<p>abc7.com:</a> California freshmen who flunk fitness test get mandatory P.E. class 4/25/08</p>
<p>I think this is GREAT! And I can't wait to see other states go along with it as well.. have to wait and see.</p>
<p>I agree. It's excellent. Not particularly stringent, though.</p>
<p>I had to laugh when I saw that video- they think it's a lot to maybe have to take two whole years of PE (if you failed the first time)? In NJ, we had to take PE and health all four years. And we had to take and pass the fitness test every year. If you took too long on the mile run, you had to do it again. I don't see why all states don't require it every year. Fitness isn't something you just achieve once and can then quit exercising. My college has a PE test and swim test, too. I think it's a great idea.</p>
<p>I'm a CA mom and elementary teacher. It wouldn't be bad at all except our high schools only have 6 periods. Once they complete their PE requirement, they have room for other classes like foreign language, music, art, electives, other APs, etc. We also don't offer summer school classes except for remediation situations.
My son would not have been able to stay in music if it wasn't for only having two years of PE and we used to be able to have the kids get a semester of PE credit for the after school marching class.<br>
The other interesting thing that is happening concurrently to this requirement is that, with the severe budget cuts, all of our district's elementary PE teachers are getting cut. We will still have PE, but it will have to be prepped and taught by us classroom teachers who do not have the training and the time to prep activities as well as our PE staff (which was one part time PE credentialed teacher and two aides that she directed.)</p>
<p>I personally would prefer that PE be solely an elective and optional. I found it to be incredibly boring and such a waste of time. Not to mention that the teacher wasn't really the brightest bulb in the box. I'm not complaining because of a lack of athletic ability but because I would have liked to enjoy that time pursuing other electives. </p>
<p>I know we have an obesity problem, but in reality, just throwing more PE into the mix isn't having much effect. You can easily find groups of high school students in line to buy fast food at lunch or watching students fill up with pizza and junk at the mall on the weekends. It's not surprising to hear kids talk about the hottest video game release or how much time they are playing World of Warcraft these days. </p>
<p>In my opinion, Physical Education needs to be taught at home.</p>
<p>Can anyone explain to me exactly why the boys have such more stringent requirements than the girls? A minute-and-a-half difference in a mile run is pretty significant.</p>
<p>My concern here is how will it affect admissions? Say you have this bright kid that somehow can't get past the fitness test. If retaking it for four years in order to graduate isn't bad enough, how will colleges view the courseload?</p>
<p>In my state you only take one semester of PE. We also have the 5th highest rate of adult obesity or something. It makes you wonder...</p>
<p>I took PE over the summer to have more room for electives, but I also played 3 varsity sports. I kind of wish that athletes could be exempted from the PE requirement.</p>
<p>Heh, I like how though I exercise regularly, I've never been able to do any sort of distance running. Have me playing a sport, and I can run all game, but tell me to run a mile and I'll wind up walking at least half of it.</p>
<p>I went to HS in PA, and we had mandatory PE classes every year from kindergarten through graduation. My district ran on block scheduling, with four classes a day and four quarters. PE took up every other day for one quarter every year. It was actually nice to have gym/study hall every other day for one quarter instead of all AP classes.</p>
<p>I think it's a good idea. But, I would definitely hate it if I lived in Cali.</p>
<p>S2's h.s requires one PE credit (down from two when S1 was there) but has taken PE all four years. He's a varsity athlete and really enjoyed it.<br>
The college he will attend next Fall requires a swim test. If you can't pass the swim test, you have to take swimmmg as your PE elective.</p>
<p>Our S2 will also take PE as an elective all four years. It is without question his favorite class. Like PackMom's S, he is also a varsity athlete, as are most of the kids taking PE as juniors and seniors. The teacher is the cross country team's coach (incredible guy--very motivating and supportive). He is as careful as a mother hen that one of the athletes don't get inadvertently hurt in gym class and therefore end up on the bench before a big game. It seems to happen anyway because the guys play pretty hard in gym. And, of course, some get hurt in their sport and can't do much during gym except physical therapy. </p>
<p>If they made gym mandatory rather than an elective, it would be a pretty different class unless they had something like regular PE and advanced PE. For one thing, I don't think his gym class has any girls in it. I'm fine with it being an elective since not everybody's fitness goals are best achieved in a group setting.</p>
<p>To respond to Zamzam's question, once past puberty, males do have a higher aerobic capacity than females on average. That's why all track records are set by men. It's fair to have more stringent requirements for them.</p>
<p>It would make sense if they actually did meaningful activity in high school PE. The last time my son took PE (10th grade) he had it 1st period. Now, 1st period is when every sport, plus the varsity dance and cheer teams, practice. There was not a single gym or field available for them; they literally played dodge ball in the hall way every day. If my child failed the fitness test and had to take another year of THAT, I'd be irate!</p>
<p>That's interesting missypie, the only "extracurricular activity" here that could practice during the school day was the band. No sports, no cheerleading, etc.</p>
<p>Yes, there should be PE requirements. I'd be in favor of a "Health and Fitness" class where you workout one day and do classroom work the next. Workout MWF and do some book-learning about nutrition, fitness, etc on Tuesday/Thursday. Forget the games they play.</p>
<p>But the likelihood of seeing something like this is slim-to-none. PE departments are getting cut. Obesity is increasing. Seems to be something there..</p>
<p>Hi, hops_scout, I went to Sparta High my freshman year!</p>
<p>There is a reason that Texas schools are known for having awesome sports teams and national champion cheer and drill teams...they take it as a class. Our school is on an AB block schedule, and sports, cheer, dance and marching band are double blocked, meaning that your sport/cheer/dance/band class takes up 2 of your 8 periods, or 1/4 of your schedule!!! Of course, all of those DO count toward your PE requirement, but those kids end up with 8 PE credits instead of the required 1.5. If you have a double blocked sport, it is very hard to fit in the state requirements; many take summer school.</p>
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<p>Why can't those students take COLLEGE classes in COLLEGE like everyone else??</p>
<p>I would like to see PE required K-12 EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think there would be a drastic reduction in obesity in youths which means less diabetes, CVDs, etc. That would also lead to lesser healthcare expenses!</p>
<p>But it'll never happen...</p>
<p>Again, it totally depends on what they DO in PE. At our middle school, everyone has to take PE in 6th grade. It's a pretty tradional PE class where they do quite a bit. In 7th grade, they can either take Athletics or PE. The PE teachers (incorrectly) assume that everyone who doesn't take Athletics is a slug, so they do next to nothing in 7th grade PE. No one should have to take 13 years of dodge ball!</p>
<p>hops_scout, I second your opinion! Across the board physical activity in HS in the long run will be more beneficial for our society than every kid taking 6 APs per year. Our SD requires 2 yrs of HS PE and Health. PE req. can be waived by participation in HS athletics (1 season of HS sports equals 1/2 semester of PE, and there are teams with no "cuts" for participation), Health can be taken in the summer, at a CC or on-line. Lots of options for band and arts AP-crazy kids to free up that PE slot for other classes.</p>
<p>Once again missypie, we agree! A more active approach needs to be taken toward PE. Not "toss out a ball and play" mindset but an "Exercise is Medicine" mindset. There are things that PE instructors could do with what they have now that would improve things, but they are also seeing obstacles that are hard to overcome.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, sounds to me like there are too many options so that those "AP-crazy kids" can avoid taking regular PE.</p>