What do you think about picking teams in gym class?

[lillygator]

Even that would have been better than what was happening.

Even if everyone thinks this is such a great life's lesson. Why do some of you think it is so necessary?

I am not talking about shielding a child from every little hurt and every little thing that may disappointment in life. But there is no need not to prevent this one.

In our schools the children do not read out loud in class. Why? Because the children that cannot read as well do not have to be embarrassed. Why is this important? Why not just tell them to suck it up? Because child experts agreed that if a child is embarrassed by reading out loud they stop reading. So the kids read to the teacher, either at her desk or theirs. Do the kids still know who can and cannot read? Yes. But its not pushed in anyone's face. Its not putting anyone's lack of ability on display.

So, is this not ok with those that think they should just learn that life is not fair?

seriously? OH my...I suppose they don't have to take speech class either. Heaven forbid!

We should just close down all the schools and everyone be home schooled.

What is the world coming to?

 

[DisneyJules]

I think it's a horrible idea. This was done while I was growing up and ALWAYS felt left out after being picked last or second last. It's more of a popularity contest than anything. I think some in this thread are taking it to the extreme. I just think under these circumstances, your setting things up so that the non jock/non popular kids are left out. And no you can't shield your child from every hurt or disappointment but this one can SO easily be corrected. Have the gym teachers pick the teams, plain and simple.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Oh does this bring back painful memories. I am 50 years old and the memories still hurt. I was always the last chosen in gym class, or more likely, the last one left and just told to go with the next team up. I understand that many of you think that it was my just reward for being uncoordinated and unathletic. But as a young child all this taught me was to avoid almost all sport activity at all costs. It hurt to be treated that way and the normal reaction to this pain is to avoid it to make it stop. What I regret to this day is that I never felt encouraged to develop any physical skills or activity pattern. I think that I pay for this in constant struggles with my weight. PE classes are mandatory and are not the same as a sport team. Many of you are confusing the two. With the epidemic child and adult obesity problems that we have in this country, I think required PE programs in schools should focus on finding activites that encourage movement and skill development. You can just look around you to see how the existing programs have failed us. Sure, diet and the home play a huge part in weight problems. But wouldn't it be better if schools actually taught skills that could be used instead of teaching that you deserve to be humiliated because you just aren't as good.

I should say that I am sorry for getting on my soapbox but some of you should be ashamed of what has been written here.

I am also a 50+ year old that was always picked last in gym class. However, I can't imagine using something that happened 30+ years ago as an excuse for why I am overweight.

I had my strengths and weaknesses. Luckily, I was taught to focus on my strengths and not my weaknesses.

As the person who was always picked last, I have no problem with it. It taught me to be appreciative of what I was good at and that I needed to work the things I wasn't so good at. My family still laughs at my uncoordination and I laugh right with them.

For kids, I have a jock and a nerd. They playfully tease each other saying "be careful, you are going to work for me some day" while the other one retorts "and you are going to spend your nerd money to buy season tickets to watch me."

Recognizing their strengths and weaknesses has allowed them to appreciate themselves and their gifts and by that, be able to laugh off what they are not so good at.

I am sorry that you feel a school incident is still causing you so much pain. Look at what you were good at in school instead of focusing on what was difficult.

 

[FergieTCat]

seriously? OH my...I suppose they don't have to take speech class either. Heaven forbid!

We should just close down all the schools and everyone be home schooled.

What is the world coming to?

I can't wait to see what happens in 15 years when these kids go on job interviews.

 

[rgf207]

I can't wait to see what happens in 15 years when these kids go on job interviews.

What happens if they are not picked for the job? It's going to be horrible. Even before that, what happens if they are not accepted in to the college they want to attend? Something needs to be done about this. We can't have them be disappointed

 

[FergieTCat]

What happens if they are not picked for the job? It's going to be horrible. Even before that, what happens if they are not accepted in to the college they want to attend? Something needs to be done about this. We can't have them be disappointed

I'm sure their moms have cell phones!

 

[cheermom1]

I can't wait to see what happens in 15 years when these kids go on job interviews.

What happens if they are not picked for the job? It's going to be horrible. Even before that, what happens if they are not accepted in to the college they want to attend? Something needs to be done about this. We can't have them be disappointed

You are SOO very right...No they will be living with mommy and daddy for the rest of their lives.

