Choosing teams in PE

[Anonymous]

It has come to my attention that my DC's private elementary school uses the method of having student "team captains" choose their classmates for teams in PE. DC is never picked last, as far as I know, but often does feel slighted. The boys routinely get picked before the girls. Is letting the kids pick their own teams every single PE class the norm these days, or do some schools/PE teachers regard this practice as being outmoded?

I would love to hear feedback from other parents and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has come to my attention that my DC's private elementary school uses the method of having student "team captains" choose their classmates for teams in PE. DC is never picked last, as far as I know, but often does feel slighted. The boys routinely get picked before the girls. Is letting the kids pick their own teams every single PE class the norm these days, or do some schools/PE teachers regard this practice as being outmoded?

I would love to hear feedback from other parents and teachers.

Seems fair so long as they alternate selections. Even if the teacher were to pick teams, it would be obvious that he/she is sorting for a "fair" distribution of athletic ability. It will always be clear who the stronger and weaker players are. There is more the school than PE and each kid will find ways to shine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has come to my attention that my DC's private elementary school uses the method of having student "team captains" choose their classmates for teams in PE. DC is never picked last, as far as I know, but often does feel slighted. The boys routinely get picked before the girls. Is letting the kids pick their own teams every single PE class the norm these days, or do some schools/PE teachers regard this practice as being outmoded?

I would love to hear feedback from other parents and teachers.

Seems fair so long as they alternate selections. Even if the teacher were to pick teams, it would be obvious that he/she is sorting for a "fair" distribution of athletic ability. It will always be clear who the stronger and weaker players are. There is more the school than PE and each kid will find ways to shine.

But, this picking of teams seems limited to PE. The kids do math drills with teams and the regular classroom teacher doesn't have the kids pick their own teams for this.

[Anonymous]

This practice sucks. My child was new to a school this year and was getting picked second-to-last every time. The other new kid, who was less athletic, got picked last every time.

What is the pedagogical reason for this? It just makes some kids feel bad.

[Anonymous]

This is called the PE Hall of Shame! The only way that this is okay is when the captains meet quietly in a corner to make the teams and then mix up the lists when reading them out loud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is called the PE Hall of Shame! The only way that this is okay is when the captains meet quietly in a corner to make the teams and then mix up the lists when reading them out loud.

Right, and little kids are never going to be discreet about this.

[Anonymous]

OP here - do any teachers have anything to add?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - do any teachers have anything to add?

Move to a public elementary?

[Anonymous]

I worked in one of the most woke liberal schools in the DC area and the stupid PE teachers still allowed this. I was typically in PE accompanying a sped kid or two and they are usually the most obvious victims of this archaic practice, it used to just make me cringe. Talking to the PE teachers and/or talking to the sped teachers and admin did little to rectify the situation. I gave up.

[Anonymous]

Why can’t schools have sports where everybody wins 1st place?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t schools have sports where everybody wins 1st place?

Why don’t teachers just read test scores aloud when handing back papers?

Why do people think they are clever when they aren’t?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - do any teachers have anything to add?

Move to a public elementary?

Would this practice be unusual in a public elementary these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - do any teachers have anything to add?

Move to a public elementary?

Would this practice be unusual in a public elementary these days?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Meaning yes, it would be highly unusual. This method of creating teams is not used.

[Anonymous]