-------------------------------------------------- Online Phys Ed Takes Hold in Minneapolis By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press WriterThu Oct 20, 9:25 PM ET Jacob Miller's gym class isn't about push-ups or running laps or dodgeball. It's about computers and Frisbee. Last year, as the tall, cheerful South High School senior neared graduation, he was finding it hard to complete his physical education requirement while balancing studies, sports and a social life. Then Miller discovered that through a new online class he could fulfill his phys-ed credit after school by playing on the Ultimate Frisbee team. "I would've had to go to gym class and take up an hour every day," the 17-year-old said during a break from tossing a Frisbee with a few teammates. "I would've had to give up orchestra. If I'd taken it last year, I'd have had to give up German." The Minneapolis school system's online physical education allows kids to choose a physical activity they enjoy, do it for 30 minutes three times a week — on their own time — while keeping an online journal. A parent or coach must confirm the student did the activities, and a fitness test at semester's end will turn up any cheaters. --------------------------------------------------- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051021/ap_on_he_me/fit_online_gym;_ylt=Ap5FFujwJODb8i5TpE30ovCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oD
An online gym class? What do they do? Send yo a video of the exercises you're supposed to do (like maybe a Jane Fonda workout video)? And then what? You have someone make a video of you actually doing you exercises?
Ted, Parent /coach confirmation then I guess you have a proctored exam like CLEP. 60 pushups and a sports quiz I suppose. Good friends' mom taught at the school mentioned in article that no longer seems to be available.
On the surface, the idea of online gym classes is bound to attract obvious giggles. But it actually sounds like a very good idea when you look past the surface, see the possibilities, and remember the realities of school gym class. I enjoyed gym class but also resented the fact that it was required because like the kid quoted in the article mentioned, it meant being forced to give up an elective that I would rather have taken and that would have been more useful to me. Besides, I was already involved in an organized sport outside of school and would have greatly appreciated being able to apply that as credit toward the gym requirement rather than choose which college-prep elective to give up. Passing any end-of-year fitness test would not have been a problem, but that was due to involvement in the outside sport rather than anything to do with school gym class. Nobody learned "lifelong fitness" or even got physically fit as a result of the required school gym class. None of the fat kids got any thinner by the end of the year, and none of the klutzes gained any coordination. In fact, if anything they were probably turned away from exercise for the rest of their lives due to bullying in gym class. I remember feeling sorry for some of them, especially since the gym teachers did absolutely nothing to stop the teasing and in some instances actually seemed to be amused by it. Kit
Same Kit: Looking at your bio, I'd assume you are not sitting in front of your computer wearing a jock? P.E. is the only exercise some kids get. I'd require more, no ass-sitters. And the kids getting teased, and doing nothing, are gonna be useless adults. When you stand-up to a bully, they usually figure you are cool. Life is tough. Why don't we just have someone write our papers? All we would need to do is say that they reflect our thoughts. Actually, why concern ourselves with thought? Let someone go to class, take notes, exams, and give us the sheepskin. Even better, have someone call a mill-scrote and get a bona fide fake Doctorate in Whining.
LOL ... ya got me on that one Clay. Of course, the sport I was involved in didn't require wearing a jock and <ahem> none of us had physical reason to wear one. No doubt, but I blame their parents. Too much reliance on electronic baby sitters like television or video game units. The health of any child is the responsibility of parents, schools can't raise anyone's kid for them. If fitness and healthy diet are not emphasized at home then they certainly aren't going to be learned in PE class. But I have noticed kids in the neighborhood who are quite overweight, there are definitely more overweight and out-of-shape kids now than the amount I remember as a kid. But just like back then, most of them also have overweight and out-of-shape parents so again it all goes back to home care, or lack thereof. Also, as previously mentioned none of the fat kids got any thinner as a result of PE and that seems to be the same today since the same overweight neighborhood kids are still fat year after year. Absolutely, life is tough and kids need to learn that rather than being coddled or spoiled. But I still think bullying is wrong regardless of reason. In fact there are no good reasons for bullying, only poor excuses. Standing up to a bully is a good idea in general, most of them are closet wusses who back down when confronted. Best to proceed with caution these days though, especially in the higher grades. The proliferation of weapons and gangs even in suburban schools could make some situations dangerous. But I don't see a problem with teacher or administrative intervention. In adult life continual harassment is illegal so why should we expect kids to put up with it? OK now Clay, you know you're stretching it to ridiculousness here. The kids mentioned in the article are required to turn in slips signed by a parent or coach to prove they were actually doing something, and there's also the fitness test at the end of the year. I don't know if you were ever involved in any sports outside of school but my coach would never have fudged any verification requirements for anybody. I wouldn't do that for my kid either. Right now there's plenty of kids here involved in youth football leagues, with tough coaches who kick the do-nothings off the teams. Many of these kids are also academic stars, so I don't see any reason why they should not be allowed to apply their outside sports toward PE credit and thus be free to choose more useful electives that can serve them better for college prep. Kit
Re: Same Hmmm ... BTW Clay upon reflection on your general tone, and having finally looked at my bio after long since forgetting what was in there ... perhaps you were implying (and assuming) that I might be some fat, out-of-shape person whining on behalf of fitness phobics everywhere. Like the usual cliche on assumptions, your possible one here is dead wrong. FWIW stiff winds present a challenge on remaining upright, and I can usually be seen in my neighborhood nearly flying behind a very large leashed dog. In fact one neighbor suggested I buy a cape to enhance that picture. But he's a sarcastic ol' curmudgeon, you know the kind. Kit
Same I see you did get your dander up. BTW I'm SF and would love to have you follow me in a run. I never thought you were anything but too serious. Please inform me which marathons you have run, and if you are still following your bio's gimme. You were easy. Remember, if you take yourself too seriously no one else will. If you don't think PE, by proxy, isn't a joke, then you broke your funny bone while flying and fighting humor. If you've forgotten how to smile, stand on your head in front of a mirror. The old curmudgeon has more time in reality. Enjoy yourself and quit chasing dogs.
