My daughter who is a junior at Wast was telling me that next year Gym will count as part of your GPA and also that there will be and honors Gym also no more sports waivers for Gym. I'm not sure if this is actually planned or being discussed. Does anyone else know about any of that . It seems like a lot of changes to go through in one year.

My freshman told me that next year gym will count as part of the GPA- she did not say anything about honors gym or gym waivers though. In what she has told me about gym this year I really think it should be a pass fail-as long as you show up and change you get 100% for the quarter...the final was something like 30 multiple choice questions- my freshman put no effort into the test because she figured she would have an A in the class no matter how she did on the final and would pass the class no matter what- and since it doesn't count in the gpa who really cares if you have an A or a D. Would honors gym be for kids in honors classes or kids who excell at gym. Would an A be worth a 6 like in any other honors class? Seems like then there would have to be honors in art, band and choir so that kids could earn a 6 in those classes too. Seems better to me to leave honors level classes to the core subjects.

So it appears that once again the people at West decide to pull a fast one without informing anyone or asking for anyones input . Just oh yeah next year Gym will count as part of the GPA. My understanding is that some of the Gym teachers have control issues so the only way for them to have some control is to having the grades count.

ok, when is the next school board meeting? this is just garbage. my understanding is that X amount of gym is required to graduate. if the kid is skipping gym or totally blowing it off (while in class) not passing will mean not graduating. this is surely enough to keep them attending and doing what needs to be done. as if these kids don't have enough to worry about. also, if a kid is doing ANY high school sport (at least 2 hours after school a day, sometimes 2.5 or 3!) then they SHOULD NOT have to take gym while that sport is going on. this time should be used as a study hall. if these kids have meets/games during the week you can add on bus time too! what really bugs me is how arbitrary this all is. when we had the 6 period day a few years ago district 87 suspended ALL gym requirements for jrs. and srs. Illinois (to my knowledge) is one of only 2 states which requires gym all 4 years of high school. you can argue til the cows come home that this reduces obesity rates...i think it increases employment rates!

Monday, January 28th 7:30 PM Glenbard North LOL

quote:

Originally posted by howdy60137:
... also, if a kid is doing ANY high school sport (at least 2 hours after school a day, sometimes 2.5 or 3!) then they SHOULD NOT have to take gym while that sport is going on. ...

Don't know if they intend to change it, but presently athletes can waive out of gym. In fact, you need not be involved in a D87 sport.

i'm a big fan of mandatory gym class, but I'm not a big fan of it being included in the GPA. It would be one thing if grades were based on attendance and effort, but I'm not confident that would be the case. Also, the way honors grades are weighted, I see gym waivers becoming yet another way for students at the top of the class to manipulate their GPAs - waive out of regular gym to take an alternative honors/AP class.

right now, as i understand it, only VARSITY athletes (not jr. varsity and freshman) get to opt out of gym, and that is only for the time period when the sport is being played. for instance, when varsity basketball is over in march(?) then they go back to gym. the fresh and sophs have to go to gym regardless of the fact that they have 2-3 hours of practise a day, and at least 2 games. then, when the games are during the week fresh. and sophs are on a bus by 4 for away games and don't get home til 8 or 9 o'clock. what really frosts me about this whole thing is that ALL gym was suspended for juniors and seniors during our recent 6 period day (05-06.) anyway, to put this in the GPA is just dumb all around.

Typical D87 stuff whose overriding philosophy is

A. Pay your money and shut up.
B. We're the only game in town and damn sure going to act that way.

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:

quote:

Originally posted by howdy60137:
... also, if a kid is doing ANY high school sport (at least 2 hours after school a day, sometimes 2.5 or 3!) then they SHOULD NOT have to take gym while that sport is going on. ...

Don't know if they intend to change it, but presently athletes can waive out of gym. In fact, you need not be involved in a D87 sport.