 

[lillygator]

I can't wait to see what happens in 15 years when these kids go on job interviews.

I think it's already starting in waves...the kids that work for my husband basically want to stand around and expect to be handed a check at the end of the week. It's surprising how many parents call and ask about hours and such.

What happens if they are not picked for the job? It's going to be horrible. Even before that, what happens if they are not accepted in to the college they want to attend? Something needs to be done about this. We can't have them be disappointed

From some of the posts regarding college it almost seems as though a few of the parents are the ones filling out the applications.

 

[LMC]

I'm just curious if any of you who think the approach is fair have special needs kids. My special needs DS just told me this week that the kids pick their teams (he is in 9th grade). I think this is VERY unfair to those with less athletic ability. My son operates on the skill level of a 5.5 yo to 7.5 year old yet he is in class with 14/15 year olds. The teacher should make the teams then no one feels like they are always left out.

 

[scottishduffy]

I can't wait to see what happens in 15 years when these kids go on job interviews.

I was on an interview panel recently and was amazed at how bad the interview skills were of some of the younger set. (In my program, they have senior students help with interviews)

Word to the wise: If your interview panel is almost entirely female, do not walk your manly butt into the room and announce how you feel like "such a chick" because of all the bags we gave you to carry around. Also, swear words are not generally considered conversational... even when used as descriptive terms.

Back to topic: I was always the last kid picked and still am OK with this practice. I realized early on sports wasn't my thing, and the teams were just a popularity contest. No biggie. I learned to work harder if it meant that much to me or just focus on things i was good at. (Everyone wanted to be my science lab partner)

 

[Planogirl]

What happens if they are not picked for the job? It's going to be horrible. Even before that, what happens if they are not accepted in to the college they want to attend? Something needs to be done about this. We can't have them be disappointed

I've heard of parents calling employment people to ask why the kid didn't get the job. People get weird.

 

[lillygator]

I'm just curious if any of you who think the approach is fair have special needs kids. My special needs DS just told me this week that the kids pick their teams (he is in 9th grade). I think this is VERY unfair to those with less athletic ability. My son operates on the skill level of a 5.5 yo to 7.5 year old yet he is in class with 14/15 year olds. The teacher should make the teams then no one feels like they are always left out.

does this mean a child who is functioning as a 7 year old but is in class with 15 year olds?
is it the norm for kids to be in the same class with the skill level being that far apart?

 

[cheermom1]

does this mean a child who is functioning as a 7 year old but is in class with 15 year olds?
is it the norm for kids to be in the same class with the skill level being that far apart?

That was I my first thought when I read that too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What you are citing is some insecurities that were magnified by your experience in gym class.

Well--for some kids, those insecurities are magnified in an academic class--but they don't get to opt out "just b/c".

One big difference - aside from students in academic classes not working/'learning' on a regular basis solely via peer-selected teams is, when students in academic classes aren't performing well, the teachers WORK WITH THEM - not to directly overcome the insecurities, but to provide help in actually learning the subject.

That just didn't - maybe still doesn't - happen in PE. The teachers' attitude always seemed/seems to be "tough". How do you learn to play / improve / participate / possibly even excel when no help is provided BY the persons whose apparent job description IS to educate?

Hey, I have it! How about honors PE (I'm only 1/2 kidding on this one).

Well, the flip side of that would be remedial (if it's still called that) PE - and as one who needed extra help, I'd have gone for it!

The thing that I don't understand is why parents feel that we need to shelter kids from everything. It seems that anything in life that may cause disappointment needs to be eliminated.

