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I guess my kids are weird taking 4 years of foreign language and music. But, should they have to choose between this and summer school so they can take PE?
Speaking of kids, and physical activity, and GE Fan... Our nine year old was playing lazer tag this past weekend. The game requires players to choose a nick name.
"Dad," he said with pride, "I am GE Fan!"
Should I be concerned?!
As for PE and grades - yes if on participation effort, which includes changing fast and getting in at least 30 minutes of activity. In additon, PE teachers are have only between 0 and 4 years of service before they move up the ladder to teach academics. They are enthusiastic while learning the ropes, they can relate to the kids and motivate them, they are paid on the low end of the scale, and they can, in most cases, actively participate in the class. Win - win.
Originally posted by GE Fan: Don't you mean the parents who want their kids to take more classes.
If it really is the kid...then that was the kid who I usually targeted for a head shot in bombardment.
Good for a clever quip, but you'll see when your kids get to West. With the 7 class limitation your kids are quite limited in their ablity to try out electives outside of their core classes - especially if they want to be in band/chorus/orch. Next to no opportunity to take something like an art class, or creative writing - even if pass/fail just for the experience.
(Not to mention that inexcusable 6 period exercise!)
One of my kids loves foreign language and orchestra -- one of those could end up being at least a minor in college. As far as that kid was concerned, those two courses were not negotiable. Add in Math/Science/Social Studies/English and you're at 6 classes. Add in a mandatory PE class and the day is full. No time left for any other exploration. Things get really tricky when you try to fit in the required semester of speech and the semester of business/life studies/technology. Fortunately for us, our kids are done at West, so the issue is only theoretical for us.
By the way, the above musician is a tennis player and would probably enjoy pegging GE Fan on the tennis court.
One thing I found frustrating was when my child took drivers ed outside of school and was required to take 2 semesters of gym sophomore year, the freaking gym class was IDENTICAL.
The preference would of been to take an elective and 2 weeks into the 2nd semester he/she said "I understand the need for gym class but to repeat the same exact course has no benefit except to enrage me!"
Originally posted by GE Fan: If my kid were faced with the option of gym class or AP Spanish, and was forced to take gym, I would have a HUGE problem with it....in fact, in 8 years, I might have a huge problem with it.
Yeah - I forgot about language. One of my kids very much wanted to take 4 years of language - and is continuing it as a minor in college and plans to study abroad for a summer program. That kid quit band in order to continue in language. My other 2 kids showed at leas some interest in taking more than 2 years of language, but found it the easiest thing to drop so that they could continue in music.
quote:
Originally posted by Shore Thing: Sounds like several good arguments for a longer school day. I'm sure the teachers union would love that one.
Funny, isn't it, how the local board and union seem eager to compare our schools to the most prestigious districts when it comes to compensation, but not so much when it comes to the educational opportunities offered. I would love to hear what a parent in the New Trier district would say if their kid were prohibited from taking more than 7 (or 6!) classes.
I think that pe grades should be based on pencil paper tests or assignments in order to avoid grades being influenced by teacher opinion of a student or athletic ability.
Posts: 581 | Location: glen ellyn Illinois usa | Registered: April 05, 2003
Waivers should be given to all athletes who compete in a sport in OR outside of school 3 times a week or more. PE should be longer, harder and more serious. With all this talk of healthcare reform, how about reforming the importance of teaching our children how to live a healthier more active life. In the big scheme of things, playing an instrument is fabulous and can help with stress reduction later in life but learning to exercise regularly will have a much more dramatic effect for our children's quality of life and longevity.
I was able to easily get my son taken out of driver's ed for this sememster (he took it over the summer) but.....when I asked if he could take an elective rather than an additional semester of PE his counselor said that wasn't possible and that it was a state law. What a waste of time!