Dude, take your own advice and chill out. Relax, I never said you couldn't run any more. If you could channel that pissy attitude you'd be sprinting at full clip clear across the country. 'Course at your age watch out for over-pronation or ruptured Achilles. My sport wasn't running, but thanks anyway for the invitation. Sure, online PE sounds dang funny. But I still think my nephews should be able to apply their football, hockey, and baseball for PE credit instead of having to take a class where most of the kids don't even wanna be there. Besides, their gym teachers are lard-asses which is pretty funny in itself. Kit
Same Dudette: If you think I have a pissy attitude, then you haven't met some of the pros here. All of my postings were in a humorous vein. And all were accepted thusly. Except by you. So if someone needs to chill, I'd suggest you follow your own advice. And at my age, most of my injuries come from jumping and failing to pay attention during low altitude swoops and flaring, motorcycle crashes, kickboxing, and choking on my drink while reading some of the posts here. Don't be so enamored with yourself, as you chase dogs, you need to watch for trucks because they are not age biased. And, your cape would make a unique hood ornament. Hope to see you on the beach, in a bikini, in a few years.
This thread does illustrate a real problem with some B&M gym classes. They are filled with adolescent personalities just feeling their way into adulthood, too often through posturing, bravado and bullying. That can leave lasting lifetime scars on both the perpetrators and their victims. Getting back to the subject, I think that DL physical education sounds like a good idea. Certainly on the college level, if there's a general education PE requirement (do colleges even have PE requirements any more?), you could give people small amounts of credit (half a unit or something) for exercising in off-campus health clubs, for participating in organized sports on club teams and stuff like that. Students could get credit for sailing, swimming, hiking, golfing and even sky diving. There's an indoor rock climbing place near my home that seems to be popular, and they offer yoga and pilates too. (Don't see why students shouldn't get PE credit for that kind of stuff as well.)
Same FWD, I was just joking around. And I got credit for a golfing class in college. They gave me a B to stay away and keep the others safe. And there should be some way to accept "off-campus" sports as credit, if PE credits are accepted any longer. But as Superwoman implied, at my age paper hadn't been invented yet. So we got credit for making fire and hunting mastodons.
FWD: Dan, don't be sorry a'toll. Great thread topic, and relevant. The full AP story made the bottom first page of my hometown newspaper, 'course not much happens out here except a lot of youth sports. Full text shows the possibilities of this idea, hope at least a few more nutballs managed to get past the headline. BillDayson: Thank you for yet another thoughtful message. As always, yours is one of the most reasoned minds ever to grace these forums. Clay: Aren't all these new instantaneous communications grand, finally a reason for us ham-fisted fools to learn keyboarding. 'Course you never know for sure to whom you're typing at, even when they drop hints or supposedly use "real" names you're still left guessing at best. Interesting how your decorum and language usage changed once you were so sure, or thought you were. You're part of the problem as to why old conservatives get slapped with the "misogynist" tag, and indications point to you not even being old. Prolly only just hit the "big" 6-0 and gettin' nervous. Well you ain't racked up enough years nor gained the courtly manner to rightly dub yourself "Curmudgeon". Sorry son, that dog don't hunt. If there's any truth to your sig and the "I'm SF" you tossed out to my cat "Kit", then I most sincerely thank you for serving our great country. But I'd thank any with your bad-apple thoughts, ex-military or not, to stay away from my granddaughters. Kit <meow>
Same What bad apple thoughts? I read your bio and figured you would pitch a fit. You have, and continue to follow your lead. Until our brief commo, I had never considered myself a misogynist. Conservative, yes. I have no interest in kids, so the grands are safe. I've packed enough into my years to call myself curmudgeon, without your imprimatur. And I understand why the dog continues to flee. Don't worry, be happy. Your wit and sarcasm should have alerted me, but numerous concussions have slowed the synaptic processes. And as you stated, this new form of social intercourse plays havoc with my semantics, grammatical components, and prosody.
