OK, I've skimmed the cheating thread and thought this portion of the topic deserved its own thread. I spoke with a Wheaton North parent today about the possible abolishment of the PE waiver in their district too. I think it is a terrible idea. I think we should be able to waive PE starting in middle school (6th through 8th or in some cases 5th through 8th) Here's my thought that I would like some intelligent person to tell me what I am missing.
IIRC, you can home school a kid for some subjects, right? Why can't you home school for PE and get a study hall instead of PE? What are the obstacles? Would it be worth it? I can't be the first person to think of this, so I am sure there is a problem.
I am a dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I lay awake at night wondering if there is a dog.
The same thought crossed my mind too, Fish. For years at Ben Franklin and Hadley there have been a couple of families pulling their kids out for part (in one case half) of each day for "home schooling". Not sure how receptive D87 is to this idea but it might be worth a shot. Amy made a good point in the other thread about interpreting Illinois law- essentially the law states that if a kid is involved in a varsity sport, he may be released from PE. I also wonder how West is going to justify mandating PE when the other Glenbards do not. I don't see how the school board can approve something like that.
Reservations and concerns really, really need to be addressed to the school - before it goes too far. Right now, I'm not sure how much parent input they are receiving. Call Pam Zimmerman and Audris Griffth - their jobs are to handle these issues.
While I do think the PE program needs a boost, when your student is dedicating hours of time outside of school hours to physical activity and competition, credit for that time should be given. There needs to be some compromise.
Maybe, as with Consumer Ed, it could be something where they could test out.
The first potential obstacle that comes to mind would be one of staffing. More specifically, the potential reduction in staffing that may arise if PE were reduced to a more elective status. Don't underestimate the resistance to change the status quo when jobs (read; UNION) are at stake.
Originally posted by Ruydah: The first potential obstacle that comes to mind would be one of staffing. More specifically, the potential reduction in staffing that may arise if PE were reduced to a more elective status. Don't underestimate the resistance to change the status quo when jobs (read; UNION) are at stake.
Could staffing really be an obstacle? Do you think my ability to home school a particular subject could be taken away in the name of protecting P.E. teachers' jobs? I need to do a little digging around.
I am a dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I lay awake at night wondering if there is a dog.
Just a clarification: The Illinois law states that students may waive from PE during their junior and/or senior year (only) if participating in a varsity sport.
I would encourage all of you to talk to PE Teachers about this and, as GE Mom has suggested, administrators. In my experience, PE teachers definitely believe that PE is valuable to all kids even athletes. I do believe there is some degree of job preservation in their feelings too but they won't take kindly to such a comment since the law is essentially on their side. Probably a good route would be to create a group to lobbby and change state law. Honestly, that's the only way to have "substance" behind your arguement.
I'm all for letting athletes waive from PE during their season regardless of grade - though it is hardly justified at the middle school since they seem to have virtually no homework and the kids are getting used to not having a recess.
I have lots of other thoughts and feelings about PE and PE Waivers but I think I've typed enough for now.
Posts: 2904 | Location: Glen Ellyn, IL | Registered: April 04, 2003
you got cut off,amy. i don't think they can do this only at west. as for the varsity waiver, we will have to fight to make sure they (d87)follow the state law. and as for those parents that cannot get waivers for very time-intensive after school individual activity (ie, skating, horses, swim, what ever) you need to be very squeaky wheels! write to the newspapers, go to the school board meetings. make a real nusiance of yourselves! as our experience showed in 2004 when d87 wanted to cut the guts out of extracirriculars and sports: squeaky wheels DO get the grease! (of course, we got a whole new round of fees, but that's life!)
I'm all for letting athletes waive from PE during their season regardless of grade - though it is hardly justified at the middle school since they seem to have virtually no homework and the kids are getting used to not having a recess.
Amy, I love you like a sister (well, even better than my sister) but "hardly justified at middle school?" I know it's our choice to have our daughter in gymnastics, and the hours are a little insane, but she's also getting a decent amount of homework. She practices 5 days a week (4 weeknights from 4:30-8:30) which leaves little time for homework. She tries to complete as much as she can in this so-called "large group," but is not always successful. Completing the homework at a reasonable hour is often a struggle. I can't tell you how far a study hall would go in relieving the stress she feels to get her homework completed.
I am a dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I lay awake at night wondering if there is a dog.
hi fish...while i certainly understand that you want her to do her best in middle school, high school grades count for college...and that's where this lack of a waiver really would hurt, especially for kids who do multiple sports, or club sports or individual efforts. i really just feel like this is more padding...
Howdy, I fixed my "extra" partial post....don't know how that happened!
Fish, I can see some special exceptions in middle school but it should be something that is dealt with on an individual level. We do get Olympiads and other top-notch athletes somehow. It doesn't seem right that ALL students get PE shoved down their throats.
One of the other thoughts/ideas I have about PE is that they offer an athletic PE for kids who are in very intensive and/or time consuming sports. I would fashion it to be a pseudo study hall two or three days a week and the remaining days would be used for stress management types of physical activity (yoga, pilates, meditation, etc).
I also wish high schools would offer classes that are geared toward lifestyle fitness (the kinds of things we do as adults) exercise classes, moderate weight lifting, running, etc. Also, incorporating nutrition and personal journaling. These are great life-long skills that I wish I had learned and many students would benefit from learning.
Posts: 2904 | Location: Glen Ellyn, IL | Registered: April 04, 2003
I took away from my conversation with the PE Dept. head that those types of programs would be part of the curriculum revisions. He isn't just a dodgeball and floor hockey supervisor and takes his department objectives seriously. I agree with some of his plans, but I am not sold on all of them . . . .
Of course, it seems most of our kids are fit and well-balanced, but there are a lot of other students at West who could benefit from a more specific and focussed program.
He seemed more than happy to talk to people about it.
Originally posted by howdy60137: hi fish...while i certainly understand that you want her to do her best in middle school, high school grades count for college...and that's where this lack of a waiver really would hurt, especially for kids who do multiple sports, or club sports or individual efforts. i really just feel like this is more padding...
I'm not sure what you mean by "padding," but I think I catch your drift. I don't disagree that it's more important in high school to have the P.E. waiver. I just think I ought to be able get it waived in middle school too. I'd much rather have my daughter attend a study hall than square dancing. I mean besides Ron Kas and his wife, does anybody square dance...ever????
I am a dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I lay awake at night wondering if there is a dog.
No, dropped it on the hardwood floor in the kitchen. After an hour of living without my blackberry, I was forced to go get a new one. $550 later, I have a nice new worldphone/blackberry. Which is great because I can now make calls from all over the globe...and you know, I've been out of the country four times in my life... and not once in the last 5 years. So that should come in handy.
Originally posted by Fish: I'm not sure what you mean by "padding," but I think I catch your drift. I don't disagree that it's more important in high school to have the P.E. waiver. I just think I ought to be able get it waived in middle school too. I'd much rather have my daughter attend a study hall than square dancing. I mean besides Ron Kas and his wife, does anybody square dance...ever????
FYI The reason that most schools teach square dancing is that it includes ALL dancing skills required by the State of IL. This enables the school and the students to get ALL the dancing requirements out of the way in one multi-week class. Next issue: I would suggest that you go first to your child's teacher armed with documentation of the number of hours spent in gymnastics during the week as well as the number of hours spent on weekends as well as the list of awards for her efforts. Present this in writing, as well as verbally and if if necessary (trust me it will be) go up the ranks, principal, superintendent, school board. Good luck!
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”—Dr. Seuss
