Your opinion on Gym Class

[Dags90]

My gym class was this: Every couple of weeks, we got to play a new sport. Repeat until the end of the year.

I loved gym class. It was my favorite period. It was fun, a good workout, and fun.

Not very good for actual physical education though. My PE was much more varied, especially in high school. They were big on running. We even had those heart monitors you strap to your chest, so that we could attempt to keep ourselves in our target heart range. There was also "Project Adventure" which involved climbing using rope harnesses and such. There was also a weight training thing that lasted a few weeks in the school's weight room to teach us how to use the equipment without hurting ourselves. We played some sports, I remember doing badminton at some point my freshman year, but they were largely avoided for other physical activities.

Great in primary school, but once you're older than 12, school really should be more focused on actual learning.

Don't be silly. Probably the biggest benefit of public schooling outside of basic literacy is socialization. PE is a good opportunity to shove in group cooperation and competition as well as setting personal goals into the school systems. It definitely doesn't become less important the closer they get to adulthood. It's also a nice break. There are studies showing that the brain gets progressively worse at taking in new information the longer it's made to do so. PE is a break without really being a break.

 

[an annoyed writer]

It would be better if they actually taught you how to keep your body in shape... Knowing about how your body functions and how to keep it in shape, both mentally and physically (shock! Your brain is a part of your body too!!) is actually pretty damn important.

This. So much this. Something other than PLAY SHPORTS BECAUSE THEYS KOOL! Something that actually teaches and promotes fitness for those whose life does not revolve around the pigskin. Unfortunately, at least where I'm from, The current organization of Phys Ed classes is set up for those who are geared towards athleticism by default. The system I was in also had an inclination more geared for those who were more social and outgoing, and it kinda demonized loner types like me.

 

[Wackymon]

Everyone knows about gym, in one way or another, so, I want to hear your opinion about it. To me, it's a waste of time I could be using to learn about the nature of the universe, human mind, mathematics, or how to dance.

I agree with that actually. I liked it enough as a kid in elementary school but when I found out I needed to have a credit or two of it throughout middle and high school that really annoyed the Hell out of me. It's like requiring a years credit in console gaming: some people would love it and lap it up but it's not going to get you a job unless you're a very specific type of person.

Good to know there are some people who see the logic in this.

It would be better if they actually taught you how to keep your body in shape... Knowing about how your body functions and how to keep it in shape, both mentally and physically (shock! Your brain is a part of your body too!!) is actually pretty damn important.

This. So much this. Something other than PLAY SHPORTS BECAUSE THEYS KOOL! Something that actually teaches and promotes fitness for those whose life does not revolve around the pigskin. Unfortunately, at least where I'm from, The current organization of Phys Ed classes is set up for those who are geared towards athleticism by default. The system I was in also had an inclination more geared for those who were more social and outgoing, and it kinda demonized loner types like me.

I have to second you here, too, I wouldn't mind gym if it was that, vs running in circles (Sometimes literally so)

 

[Marter]

Not very good for actual physical education though.

Well, no, it wasn't.

But that's why it was called "gym" and not "physical education."

At least, I'm pretty sure that's what our school called it.

 

[Dangit2019]

I hated it, but in retrospect it's the only thing that kept me in any mildly good condition at all. I was and still am a lard ass who needs excuses just to get off my chair, so I'll still vouch for it.

 

[Crazy]

Looking at all the sweaty bodies while exerting my own energy is one phenomenal feeling.

 

[AwkwardTurtle]

I miss gym class. I'm woefully out of shape at this point in my life, and I have to say that when you have a genuinely good gym teacher, like I happened to have, that class keeps you in shape. I lost weight because of that class.

In retrospect it was a fantastic setup. You get supervised and structured exercise time for free. There are many people who now pay for that as adults.

Also I thought it was a good chance to easily play a team-based sport with people who would normally never even consider the idea of playing a sport for fun. I just hated those people who literally didn't even try. You know those people. THEY DIDN'T EVEN TRY! They bothered the heck out of me. Also, personal note I always loved how my one classmate always got insanely competitive when it came to these makeshift games. It was just a hilarious contrast to his normal easy-going self.

Plus it was generally fun. Except for running. I hated just running.

 

[Fatboy_41]

Not too sure about elsewhere, but the school I went to didn't have "gym class". We had HPE. Health and Physical Education. Yes, we played sport, but it also covered general health, nutrition, anatomy, sex ed and so on. It's a compulsory class for the first year of high school, then it's an elective. As an alternative we had another elective named Sports Excellence. That's the one for people who want to focus on sports in particular.

Personally, I believe a class like HPE in invaluable. Thinking back now, my high school would have been well below average in terms of overweight students. And the Sports Excellence class has produced athletes such as Sam Stosur (US Open Women's champion) and Sally Pearson (Gold Medal 100m Hurdles... with ease).

 

[Slenn]

Hey there @Wacky! For Gym class, I don't really care. That was back in highschool about 6 years ago for me. I took a swimming and weights class which were both okay. And in the end, I didn't care much for it. Once I got to college, I took classes that I actually gave a crap about, and so I put everything else in the distant past.

 

[Nothing Tra La La]

I absolutely hated gym class, though mostly due to my crippling social anxiety. It didn't help that none of my gym teachers were at all compassionate. I didn't mind having to change in front of others, but being forced to participate in physically exerting activities seriously freaked me out.
I think my real problem with gym is that you either get the super strict "sport-buff" teacher who bases your grade solely on athletic ability, or you get the teacher who gives out points just for showing up.