I'm SO glad someone brought this up...we've been fighting since October to get our daughter waived out of PE on the grounds that she's participating in a 6 day a week (minimum 4 hours each day) club program. Up until this year, any kid involved in something like that, be it hockey, tennis, volleyball or whatever could easily get a study hall instead of gym so that they could do homework. I am pasting the p.c. reply we received from the new head of the PE Department:


Dear ***

The health and education of every kid at Glenbard West (including ***'s) is of the utmost importance to my staff and me. We have had a period of time at West were the kids were not given the chance to work hard in Physical Education class and be held accountable for their efforts, their learning, their leadership, their fitness, and their teamwork. This is changing and *** will have the chance to experience all of this.

You and I both know with physical activity alone **** will be more alert, better focused, and learn at a higher level than if she sits in a study hall and works. Once you add the learning, leadership, fitness concepts, and teamwork to her daily schedule *** will understand we intend to make Physical Education a class where we do both physical activities and educate, helping improve her education experience at Glenbard West.

We will not exempt **** out of Physical Education and I would challenge her to not exempt out of Physical Education during **** or other sports. Just ask the girls at Naperville Central HS (I taught there the last 8 years and coach VB for 4 of the 8). THEY ALL TAKE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND THEY STILL HAVE TIME TO WIN STATE. Just think if the kids in sports stayed in Physical Education maybe more kids would like to go see a class mate play and have something to talk about in class. It has been apart of the culture at West and the level sports have been going down. We've added some new teachers in our department who are dedicated to making a change to improve your daughters education and experience at West.

I hope to have your support for the sake of helping all our kids
*****


The big change this year comes with the new head of the PE department. His goal IS to make PE mandatory next year for EVERYONE, varsity athletes included. His first step this year was to eliminate the waivers for kids participating in off-campus sports. I hadn't heard anything about it counting towards GPAs or honors PE (I'm sorry that is hysterical!), but this guy seems to have some grandiose ideas so it wouldn't be a surprise.

The way I see it, this is just a lame attempt to put the teachers agendas first. I think there has been a lessening need for PE teachers as kids find ways to opt out...by making it mandatory they'll ge to hire a few more PE teachers each year and increase their job security.

Sorry for the rambling, but this new development only makes me think that the administration is not interested in putting the kids first.

I know the new department chair and can see that we are going to butt heads.

The state law indicates that all students enrolled in Illinois High Schools must be enrolled in PE unless:

1. The student is enrolled in Health.
2. The student is enrolled in Driver's Ed.
3. The student has a religious reason for being exempt from PE.
4. The student is a junior or senior participating in a varsity level, school-sponsored sport. They must re-enroll in PE upon completion of the varsity season.

At the very least, the Glenbard schools must honor the state law. So, if your junior or senior is being told he/she must stay in PE during the varsity season, do not bow to the pressure. In my opinion, any student participating in a varsity level sport should be allowed to waive from PE during the varsity season.

I agree that some highly competitive sports held outside of school should be allowed for waivers as well.

We may have to speak up at the Board meeting.

While they are still working out the details of the PE curriculum revisions, the plan is that the GPA inclusion will not begin until next year, and current West students will not have PE factored into their GPAs. Next year's freshmen will, the following year freshmen and sophomores, etc.

gemom: is this only at west? wouldn't this have to be district wide?

as an average student, back in the day, I would of loved for PE to be averaged in my GPA. For some kids it's their only good mark.

I didn't ask, but West's Phys Ed dept. head would be able to answer that for you. You could also call Audris Griffith, the Assistant Principal for Instruction, at 630-942-7470, as she is involved in the change process.

These have to be district wide policies. I remember hearing years back that West had more PE waivers than other school. I wonder if that has any impact on the decision to make some changes. The state guidelines are pretty clear. I do not see how any district could manuever around them. As for PE being included in the GPA, I wonder how many other districts include it. Personally I do not support the idea. What if I am an honors student but not very good in PE. I show up to class, participate and have a good attitude. My PE teacher is some big jock who thinks that is not good enough. That C or B has an affect on my GPA.

So my older daughter may be safe but my younger daughter may need a pe tutor!

there was plenty of wiggle room the year of the 6 periods....