What do you think about picking teams in gym class?

[C&G'sMama]

Okay we should absolutely allow a kid who has no athletic ability and poor social kids to be belittled day after day as it will build his character. We should also allow the child that struggles with reading to struggle day after day, publicly, and tell them how bad they are. Don't develop their skill sets and make sure that they are shown how weak they are every day.

This is what you are doing with team picking. School should be about building skill sets not tearing a kid down. There are plenty of opportunities for children to be on competetive teams, why does PE have to be one of them. PE should benefit all the children.

 

[lillygator]

the "ha ha, look how stupid he is" is NOTHING new and not only related to picking teams in PE. There are some kids who make fun of others no matter what, picking teams a different way or eliminating it is not going to change that at all.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...I just don't see what the problem is with the teacher doing it that way. It worked. No one was singled out. Everyone participated and everyone had fun.

And I don't see a problem with letting the kids pick teams for the reasons that I listed. We can agree to disagree, right? I don't claim to have all of the right answers - just answers that work for me and with my parenting style.

Peace...

 

[Suz D]

Improve or get out of the way.Nonsense.

In a required PE class you can't "get out of the way".

 

[luvsJack]

that's pretty sad that you felt you could not "bother" your parents...especially if it was something that bothered you. 1or 100 kids, parents should have time for them.


BUT how then, will the child get help. Teachers are sooo busy they don't have time to listen to one on one reading with each child in the classroom. How does the love of the other subjects get instilled in the child?


actually my teachers called on kids who did not raise their hand to see if in fact, they had read the material. Just because you don't raise your hand for fear of being called on is not going to take away the same red faced, quiet answers as you saying reading aloud would do.



good post!

Actually they do listen to the kids reading one on one. The kids read in class silently while she calls them to her desk or goes to their desk. I have witnessed it both ways and this way works.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

the "ha ha, look how stupid he is" is NOTHING new and not only related to picking teams in PE. There are some kids who make fun of others no matter what, picking teams a different way or eliminating it is not going to change that at all.

Yeah, isn't this like every day behavior for girls? I mean, girls don't need a reason to be mean to other girls...

 

[FergieTCat]

I just remembered a quote by Woody Allen:

Those who can't do teach
Those who can't teach
Teach gym

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

In a required PE class you can't "get out of the way".

Remember dodge ball?

No, but the parents can stop hovering over their snowflakes and let them learn from life.

 

[luvsJack]

the "ha ha, look how stupid he is" is NOTHING new and not only related to picking teams in PE. There are some kids who make fun of others no matter what, picking teams a different way or eliminating it is not going to change that at all.

Yes, it does happen every day; but the teachers do not have to encourage it! No one is saying that all the picking on or making fun of is going to be eliminated. There just doesn't have to be more created.

 

[lillygator]

Actually they do listen to the kids reading one on one. The kids read in class silently while she calls them to her desk or goes to their desk. I have witnessed it both ways and this way works.

Well they don't do that here. and my goodness I certainly don't see how they would have time, especially with some of the posts from teachers on the boards in regards to their schedules.

 

[luvsJack]

Okay we should absolutely allow a kid who has no athletic ability and poor social kids to be belittled day after day as it will build his character. We should also allow the child that struggles with reading to struggle day after day, publicly, and tell them how bad they are. Don't develop their skill sets and make sure that they are shown how weak they are every day.

This is what you are doing with team picking. School should be about building skill sets not tearing a kid down. There are plenty of opportunities for children to be on competetive teams, why does PE have to be one of them. PE should benefit all the children.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Having peers point something out will only work IF: the child has a strong enough personality to handle the criticism from peers (not easy at middle school level) and if the peers do it in a productive way not in a "ha, ha! Look how stupid he looks" kind of way (also, not easy for middle schoolers as they love to put each other down)

Parents cannot prepare their kids before every PE class, that is just dumb.

The PE teacher choosing to pick teams in a different manner is NOT sheltering anyone from anything. If mom went down to the school and said "I don't want my child playing in PE because everyone will see she is a klutz", they THAT would be sheltering. That is not what is happening. No one is asking for something different for one child.

