What do you think about picking teams in gym class?

[Mouse House Mama]

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.

I would like you to show me a job etc. in the adult world where daily public humiliation is part of the requirement. The only future behavior it predicts is low self esteem.
Oh- and as for being picked last- you could do what you want sometimes but it will not change anything. I still can't run fast, I still can't climb a rope, and I will never be good at gymnastics. I tried very hard to do all those things but I am who I am and I am not made for those activities. I can however shoot a 3point basket.

 

[Embel]

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.

What does it teach them?

If your child were consistently being picked last you might not know about it. Kids are often too embarassed to let their parents know things like this.

 

[krcit]

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 don't know how I posted within your quote..

I agree with this. I was never an athlete however I had a lot of friends so I was always picked reasonably early on. I always felt so bad for the kids picked last-that has got to really hurt especially if it happens on a regular basis. I get that life is full of dissapointments and life is not fair but does that lesson really need to extend to every gym class? Why not just have a rotating team roster? That couldn't be too difficult to come up with, could it?? Every kid is different also, my older dd would not give a hoot if she wa picked last but my middle one would be upset.I guess I just don't see why every little thing has to become a 'life lesson' Believe me, all these kids will have plenty of life lessons, they don't need to be humiliated in gym in elementary school.


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

 

[rgf207]

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

I think you may have misread my posts. I wasn't suggesting things to do. The things I listed are actually going on now and it's crazy

There are baseball teams in my area (kids, not professional) that don't keep score and there aren't any outs.

Same for tryouts. There are parents that think there should be no tryouts and everyone should get on the team. They also think that everyone should get trophies.

The reading out loud part came from this thread. It's actually happening.

I'm not saying that there are not other methods for gym class than picking teams but that is part of life. Some get picked last. The whole point of this thread is not that there are no other alternatives, it's that being picked last is a part of life and life isn't fair.

I'm not making this stuff up. All of my examples are things that are going on now and it's doing nothing but hurting the kids in the long run.

 

[krcit]

Embel, I don't know what the heck I did but my post got posted within your quote and I don't know how to fix it. I'm sorry. At least I was agreeing with you

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

What does it teach them?

If your child were consistently being picked last you might not know about it. Kids are often too embarassed to let their parents know things like this.

It teaches them to change their behavior - to work better with others to gain acceptance - to work out if they are fat or out of shape - to practice more if they stink at a game that they like.

If the kids are not bothered enough by it to do something about it, then they are either going to be just fine or they have bigger problems...

 

[kaytieeldr]

What does it teach them?

If your child were consistently being picked last you might not know about it. Kids are often too embarassed to let their parents know things like this.

My parents had five kids in less than four and a half years. They had bigger concerns than me always getting picked last in gym - and I knew not to bother them about it.

 

[cheermom1]

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.

I get what you are saying but at the same time forcing teams is not going to make the problem go away that kid still doesn't have as many friends, that kid will hear the rude comments about being forced on a team, and if you don;t think it doesn't happen it does and the teachers will do something about it you are wrong. As I have stated before I was that kid, I have heard it all and any way that a teacher divides into a team it is still there it is not going to go away. I have been in every scenario that has been mentioned and I promise I still got it and I was very much aware of my "status" in school no matter how the teacher tries to handle it.

I am a stronger person for everything I went through and I handled my own battles which I am thankful for. Because of me being able to resolve things on my own I learned how to handle situations and that life it not fair and I don;t crumble if someone says something rude or mean. I just walk off and realize they have the problem.

What we as parents need to teach our kids is that life is not fair and full of disappointments and to relay on our strengths and improve our weaknesses. Instead of shielding our kids or battle our kids battles, they need to do things on their own to take care of themselves when they are adults. They need the skills that things like this teach them now instead of learning it the hard way and never making anything of themselves but to live with mommy and daddy for rest of their lives. I am saying this in general not that being picked last is going to make them or break them but over all not letting our kids battle their own battles.

of course if the situation arises that you need to get involved then you should but not for little petty stuff like getting feels hurt for being picked last in gym.

