Bullying at P.E.

[Anonymous]

While the bullying must be addressed, pulling a very overweight kid out of PE simply cannot be the right answer.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I was a skinny, tiny little kid in high school and I got teased and bullied in PE too. So, my mom did what the OP suggested, got be taken out of PE via various means. Guess what, I'm an overweight middle aged adult now.

Bullying in PE is horrible and it drives people away from sports and exercise because it makes it seem like the realm of the bullies. PE teachers are often among the worst bullies.

The OP should make sure the bullying is addressed and stopped. She, should not remove her child from PE, but should make sure there is a way for her kid to enjoy PE.

[Anonymous]

As a Deal parent considering Wilson, I'm disturbed to hear that there may be a sadistic PE teacher there. Please keep us posted on the kind of response you receive from the school, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a Deal parent considering Wilson, I'm disturbed to hear that there may be a sadistic PE teacher there. Please keep us posted on the kind of response you receive from the school, OP.

Relax and put this into perspective. OP is looking for a reason to pull student out. Maybe based on her own negative experiences?

One complaint in a school as large and high profile as Wilson is hardly an indication of sadism.

[Anonymous]

I am unclear how this is bullying? Someone told him he can't do sit ups or pull ups because he is morbidly obese and you are calling that bullying? How was he bullied?

Removing him from PE is not the answer.

[Anonymous]

It sounded like PP was upset (partly) because the PE teacher thought the mean kids were just giving encouragement. If that's ok with him, he certainly sounds like one of the tyrant-in-a-tracksuit PE teachers out there. Most PE teachers are responsible educators, but a few never moved beyond their baser jock days. Very disturbing report.

[Anonymous]

The Victoria's Secret hazers report is disturbing. Nothing teachers can do about that. OP's issue sounds more like miscommunication.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you people wake up and realize that forcing nonathletic kids to participate in team sports does not work? Your professed concern for the health of nonathletic kids is galling. You really don't care for the nonathletic kids. You only care about the athletic ones. The bullying of nonathletic kids has long been a feature of mandatory "sports only" P.E., but what do you people care? Why don't you support exercise programs instead of compulsory sports? Yeah, I'm sure, for example, that a fat boy forced to play baseball is going to get a lot of exercise as he stands out in the field waiting for the baseball to fly in his direction. Yeah, sure! How about sending these kids to health clubs where they can work with personal trainers instead of coaches who, by and large, look down on nonathletic boys as being effeminate? I ought to know what works. I'm a 63-year-old man who went through mandatory boys' P.E. and got no benefit from it at all! For several years I've been working on a bodybuilding program at a health club. I get more exercise in a single workout session with my personal trainer than I ever did in an entire YEAR of mandatory "sports only" P.E.! Those of you who support the traditional "sports only" approach in effect are mandating the bullying of nonathletic kids. You think this is the way to promote physical fitness? You're out of your minds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you people wake up and realize that forcing nonathletic kids to participate in team sports does not work? Your professed concern for the health of nonathletic kids is galling. You really don't care for the nonathletic kids. You only care about the athletic ones. The bullying of nonathletic kids has long been a feature of mandatory "sports only" P.E., but what do you people care? Why don't you support exercise programs instead of compulsory sports? Yeah, I'm sure, for example, that a fat boy forced to play baseball is going to get a lot of exercise as he stands out in the field waiting for the baseball to fly in his direction. Yeah, sure! How about sending these kids to health clubs where they can work with personal trainers instead of coaches who, by and large, look down on nonathletic boys as being effeminate? I ought to know what works. I'm a 63-year-old man who went through mandatory boys' P.E. and got no benefit from it at all! For several years I've been working on a bodybuilding program at a health club. I get more exercise in a single workout session with my personal trainer than I ever did in an entire YEAR of mandatory "sports only" P.E.! Those of you who support the traditional "sports only" approach in effect are mandating the bullying of nonathletic kids. You think this is the way to promote physical fitness? You're out of your minds!

I *hated* PE my entire life because I am terrible at sports.

Is Wilson "sports only" PE? It sounds like they are focused on personal fitness (ability of individual to do sit ups, etc)...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am unclear how this is bullying? Someone told him he can't do sit ups or pull ups because he is morbidly obese and you are calling that bullying? How was he bullied?

Removing him from PE is not the answer.

I don't think it is bullying either.

You have man boobs -- mean, maybe bullying it if is on a continual basis.
You can't do pull ups -- not bullying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am unclear how this is bullying? Someone told him he can't do sit ups or pull ups because he is morbidly obese and you are calling that bullying? How was he bullied?

Removing him from PE is not the answer.

I don't think it is bullying either.

You have man boobs -- mean, maybe bullying it if is on a continual basis.
You can't do pull ups -- not bullying.

+2. Not bullying . Kid is morbidly obese and OP says he is "sightly bigger than average" and needs to be excused from PE due to "bullying". Someone needs a wake up and it's not the school or the other kids. Bringing attention to the fact that OP's kid cannot do a sit-up is not bullying.