You still don't seem to realize that every child does not have the ability to improve in physical activity. And most of the time it is not even about ability it is about being one of the better liked kids.

I took PE all through school, it was required even in hs during my years. All the way through the lower grades the teacher allowed students to choose the teams. I was the last chosen. I found many many reasons not to participate. More headaches attacked during that hour of the day. In high school our PE teacher just said "today we are playing volleyball. sue, jane, mary on that side; lisa, lynn and melissa on that side" And we all went to play the game. No sighs, no arguments, not eye rolling, no excuses. I actually learned to LIKE some sports because of that. If she would have continued the way the former teacher did, I probably would have never learned to like a lot of the things we learned to do that year (she actually TAUGHT PE rather than watched it).

I just don't see what the problem is with the teacher doing it that way. It worked. No one was singled out. Everyone participated and everyone had fun.

This is an excellent post and sums up exactly what I was trying to say.

 

[rgf207]

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

They bat everyone through the rotation and then start the next inning.

It's insane, I know

 

[Buckalew11]

And really GOOD PE classes are less about "winning" and more about learning the skills. Almost nothing makes me more angry that a PE tacher who plays, dodgeball, kickball, basketball and volleyball (or even less) all year long. Give me a break. There is so much more to do in PE than just those team sports.

And I'm from the other side. I loved PE, could not get enough, never got out of class, was "forced" to stop taking the classes in HS, in fact. But I think "choosing teams" leads to why so many kids dislike the class--esp. by middle and high school. There are many factors but that definitely would color someone's world.

My dad had 3 daughters. He took time to teach us how to really throw a baseball and catch correctly. My DD can throw a football as good as any 16 yo kid--football player or not. Sometimes it is all a matter of learning and practice. But to do competitive sports all year for PE class? No, that PE teacher is not earning their pay IMO.

And there is a difference between learning about life on the "playground" and in a "class".

 

[krcit]

I really can't stand the word 'snowflake' As soon as anyone posts anything about an issue with a child or their child, the 'snowflake' term gets thrown around like crazy.

I don't see anyone on here demading special treatment for their child. Heck, I don't even have a horse in this race-I have 3 kids who all happen to be good athletes(not from me that;s for sure!) and they have a lot of friends. I think the main thing people are talking about here is some compassion. Isn't learning to be compassionate just as important as learning that life isn't fair and you can't always win? It is in my house.

 

[rgf207]

I just remembered a quote by Woody Allen:

Those who can't do teach
Those who can't teach
Teach gym

Thanks for the absolutly pointless post. Not only pointless but offensive. There's no need for this.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

To me the most important thing children need to learn in school is coping skills. Teach a child to be confident and to own their own strengths and you are giving that child the ability to be successful in life.

Not everyone is good at everything, but the people who know what they are good at are the ones who go on to truly find career success and happiness.

Getting picked first in PE has absolutely nothing to do with predicting future life success. As my facebook account has taught me, the athletes do not always go on to be successful.

Trying to shelter a child from rejection is pointless because rejection never stops - mean kids become mean adults. Allowing your child to be in difficult situations is a great opportunity for teaching them things that really matter.

That's my take on the whole thing anyway. Just last week my DS was assaulted by Tinkerbell (well a little girl who was dressed as Tinkerbell) on a playground at WDW (she shoved him off a pedestal to the ground). I didn't care. He got right up and went on playing. I was proud of him. Life is all about getting back up.

 

[luvsJack]

Well they don't do that here. and my goodness I certainly don't see how they would have time, especially with some of the posts from teachers on the boards in regards to their schedules.

Our classes are split for reading, so its a smaller group so that may help. They have, I think, 90 minutes for reading and some days are spent doing other things so they don't actually read to her every day.

 

[FergieTCat]

Thanks for the absolutly pointless post. Not only pointless but offensive. There's no need for this.

You're welcome.

I personally see no need for this entire thread, and yet it carries on.

To each his own.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Thanks for the absolutly pointless post. Not only pointless but offensive. There's no need for this.

It was clearly a joke and it has been told by many, many people.

Learn to laugh. It makes life much more enjoyable.