No more reading out loud If a student can't read, or can't read well, they get additional help; that's the purpose of education
No more keeping score in sports Competitive sports, or the daily PE teams, or professional sports? Isn't the point of trying out for the former and latter actually making the team, and winning whenever possible? So, what would be the point of not keeping score? And even in the daily PE classes - except that the teams rarely change from class to class, carrying over points is pointless.
No more tryouts. Everyone makes the team Okay, sure. If you say so. I know I stink at sports (although, with help, I may have gotten better - but no teacher ever helped; but that apparently doesn't matter). I know I can't sing or play an instrument. I'd like to think I can act, but I know I can't, realistically (although I'm sure I can act better than some of the so-called actresses who've played ADAs on Law & Order - but I know I couldn't compete with them where it counts, which is appearance). But if you think about it, it's the self-esteem thing all over again. Indicate to someone enough times that they're not good, or not good enough - whether they're really not, or in your peer opinion they're not, or you just don't like the way they look, or laugh - and even if that person could be good enough to make the team, they're not going to try out. Why? You beat them down too many times.
No more picking teams in gym class because someone gets picked last It's been demonstrated by one PE teacher, and explained by a teacher's assistant, both in this thread, that there are OTHER, MORE EQUITABLE methods of assigning teams.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am sorry that you feel a school incident

Respectfully, four, six, or more years of ANYTHING several times a week isn't "a" school incident.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm just curious if any of you who think the approach is fair have special needs kids. My special needs DS just told me this week that the kids pick their teams (he is in 9th grade). I think this is VERY unfair to those with less athletic ability. My son operates on the skill level of a 5.5 yo to 7.5 year old yet he is in class with 14/15 year olds. The teacher should make the teams then no one feels like they are always left out.

Several of us agree with you; many more in this thread feel your son should just learn to live with always being chosen last.

NOBODY is saying "no teams", just that there ARE more fair ways to choose those teams.

 

[asta]

I am also a 50+ year old that was always picked last in gym class. However, I can't imagine using something that happened 30+ years ago as an excuse for why I am overweight.

I had my strengths and weaknesses. Luckily, I was taught to focus on my strengths and not my weaknesses.

As the person who was always picked last, I have no problem with it. It taught me to be appreciative of what I was good at and that I needed to work the things I wasn't so good at. My family still laughs at my uncoordination and I laugh right with them.

For kids, I have a jock and a nerd. They playfully tease each other saying "be careful, you are going to work for me some day" while the other one retorts "and you are going to spend your nerd money to buy season tickets to watch me."

Recognizing their strengths and weaknesses has allowed them to appreciate themselves and their gifts and by that, be able to laugh off what they are not so good at.

I am sorry that you feel a school incident is still causing you so much pain. Look at what you were good at in school instead of focusing on what was difficult.

What is so hard for you to understand about how being regularly humiliated by physical activity would discourage someone from participating in those activities. I don't blame these experiences for all of my weight problems but I do think that it has been proven that people who have an activity that they enjoy have a much easier time controling their weight. Relying on diet alone is not healthy. I think that a pattern of an active lifestyle is easier if it is established early in life. I don't sit around daily and ponder how I was treated by others, but all of life's experiences go into developing who we are. I wish that I had grown up encouraged to participate in a healthier lifestyle instead of being treated as if my inclusion in your activity was a punishment.

As to all of you who are critical of me for remembering public humiliation at my age - I am proud of many things that I have accomplished, but that doesn't make sad things like this go away. All of our experiences make up who we are and you do learn to deal with them. I have long since found my way to deal with this but that doesn't excuse this type of behavior.

Above all, I am truly saddened that people today still think that humiliation has any place in an educational setting, PE or academic. We all learn at some point to deal with disappointment, you don't have to be humiliated to learn how to deal with it. I am sad for those of you who think this is necessary.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

It's called life, folks. Who I REALLY feel sorry for are the kids who's parents think it is their job to shield them from every little disappointment that comes their way. That is a lot more damaging then being picked last on a kickball team. Someone is ALWAYS going to be better than you, get over it.

 

[Embel]

I completely get the "not everyone needs a trophy" and kids need to learn they aren't great at everything, and agree with it in most instances.

But I maintain that this is not about athletic ability.

I think the first few choices that a team captain makes are related to athletic ability, but after that it morphs into kids picking their friends. Someone who is not athletic, but has many friends will be fairly protected from being chosen last. Someone who is not athletic & has fewer friends will be less protected.

Being chosen last for something is not the end of the world. Being chosen last several times a week over the course of a year or several years is going to feel awful.

I do not think learning that you aren't popular is a constructive part of any curriculum.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I do not think learning that you aren't popular is a constructive part of any curriculum.

It accurately predicts future behavior and teaches the child. Sheltering children doesn't teach them anything.

If my child was consistently picked last, I would talk to him about why that might be happening and what he could do about it.