[Anonymous]

painful situation. You have my sympathy and compassion. You're probably not going to get much support from either the gym teacher or school leadership. At the same time, you do need to address the health needs of your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you people wake up and realize that forcing nonathletic kids to participate in team sports does not work? Your professed concern for the health of nonathletic kids is galling. You really don't care for the nonathletic kids. You only care about the athletic ones. The bullying of nonathletic kids has long been a feature of mandatory "sports only" P.E., but what do you people care? Why don't you support exercise programs instead of compulsory sports? Yeah, I'm sure, for example, that a fat boy forced to play baseball is going to get a lot of exercise as he stands out in the field waiting for the baseball to fly in his direction. Yeah, sure! How about sending these kids to health clubs where they can work with personal trainers instead of coaches who, by and large, look down on nonathletic boys as being effeminate? I ought to know what works. I'm a 63-year-old man who went through mandatory boys' P.E. and got no benefit from it at all! For several years I've been working on a bodybuilding program at a health club. I get more exercise in a single workout session with my personal trainer than I ever did in an entire YEAR of mandatory "sports only" P.E.! Those of you who support the traditional "sports only" approach in effect are mandating the bullying of nonathletic kids. You think this is the way to promote physical fitness? You're out of your minds!

Why don't you stop pulling up 2 yr old threads and work out your issues elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

What concern is it of yours what I do or say? Ever hear of freedom of speech? Isn't that what the Internet is supposed to be about? I suspect you have issues of your own to work out. Besides, the issue I've briefly dealt with in this topic didn't cease being relevant in the last two years. Far from it.

I'm more of a proponent of physical fitness than you'll ever be. You're just an intolerant sports fan who places sports above virtually everything else. I'm concerned about the latest generation of nonathletic children being subjected to the same ineffectual garbage that has typified the so-called "Physical Education" establishment for generations. I'm telling you that forcing nonathletic kids to participate in sports does not encourage them to become physically active. I've done a lot of research over the years about this issue. I seriously doubt you've even thought about it. I believe very strongly in exercise programs for the reason of helping kids to have healthy lifestyles for the purpose of not becoming obese or coming down with diabetes, etc. Apparently, you have no problem with bullying. You think you can toughen a boy by tearing him down. That's a warped philosophy. I'm telling you it doesn't work. You're also imposing your preference upon others. Since you're undoubtedly a sports fan, you believe that all boys (if not all children) should be forced to participate in sports. That's the position of a bigot. I do favor the retention of traditional "sports only" P.E. as an elective. Students who want to play on school teams should be given every opportunity to do so. I've offered a positive alternative to promote physical fitness for nonathletic kids. What have you done? Absolutely nothing. You only want to shut me up. Well, after I've posted this reply, I'll be gone so you can say what you please. There's no point in trying to have a discussion with close-minded people like you. It's like talking to a brick wall. Your approach will never encourage fat kids to lose weight or generally promote fitness among nonathletic kids. The only thing nonathletic kids learn from the sort of P.E. you support is to fear coaches and athlete classmates. In your heart you know I'm right, but you're too cowardly and intellectually dishonest to admit it.

I suspect you condone bullying. You're most likely a bully enabler. There are plenty of people like you, I'm sure. By the way, do Penn State and Steubenville make you proud as a sports fan? Do you appreciate the way many of the rape victims in those (and other) cases have been mistreated instead of receiving any moral support from people like you and other sports fans? I suspect you have issues of a far more severe nature, morally speaking. So, stop being self-righteous and deal with your own issues instead of judging people you've never met. You can have the last word, for all I care. I won't be reading it, which means that in a sense I'll have the last word. If I ever met you in real life, I wouldn't even give you the time of day. So, fire away!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What concern is it of yours what I do or say? Ever hear of freedom of speech? Isn't that what the Internet is supposed to be about? I suspect you have issues of your own to work out. Besides, the issue I've briefly dealt with in this topic didn't cease being relevant in the last two years. Far from it.

I'm more of a proponent of physical fitness than you'll ever be. You're just an intolerant sports fan who places sports above virtually everything else. I'm concerned about the latest generation of nonathletic children being subjected to the same ineffectual garbage that has typified the so-called "Physical Education" establishment for generations. I'm telling you that forcing nonathletic kids to participate in sports does not encourage them to become physically active. I've done a lot of research over the years about this issue. I seriously doubt you've even thought about it. I believe very strongly in exercise programs for the reason of helping kids to have healthy lifestyles for the purpose of not becoming obese or coming down with diabetes, etc. Apparently, you have no problem with bullying. You think you can toughen a boy by tearing him down. That's a warped philosophy. I'm telling you it doesn't work. You're also imposing your preference upon others. Since you're undoubtedly a sports fan, you believe that all boys (if not all children) should be forced to participate in sports. That's the position of a bigot. I do favor the retention of traditional "sports only" P.E. as an elective. Students who want to play on school teams should be given every opportunity to do so. I've offered a positive alternative to promote physical fitness for nonathletic kids. What have you done? Absolutely nothing. You only want to shut me up. Well, after I've posted this reply, I'll be gone so you can say what you please. There's no point in trying to have a discussion with close-minded people like you. It's like talking to a brick wall. Your approach will never encourage fat kids to lose weight or generally promote fitness among nonathletic kids. The only thing nonathletic kids learn from the sort of P.E. you support is to fear coaches and athlete classmates. In your heart you know I'm right, but you're too cowardly and intellectually dishonest to admit it.

I suspect you condone bullying. You're most likely a bully enabler. There are plenty of people like you, I'm sure. By the way, do Penn State and Steubenville make you proud as a sports fan? Do you appreciate the way many of the rape victims in those (and other) cases have been mistreated instead of receiving any moral support from people like you and other sports fans? I suspect you have issues of a far more severe nature, morally speaking. So, stop being self-righteous and deal with your own issues instead of judging people you've never met. You can have the last word, for all I care. I won't be reading it, which means that in a sense I'll have the last word. If I ever met you in real life, I wouldn't even give you the time of day. So, fire away!

doesn't make eye contact.... backs away slowly.....