what do you think about this?

Question

so basically broward county florida the 5th largest school district is no longer making health and PE manatory and wants children in 8th grade to pick majors that they will study in highschool.... keep in mind thathealth class is the only place that most children will get real information on STD's and drug abuse and i dontknow about you but if i hadnt been requireed to take it then i would have never.... PE also isnt america getting fatter why make it so that you only take PE and health ifthats part of your major.... people in college dont even know what they want to do.... why make 8th graders choose that....

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-shealth09sep10,0,7297737.story?coll=sfla-news-education

Answer 1

i think that's horrible! it's true people in college don't know what they want... why let 8th graders choose a life path when they will probably wind up just folding to pressures by their families or friends?
i also hate the trend of physical education getting less and less emphasis... and health classes have gotten too political for some people i suppose... it seems like some small, vocal minority is being satisfied, but people truly thinking about the future, and wanting their kids to be successful and have their own voice, aren't speaking up enough.
i know some other countries do have trade schools kids can start attending to focus on a skill if they have no plans to go to college---like if they want to be in the arts, or in a skilled construction kind of trade. but i kind of like the liberal arts education we have here... and it seems like cutting corners to try to get kids thinking about their careers so young.

Answer 2

Sadly, this is a result of the "no child left behind" act. As funding on the federal level is determined by how well a school scores in those yearly tests, the amount of pressure to "make the grade" increases and funding has actually gone down for most districts rather than increasing as it should. Many districts, our's included, have taken larger chunks of class time for math and reading. Currently, the fourth graders here get 180 minutes of math, in the class room, a day. They get another 120 minutes of reading and comp work. That's five hours right there. An average school day is about 6 hours long. That leaves 60 minutes for lunch, history, science and extra curriculars. Music and art have been long gone in many districts. Recess has been cut to the bare minimum, if any. All that is left to go after is PE and health. And forget after school for physical fun and relaxation...the average 4th grader has nearly three hours of homework a night. We chose to take control by homeschooling our daughter, but other parents have started to work as a group to try and bring back some semblence of childhood to education. I applaud them, offer my support and hope for the kid's sake we can make a change.

Answer 3

I think you forget that the children do not live in the school 24/7.

Looks like parents will have to do their job raising their kids to be sure that they are becoming well rounded.

Why are parents complaining about the lack of P.E., it's at home that the kids are getting fat?

Parents bought their children computers, video games, movies, junk food, music and t.v.'s for their kids' rooms . . .

How can anyone complain about the lack of physical education at schools?? If parents would turn off the t.v.'s maybe the kids wouldn't be so obese.


Sounds like parents are just trying to blame their obese children on schools and not take full responsibilty for their children. Bust out a food paramid and quit taking your kids to McDonalds and a movie after.

Answer 4

I think I would get a petition going with the parents. The parents take this to the school board and request to be heard. Any problems arise go to your news area. I am sure they would like to be present when the boards are forced to answer to this. The bigger the up roar so to speak, the better coverage from news media. Do this all in a respectable manner, just make sure the point is made.

Answer 5

I believe a child's parents, guardians are responsible for providing education on sex and drugs. Neglecting their responsibility, parents and communities have placed this onnus on the public school system. There are basic health concepts that the public school system can address: cleanliness, diet, exercise. Public school systems cannot, nor should they be expected to, address every family or societal issue.

To expect, or charge, an English teacher, an American or World History teacher, a Computer Technology teacher, a kindergarten or first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, etc., etc., grade teacher, to be responsible for a child's sexual or drug behavior is ludicrous.

Answer 6

I would present a case to the school board. Children really do need PE. As far as STD's and drugs, it would probably be best if it came from you talking to your child about it.

Answer 7

I totally agree with you on this one. Maybe you and some other students should start a petition or something. I've got to let my man know this one because he is from broward county and he used to be a "jock jumper". LOL. Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

Schools are always f***ing up! This is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. You should try to get some people together to do something about this. That's terrible.

Answer 9

That's insane... we're is now getting rid of pop and candy bars and putting in juice machines, but they want to get rid of PE? No sense whatsoever!

Answer 10

you are right but i know i hated pe i was the fat kid and they made a lot of fun of me we had to take showers together ether i was so fat or i was looking at them (not)