 

[Bravo 21]

I loved it. Although I might be slightly biased, because sports is basically my "thing". Sure I couldn't shoot a basketball, or a soccer ball, or handle a frisbee that well, but I was fast enough that it really didn't matter. Although after grade 10 it isn't compulsory where I come from, it's an easy 4 credits for those who didn't take a very full courseload.

Also the Beep Test, who else didn't despise them with a passion?

Captcha: make my day, yes I suppose it did.

 

[cryogeist]

I don't mind it. it's fun
the only thing i hate is when i get it somewhere during the school day (like this year)
and the one time i almost broke my ankle during it....fucking badminton

 

[Launcelot111]

Gym was awesome because we got to play fun games like 30 on 30 dodgeball or handball with completely made up rules aside from just regular basketball and soccer (which are fun enough on their own).

The worst part was every thursday, when they made us run two and a half miles within ten minutes of lunch ending. And thursday was always the good lunch day too. Also jump ropes. Fuck jump ropes

 

[soren7550]

From fifth grade onwards, I hated gym.

Fifth grade it was called 'Movement', and the teacher for it was a pregnant lady that just screamed at us all the time and made us do what I suspect was supposed to be interpretive dance. When she left for maternity leave, we were stuck with a music teacher that didn't speak English well and her room was full of roaches.

Sixth and seventh grade we had a teacher who spent most of the double period not doing anything because she wanted us to be quiet (when you have 4+ classes' worth of girls, that's not going to happen). Also, the gym was either freezing or sweltering year round, but near the end of seventh grade we did have a teacher that not only knew what he was doing, but was nice, engaging, and let us have fun.

Eighth and tenth grade (I believe it was anyway) was horrible. The gym was very tiny, and had pillars throughout the middle of the gym, and for the most part all we did was basketball and volleyball. The teacher was terrible and often yelled, and didn't give a shit about what students did to one another. Under his watch, I was hit multiple times with a hockey stick, tackled and strangled, and had Axe Body Spray sprayed right into my face.

One day he snapped and just screamed at us as he lined us up against the wall for most of the period. After he was done screaming, he went into the girl's room and saw one of the girls naked.

It's not that I don't like the idea of gym, it's just that you need to have a teacher that knows what they're doing, and you need adequate space & equipment to do it right as well.

 

[cswurt]

Gym shouldn't be about fun and sports anymore.

Kids are getting fatter, younger these days.
It's alarming.


Kids should be required to do aerobic exercises the entire time. Everyone knows they don't get any exercise at home with their Flaming Hot Cheetohs and XBox 360s.

For kids that already are active, then a couple laps around the school wouldn't be a big deal.

For everyone else, the focus should be on improving their time every day.

Hopefully do a little damage control on their fat little bodies.


Anyone who decides to take their kids out of gym class: expel the kids. Let them die of a heart attack at middle age, living out of a trailer. Good riddance, imo.

 

[loc978]

In my experience with my physical education... I'd say there's too much emphasis on team sports and competition, too little on physical fitness and the science behind it. If you're not into the games they want you to play, you don't get fit... and that strikes me as a bad education plan.

 

[Xdeser2]

There were times when gym class was pretty fun

....And there were other times where it was a fucking nightmare.

honestly, Im not that athletic of a guy, ya I can have some fun playing a few down of football with my friends, but I much prefer actually LEARNING in school. I dont find it completely essessential, but it should be kept in most schools as an elective at least.

 

[scorptatious]

Depends on when you would have asked me.

Back in elementary school, I loved P.E. (physical education, as we didn't actually use a gym) it would mean we would play games like dodgeball and capture the flag. I loved those games.

Then middle school came, and I dreaded doing P.E. Pretty much every Friday we had to do a mile run within a certain amount of time. Looking back, it probably wasn't that bad. But I remember absolutely hating it.

In High School, we usually didn't do much besides sit on the bleachers and do our own thing. So it wasn't as bad. Although for a while I hated the idea of changing in front of other people. It wasn't until my senior year when I got over it.

College, I took a yoga class for two semesters straight. It was tough yes, but it was incredibly rewarding at the same time. It was not only something good for me physically, but spiritually and mentally too. Perhaps I should get back into it...

 

[Thyunda]

My PE class consisted of a short Welsh guy barking instructions and saying the words 'rollicking' and 'lads' a lot. He was a particular fan of rugby. As a result of mandatory PE classes, my 5'10 and...quite underweight form can still handle a ball or a tackle. Also the frequent winter lessons appear to have frozen most of my nerves so I don't really feel the cold anymore.

 

[Ryotknife]

I actually loved gym, it was fun. And this is coming from someone overweight. I like doing physical activites, but i hate sweating (and/or long distance running). As you can imagine the two conflict with one another often.

Hell in junior/senior i was a team captain. Despite my weight i was quicker and stronger than i looked. Probably due to my mother thinking video games were the devil and so i had to play outside everyday for hours on end and rarely got to play my NES. Upside is that i was decent at nearly all sports except for soccer (long distance running) and volleyball (i tend to nail my own teammates by accident).

oh, but i was banned from playing goalie in gym. I have psiorasis on my knees and when i play goalie i tend to slide around a lot with no pads on. So at the end of the class my goal looks like a murder scene from my bleeding kneecaps.