Do they mix GRADES in your kids' high school's Phys Ed classes?

[MaryAnnDVC]

We had a little issue with my DD's (a Freshmen) Phys Ed grade, and in the process of getting it straightened out, we found out that not only are they co-ed classes, but they include all 4 grades. This means that there's potential to have 13/14 year old girls mixed in with 18/19 year old boys. I had no idea!

DH and I met with the head of the Phys Ed department (Mrs S), and after we straightened out the Phys Ed grade, SHE brought up the issue of the mixed grades and how opposed she is to it. She says she has spoken up repeatedly, but administration keeps saying it would be too difficult to schedule classes for each grade separately. Mrs S feels Freshmen should always be separate from other grades...that they FEEL physically and emotionally intimated in the same class as Seniors...not that the upperclassmen are DOING anything threatening, but just how the Freshmen ARE generally smaller and emotionally younger (and DH and I agree!); DD even joked (and Mrs S) confirmed, that the Freshmen girls find a corner of the locker room and stick together because the older girls are more "comfortable" in that environment. Mrs S also pointed out that she didn't have a problem with upperclassmen...Juniors and Seniors...sharing classes; by that point, they're established at the high school, as well as close in age.

Mrs S suggested I get involved in the Student Council, and that we should pursue it. I plan to write a letter to the Superintendent, and see what the Student Council thinks.

But I was wondering if this was common practice, to mix all grades for Phys Ed??

 

[CourtasanSatine]

It was when I was in HS(which was not long ago) but I suffered my year and a half and got out.But I dreaded it as a Freshman girl

 

[Justhope]

When I went to HS it was only required that we take 1 year, so Freshmen were about the only ones that had to take PE.

Hope

 

[CamColt]

When I was in HS(private/Catholic HS) we were only required to take gym freshman & sophomore years. The classes were mixed with both grades, but only girls, or only boys.

 

[Joyciemc]

When I was in HS (about 5 years ago), we had a freshman/sophomore and junior/senior gym. So you were really only with people a year older than you. By my senior year, we didn't have to take gym all 4 years, so I'm not sure what they did with the grades mixing once that changed.

 

[MickeysMommy]

When I was in high school we did have mixed grades but although it's co-ed in theory, the gym is split in half with the girls on one side and the boys on the other. It wasn't a problem for me or any one that I knew (but I've been out of highschool for 10 years)

 

[believe]

When I went to school it was mixed. It just depended on when decided to complete your year of PE, you just had to complete it prior to graduation. It seemed that most individuals were in my grade level, there were a few who were not.