don't. He would be completely demotivated if P.E. catered only to those who hate competition and dont really want to do it. It's about balance.
I have explained to him that not everyone is inclined towards sport and exercise as he is, and many hate the competitive element. Exercise is good for all of us and that everyone should do some, however they feel about it. I've tried to motivate him to take a proactive approach and encourage others in his class. He's now a sports leader at school, helping the teachers with the younger kids P.E. lessons. He really enjoys it. He feels his competitive streak with sports outside of school.
I suggest that in your case you flip this and continue to support and encourage your DD to enjoy physical activities outside of school that she likes.

Schools should - as much as possible - introduce young people to a wide variety of different activities including team sports.

there is very much a role for team sports in helping young people develop skills in teamwork and cooperation. They are also enjoyed by many children!

“I suggest that in your case you flip this and continue to support and encourage your DD to enjoy physical activities outside of school that she likes.”

Or alternatively, the competitive ones, who are a minority, could ‘flip’ this and join teams outside of school.

I’m a primary school teacher. I loathe PE. Nobody learns anything in the lessons - I am being asked to teach skills I don’t have. Yes I could teach netball but gymnastics, hockey, tag rugby not a clue.
I genuinely think it should only be taught by specialists. Whether it is a sport or a fitness activity there is so much risk of injury due to being taught to move the wrong way.

That is the same for so many things Primary school teachers are asked to teach @AmberCrow - music, French, art, being the obvious ones you can't really learn by 'reading up' before hand.

If you read my comment you'd have seen that's exactly what DS has done. He's changed his attitude to P.E. lessons, which are not as competitive as he would like.
I was suggesting children who don't enjoy the competitive element should be encouraged to enjoy exercise outside of P.E. They may not like P.E. but they can still get something out of it if they change their mindset a little.
There will never be a perfect one size fits all model and a petition isn't going to change this.

Reducing competition can help PE be more inclusive

https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2019/august/children-who-dread-pe-lessons-kiara-lewis/

My oldest hates competitive sports and loves non competitive stuff. I children need a mixture of both and the opportunity to try lots of different sports and activities.

My DD loves competitive sport. Luckily for her PE is set at her school and she gets to partake with other competitive girls.

She is ND and struggles with other aspects so PE and sport is her time…