 

[luvsJack]

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.

Have you ever been in middle school? There isn't a hill of beans a kid can do about not being one of the popular kids (translate to "mean kids group"), unless one of them decides to let them in. The only way the kid is going to suddenly change when he/she is picked is to become a star ball player and suddenly guarantee a win, which is not likely to happen, and even then if those picked as captains still choose not to like the kid; they won't get picked.

A PE teacher changing their methods of choosing teams is NOT sheltering anyone. Its preventing something that can ultimately cause problems. And he/she would be doing it for all of his/her students not just one. Its not just about ONE child, it is about the entire group of students that the PE teacher teaches and taking away this popularity contest being shoved in the face of those that consistently get picked last.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There are baseball teams in my area (kids, not professional) that don't keep score and there aren't any outs.

Um, then, uh - how do they know when the game's over?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

It teaches them to change their behavior - to work better with others to gain acceptance - to work out if they are fat or out of shape - to practice more if they stink at a game that they like.

If the kids are not bothered enough by it to do something about it, then they are either going to be just fine or they have bigger problems...

What if they do all those things and they are still unable to run fast, climb, throw a killer curve ball? Not everyone has great athletic ability no matter how hard they try. Some people are simply awkward and humiliating them will only make them feel more self conscious about it. That is bully behavior.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It teaches them to change their behavior - to work better with others to gain acceptance - to work out if they are fat or out of shape - to practice more if they stink at a game that they like.

Then, uh... what does the teacher do? Why have a teacher if the student is supposed to - by your standards - learn from the treatment they get from other students and improve themselves? What's the point of SCHOOL, period?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Then, uh... what does the teacher do? Why have a teacher if the student is supposed to - by your standards - learn from the treatment they get from other students and improve themselves? What's the point of SCHOOL, period?

Well according to some it is to build character through public humiliation.

 

[luvsJack]

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 am assuming you mean speech class as in stand in front of the class and make a speech; not speech therapy?

Of course they still take speech. A speech is not read, it is spoken; major difference. Many children that cannot read very well can write things like speeches very well.

Obviously you have never heard a child try to read aloud that stumbles over every other word and the teacher has to correct several times. Their face turns red, their voice gets lower and lower and are just humiliated. How can that possibly instill a love of reading in anyone?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

What if they do all those things and they are still unable to run fast, climb, throw a killer curve ball? Not everyone has great athletic ability no matter how hard they try. Some people are simply awkward and humiliating them will only make them feel more self conscious about it.

Then they need to get over themselves. Not everyone can be the best at everything - and those who are the best are going to want to be around others like themselves. Improve or get out of the way.

That is bully behavior.

Nonsense.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Then, uh... what does the teacher do? Why have a teacher if the student is supposed to - by your standards - learn from the treatment they get from other students and improve themselves? What's the point of SCHOOL, period?

When it comes to behavior, they learn more from their peers than anyone else.

 

[luvsJack]

That's ridiculous. I hope the teachers don't ask the students any questions either. They might not know the answers and be humiliated.

I have already explained in a pp but one has nothing to do with the other. A kid that has that much trouble reading should not be put on display. Its not about a lack of studying it about lack of ability. Two different things.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Then they need to get over themselves. Not everyone can be the best at everything - and those who are the best are going to want to be around others like themselves. Improve or get out of the way.Nonsense.

Nobody said anything about being the best. It is about making someone feel terrible because they struggle with something. Of course I don't agree with what you said and I do think it is bully behavior. If my kid was the best (and at some things they are) I would never encourage them to only be around others who are the best. Kindness goes a long way. I teach my kids to help others and not make people feel badly for struggling.
Improve or get out of the way. What a way to treat anyone.

 

[krcit]

Then they need to get over themselves. Not everyone can be the best at everything - and those who are the best are going to want to be around others like themselves. Improve or get out of the way.Nonsense.

Wow.