Should Fat Kids Get A's In PhysEd? (high school, grade, admission)

[UnexpectedError]

The goal of gym class is not to lose weight or be fit, but to be active during that hour of the day. A person can be active for one class period a day and not graduate looking like young Arnold.

So glad my high school did not require gym.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by Fleur66

I think both of my kids have had fairly decent experiences in PE...it is graded past the elementary school level.

I went to a private religious high school. PE was held in the first year, only. The grades were based on attendance and good citizenship, so it made it possible for "non jocks" to get an A.

So, what are the criteria for grading PE in public high schools?

[calipoppy]

Originally Posted by HansProof

Of course not.

I was eating my Reese's Puffs this morning watching the news and saw a young man just about ready to graduate HS at the top of his class mention that he has had nothing but straight A's since the sixth grade? How is this possible? How can this guy who was quite overweight ace gym class??? "A" for effort?

Where was my "A" for effort in Calculus? Spent many a night doing homework till near midnight. My lesson wasn't in the simple C grade I received but a far more valuable lesson in life I took away from it. Life isn't fair, deal with it. I'm genetically dispositioned to be mildly retarded I suppose but I get by...and have done well for myself.

Out in the "real world" I wish I was hired for my education but quickly found it was more my personality as well as looks that were more advantageous. Am I wrong here? Any other experiences? And I'm in the position where I hire other employees and I like to see healthy individuals because in my mind I connect that with ambition, high spirits, intelligence, as well as self-control. If you can't even control your own body, one person, how are you going to control many? And how will those men/women see you and will they respect you? Whether this is true or not doesn't matter, it is the idea of it that will prevent a foot in the door.

I remember when I was in middle school (6-8) and our gym teacher flat out said it was impossible for any boy or girl to get an A who didn't make it to the top of the rope, over two stories up. I mean we had to climb up and slap the rafter of the gym. Didn't make it in the 6th grade but did in the 7th along with only a few others. Why? Because most nights after school before the buses arrived, I would do pull-ups in the gym. And that simple rope challenge set me on a lifelong course for healthy living and physical development. Our gym teacher didn't care about all the PC at the time, he laid it out how it was and stuck to his guns despite all the parental pressure...and I respect him for that.

Just my opinion but I think a 6:30 mile for a HS student is a very reasonable request for an "Excellence" grade. That IS what the grade stands for "Excellence." Not impossible but with work, achievable. Now I know it may be forever impossible for 5'0 tall cankle girl but thats life.

Seriously, unless you are still in elementary school, who really gives a "F" that a fat kid gets an A in PE class?

[Fleur66]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

I went to a private religious high school. PE was held in the first year, only. The grades were based on attendance and good citizenship, so it made it possible for "non jocks" to get an A.

So, what are the criteria for grading PE in public high schools?

I really have no idea, but I think participation/attitude plays a little into it. My oldest kid gets graded, she really isn't that athletic either as far as things like team sports go, but she always gets As.

[HansProof]

Originally Posted by Minnesconsinite

You seem a bit fat phobic and jealous of this intelligent overweight young man. I'm open to being wrong, but that's what it sounds like.

You begin your post by mentioning the junk food you're eating for breakfast, and end by telling us about your lifetime of fitness. In the middle, you reveal your own academic struggles.... something this young man has obviously had no problems with. And then you take a pot shot at the overweight females for good measure. "Cankle girls," huh?

Physical fitness has nothing to do with academics. Sure, there is much respect to be given to people who excel in that area. But there is much respect to be given to ANYONE who does something really well, be it someone who works hard to maintain a lean, toned body.... someone who skateboards really well.... or a chubby person who is really smart.

For him not to be honored for his hard work, over not being able to climb a rope? Like that would really be fair. I think overweight people deal with enough.

First, there is no such thing as junk food, only oversized portions. And second, I'm just saying the bar should be held even. If gym is going to be graded on effort, so should everything else, right? You can deny it barely has anything to do with life, but in the end, it has everything to do with it.

Hard work doesn't get rewarded, only results. That is the real world.

And that the rope test wouldn't be fair? My whole point is that it isn't fair...the way it should be.

We need to stop the watering down of grades. Fat kid getting an A in gym just watered down the grade of every track athlete in the school. A complete slap in the face to every athlete who has spilt blood and tears for athletic excellence. Maybe every jock should get an A in every advanced math and language course. You know, to be "fair." Why even study...everyone gets an A.

[Fleur66]

Hans...aren't there plenty of fat NFL players.

[Huckleberry3911948]

expecting reality grades in a politicized k12 system is like going to a used car dealership and expecting integrity.

[Sunnysee]

Originally Posted by HansProof

Of course not.

I was eating my Reese's Puffs this morning watching the news and saw a young man just about ready to graduate HS at the top of his class mention that he has had nothing but straight A's since the sixth grade? How is this possible? How can this guy who was quite overweight ace gym class??? "A" for effort?

Where was my "A" for effort in Calculus? Spent many a night doing homework till near midnight. My lesson wasn't in the simple C grade I received but a far more valuable lesson in life I took away from it. Life isn't fair, deal with it. I'm genetically dispositioned to be mildly retarded I suppose but I get by...and have done well for myself.

Out in the "real world" I wish I was hired for my education but quickly found it was more my personality as well as looks that were more advantageous. Am I wrong here? Any other experiences? And I'm in the position where I hire other employees and I like to see healthy individuals because in my mind I connect that with ambition, high spirits, intelligence, as well as self-control. If you can't even control your own body, one person, how are you going to control many? And how will those men/women see you and will they respect you? Whether this is true or not doesn't matter, it is the idea of it that will prevent a foot in the door.

I remember when I was in middle school (6-8) and our gym teacher flat out said it was impossible for any boy or girl to get an A who didn't make it to the top of the rope, over two stories up. I mean we had to climb up and slap the rafter of the gym. Didn't make it in the 6th grade but did in the 7th along with only a few others. Why? Because most nights after school before the buses arrived, I would do pull-ups in the gym. And that simple rope challenge set me on a lifelong course for healthy living and physical development. Our gym teacher didn't care about all the PC at the time, he laid it out how it was and stuck to his guns despite all the parental pressure...and I respect him for that.

Just my opinion but I think a 6:30 mile for a HS student is a very reasonable request for an "Excellence" grade. That IS what the grade stands for "Excellence." Not impossible but with work, achievable. Now I know it may be forever impossible for 5'0 tall cankle girl but thats life.

Sure. Effort, not achievement in Physical Ed. is what should matter, OR...the level of "improvement" from the start of the classyear till the end. There's too many variables in the health of the students to say such things as a certain grade isn't possible if someone doesn't make it to the top of the rope, for example.

I have a sis that was called twiggy in high school but coordination? She'd climb, laugh or go "ouch!" as her wrist hurt and then fall laughing, or soemthing like that.

Should Physical Ed be required for true fatties? Or just physical activity? If it should be required then it should not be allowed to preven them from scholarships, etc....after all, what IS the primary purpose or mandatory education?

Being prepared for the future, and so if something physical is required of fatties then the parameters of the grades, since the grades affect their futures should not be so restrictive.

[Ohiogirl81]

Unless you were in gym class with this kid since sixth grade, you have no business judging what grade he did or did not get because you don't know what he is or is not capable of.

[marigolds6]

I had a BMI of nearly 30 in high school. Obese by any measure.
I also ran a 5:15 mile, could do 25+ pullups, 100 pushups, was athlete of the year in our section for my sport, all-state, and got picked as one of the top 10 scholar-athletes in California.
Fat people can do very well in PE.