Get Rid of PE and Bullying In Schools

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I totally agree. PE is downright awful and should be by choice only. I used to be in PE all the time and I was bullied every day. So my parents took me out and put me in another class.

However this year for my sophmore year I have taken up weightlifting it helps me get in shape and I can also fight back against bullies.

Adults in general who are supposed to be trusted have this unhealthy obsession with sports.
I see it everyday where people who play sports are given more rights than anyone else. Where I work now, this guy was allowed a week off to go to a hockey camp and another guy gets to come in an hour late to take his son to baseball. I try to get 1 (ONE) day off to go to a wedding that I have been asking about for 3 months now and everyone gives me crap about missing the day. I went in and said "I'm taking the day off anyway". My supervisor told me to just take it off and he would mark me but not to tell anyone about it. This is ret*d! This fixation on sports, especially the part that gives "pro" athletes millions of dollars to play games is the most screwed up part of the world we live in. It boils right down to the childhood gym and phys ed classes too. The school athletes are usually given all the rights and everyone else is left to be ignored. I think the major problem is that phys-ed classes focus on team sports and not everyone is a team sports player. There is skiing, track/field, excercise classes, mountain biking, canoeing..etc. There are so many activities that aren't promoted in the stone-age concept of phys-ed.

I myself am pretty good at things like hockey and football but I remember the schools I went to promoting basketball and baseball with little else. I couldn't play those games worth a damn and got picked on severely in the class. I honestly think that if you don't want to go to a phys-ed class, you should have the right to refuse.

I think P.E. should become an elective. That way the kids that are bullied in P.E. can elect not to take it. I don't think P.E. fights the obesity epidemic unless it has changed from when I was in school. Back then it was playing wiffle ball and dodgeball. Dodgeball was dangerous because it did permit someone with a chip on their shoulder to take it out on someone they disliked by slamming them in the head with a ball at full force. I never will forget 3rd grade on Friday the 13th in P.E. when a game of dodgeball resulted in head injuries to three classmates and blood all over the gymnasium floor. That was scary to watch and surprisingly I wasn't one of the ones targeted.

I think P.E. does permit bullying because often its less supervised and kids are spread out along large ball fields when the teacher can not see and hear everything going on. I think teachers bare a huge responsibility with bullying because I saw way too many times where they turned a blindeye when the weird little kid they didn't like either was bullied. P.E. teachers are often football or basketball coaches and they would instigate bullying those who were different by saying things like "quit playing like a girl, don't be a cry baby, don't be a loser, you throw like a girl".

I studied and taught martial arts in my 20's. I really didn't see that it helped kids that much except for occasionally having enough self estem to walk away from a bully. Well it did seem to give the kids more stamina to run fast. Kids can't use martial arts in school. If they kick a bully then they are the ones that get kicked out of school. Again it goes back to adult responsibility of supervisings kids at all times and the principal's responsibility to kick out bullies. I remember tons of bullies in my schools and not once did one of them ever get expelled for their behavior.

The school I went to banned me from PE and PSHE and ENGLISH caus the teachers couldnt deal with the bullying directed at me.

I still hate PE but I know do Judo. Go figure?

True, there was a paper trail but I would place any bet that is not what the death certificate said. Hell, the police tried to hid any information that would show that the school officials/police should have known all along what was going on until the FOIA requests came along and even then, they hid stuff hoping that people would never find out.

I realize I am a bit late to this thread. Also, I am far removed from a school environment, but my first question is how specifically are you defining bullying? When I was in school, our PE was very structured so there was scant opportunity for any actual physical bullying. Now, if you are talking about mocking behavior for less than average performance, that is another matter, but it was not considered bullying during my time. There are some ways to deal with it. My second question is what are some typical PE requirements and what are the issues that you find troubling...I was fortunate, physical activity was not a problem for me, so maybe I can offer some helpful tips to make yours live easier in this stressful environment.

As long as you need.

In reading the posts, I find that there are several themes that repeat: compulsory PE...I agree, it is not a good thing, but until it chnges, you are stuck with it so lets try to find some ways to make it less stressful. and Team sports.

Team Sports...Learn the rules! I can't stress this enough...you will be expected to know the basics of the game the rules spell that out.

Learn what the strategies and tactics of the game are...that is how is the game won or lost.

Tell your team mates that you are not the most gifted alhelite so they might have to pick up your slack, but always give you very best effort...they WILL notice...keep your attitude positive even when you feel discouraged by poor performance. Try to find one person to give you some special help outside of class.

Now for the hardest thing of all try to learn to not lose your cool...when people laugh at you or call you name disarm them with a smile...I know that is hard, it is for me too...bit it works...try to lear to have a sense of humor about yourself.

I am fully aware that everything I have said is MUCH easier said than done, but with practice and effort, you can reduce the discomfort you feel in the presence of others with more advanced physical skills...think for a moment that they might feel just as intimidated in an enviroment in which you excell...use that thought and don't let the taunts drive your actions or reactions.

As I said, I am many years removed from the school room, but any physical attack is unacceptable. I always fought back. From what I have heard about the zero tolerance policies, it would seem that might not be a viable option now. So, coping and not exploding in anger is key...even if you do fight back...you can't fight effectively if all you feel is anger, it must be completely under control. It will as most things, boil down to a risk and reward analysis: if you fight back is the reward worth the risk. There are some things you can learn that will give you the techniques to effectively fight back...no, I will not teach them here...but if caught, is it worth the suspension or having to deal with the school officials...only you can decide.


Which part didn't work? Keeping your cool? Your team mates appreciating your effort? Specifically, which part did not work?