The sad state of PE in MCPS

[Anonymous]

My freshman says he sometimes uses PE to study. It seems the kids mostly just hang out goofing off. I expressed concern he would get a bad grade for lack of participation but he assured me he spoke to the teacher who said studying is an acceptable reason to not participate. He’s a student athlete and walks to/from school everyday so I’m not worried about exercise but I think it’s strange to not expect participation. On the flip side, he struggles a lot academically so it’s nice he can get in extra study time.

[Anonymous]

private schools run their middle school sports as last period of the day. The kids must get changed and participate. They play against each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh... my kid isn't into sports except one. They do it outside MCPS and get plenty of exercise. They don't need that nonsense.

Good for you, I guess.

Meanwhile, Maryland has the 10th highest childhood obesity rate in the country: https://www.mymcmedia.org/maryland-has-10th-highest-childhood-obesity-rate-in-u-s/#:~:text=In%20Montgomery%20County%2C%20the%20obesity,the%20Youth%20Risk%20Behavior%20Study.

Wonder if getting them to actually exercise during PE might help?

Doubt it but MCPS could start with healthier lunches.

My kids would prefer they be edible first.

True.

Woa! Student meals that are BOTH healthy AND edible? You trying to break the budget?!?! Why, the cost would have to go up drastically, from like $1.78 per meal to something crazy unreasonable - like $1.81. Where you think those extra 3 cents are gonna be found? In some superintendent's year end bonus? Crazy talk!

[Anonymous]

It's interesting that we're falling back on the whole brain / body duality thing in 2023 given that science is pointing us in the other direction. Descartes would be psyched, I guess, but it seems like schools have really forgotten that humans need exercise to think well. I think this is a long-run impact from the test obsession / NCLB garbage of 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

How is the state of PE in MCPS now?

[Anonymous]

They need FANS in ALL MCPS gyms!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally hated PE and am surprised that there are some who are advocates of it.

My ES kids enjoy it, so I’m fine with it for ES. Starting in MS, I think they should either replace it with a mental health break/study hall/recess. If trey insist on PE, kids who attest that they exercise should be excused.

We had a swimming module in PE in my midwest 90s HS. Humiliating.

Also hated the "tests." No, I can't climb a f-ing rope. Leave me alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the state of PE in MCPS now?

Still absolute garbage and no one is focused or interested in addressing it. Given the other areas of failure in MCPS, I understand why this isn't a top priority, but it's a serious problem because maybe if PE was real, kids would get the mental, psychological and developmental benefits that come with regularly practicing sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally hated PE and am surprised that there are some who are advocates of it.

My ES kids enjoy it, so I’m fine with it for ES. Starting in MS, I think they should either replace it with a mental health break/study hall/recess. If trey insist on PE, kids who attest that they exercise should be excused.

We had a swimming module in PE in my midwest 90s HS. Humiliating.

Also hated the "tests." No, I can't climb a f-ing rope. Leave me alone.

😂 and that pull up. Ugh. Yes leave em alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally hated PE and am surprised that there are some who are advocates of it.

My ES kids enjoy it, so I’m fine with it for ES. Starting in MS, I think they should either replace it with a mental health break/study hall/recess. If trey insist on PE, kids who attest that they exercise should be excused.

We had a swimming module in PE in my midwest 90s HS. Humiliating.

Also hated the "tests." No, I can't climb a f-ing rope. Leave me alone.

Same. Being forced to strip naked and shower in front of others, being graded on your physical ability, being groped in the mixed-sex wrestling unit. Nope. Thankfully PE wasn't included in our GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are pretty engaged in middle school PE—they do play the sports and get some exposure. Pickle ball, archery, weightlifting and volleyball were all popular, and my son liked flag football too (but my daughters hate it). Soccer and basketball were all hated because the skill differential is too large—if you’re good, it’s boring and if you’re bad, it’s embarrassing to be bad at a sport so many kids are really good at. I think one problem is that the classes aren’t gender divided, and so there are definite issues with the boys pushing out the girls in some soports. That’s one of the biggest complaints I hear.

For HS, I also think the kids seem pretty engaged in the yoga or weightlifting classes they can choose, at least.

The big problem seems to be ES — they should have PE at least 3x week, not once.

Agreed.

And I think they should revise the PE requirement in high school.

Take a PE class but YOU MUST participate OR sign up for a school sport OR take an extra health class.

This would ensure the people in PE classes are enthusiastic and want to be there vs those who don't want to be there and don't do anything.

This makes the most sense to me but allow outside sports as an exemption too.

That brings us to the problem of MCPS acknowledging that outside classes are as good or better than MCPS classes, and if you do it for PE, then why not for math and English and chemistry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally hated PE and am surprised that there are some who are advocates of it.

My ES kids enjoy it, so I’m fine with it for ES. Starting in MS, I think they should either replace it with a mental health break/study hall/recess. If trey insist on PE, kids who attest that they exercise should be excused.

We had a swimming module in PE in my midwest 90s HS. Humiliating.

Also hated the "tests." No, I can't climb a f-ing rope. Leave me alone.

And I can't solve a quadratic equation. Leave me alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the state of PE in MCPS now?

Still absolute garbage and no one is focused or interested in addressing it. Given the other areas of failure in MCPS, I understand why this isn't a top priority, but it's a serious problem because maybe if PE was real, kids would get the mental, psychological and developmental benefits that come with regularly practicing sports.

Have you been in a PE class in your life? Other than in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the state of PE in MCPS now?

Still absolute garbage and no one is focused or interested in addressing it. Given the other areas of failure in MCPS, I understand why this isn't a top priority, but it's a serious problem because maybe if PE was real, kids would get the mental, psychological and developmental benefits that come with regularly practicing sports.

Have you been in a PE class in your life? Other than in elementary school.

Yes. I have. Went through PE in middle and high school in MCPS. What is your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the state of PE in MCPS now?

Still absolute garbage and no one is focused or interested in addressing it. Given the other areas of failure in MCPS, I understand why this isn't a top priority, but it's a serious problem because maybe if PE was real, kids would get the mental, psychological and developmental benefits that come with regularly practicing sports.

Have you been in a PE class in your life? Other than in elementary school.

Yes. I have. Went through PE in middle and high school in MCPS. What is your point?

Do truly believe that weekly, or even daily, PE would give kids the "mental, psychological and developmental benefits that come with regularly practicing sports?"