| Author |
Message |
Dave (Turkish1530)
New member
Username: Turkish1530
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 8:02 pm: |       |
I am tired of telling people that I am a Physical Education and Health major and hearing their negative comments. They think that I am majoring in Physical Education because it is "easy." When in actuality it is a very demanding major. I take pride in what I have accomplished so far in the major and what I am planning on for the future. If there is anyone else who deals with (or has dealt with) these same problems how do you approach/handle it. I want to prove to people that Physical Education is extremly essential and one of the best classes every student will take. |
Bethany Rupert (Bdr0614)
Junior Member
Username: Bdr0614
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 8:26 pm: | |
I get the same thing when I mention the I am a health and PE major. Everyone thinks that all I do in my classes is play games, even though it is much more than that and we are learning through experience. I have trouble explaining how important our major is too. We only get one body, the only thing that we can call our own, and we are the profession that will teach how to take care of it. |
steve acree (Stephenpe)
Advanced Member
Username: Stephenpe
Post Number: 75
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 8:21 am: | |
There many people in society that look down on those that 1. Make less money 2. Work with
kids
These people are usually young, arrogant and have not had children of their own. I have found that as soon as someone is a parent they realize what a job it must be to deal with many children. One day you will make enough to live on and probably love your job. The bean counter or what ever will make more but probably hate their job. |
Gregory Chriest (Gchriest)
Junior Member
Username: Gchriest
Post Number: 5
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:04 pm: | |
I completely agree with you, and have recieved similar criticism. My friends all think I picked a great major because it is a breeze to graduate, get A's, and once I begin to teach all I have to do is sit and watch kids play sports. I simply tell them it is not as easy as everyone thinks it is. I say I am constantly doing work and other things to stay ahead. Tell them that the stereotypical PE teacher is exactly what we are trying to avoid. If they want to joke about your major, do not let it bother you, just enjoy the satisfaction you get from accomplishing all the things you do. |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Moderator
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 136
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 2:23 pm: | |
It is going to take some time and patience for our image to change to one of "value." When individuals who have experienced the "New PE" become adults, the tide will begin to change. Any education you can do thru your discussions with others who laugh at our profession will help. It is frustrating. The proof will be in the pudding, so to speak. They obviously do not understand what physical education encompasses. It is not just sports and dodgeball as I am sure they think it is from their past personal experience. Having quality physical education programs and involving parents, other educators and administrators will help change our image. Use school newsletters to contribute what is going on in your classroom. Keep people informed. Use newspaper and other media to showcase your projects and activities with the students. We are trying to develop healthy lifestyles...ask your laughing friends if they participate in a gym to work out or other activities. This is a part of what we are trying to teach our students. We are trying to give our students a broad education of many activities to help them maintain a healthy body that will help prevent unhealthy lifestyles and disease. Let them joke all they want. Just remember that YOU are impacting the lives of students. You make a difference. There is a clip on Def Comedy that says it all...I'm sure you've seen it in print. |
Katie Gronowick (Gronowickk)
New member
Username: Gronowickk
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Monday, October 29, 2007 - 5:29 pm: | |
I feel our image as PE teachers is already changing. I've had nothing but good comments when I mention to people that I am going to be a physical education and health teacher. Most of the people I speak with our parents and they seem to be very involved with their kids PE programs at school.
The only negative I receive is that it’s not a well paying job. I simply say I’m here to change the world not my bank account.
|
Donn Tobin (Isaid3)
Junior Member
Username: Isaid3
Post Number: 6
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 12:15 pm: | |
I want to piggy-back on what Paula said above. First of all you should understand that you are not alone. Making yourself as positive a role model for our subject area will greatly improve the image. Not allowing yourself to fall into the trap of a "gym teacher" or one who rolls the ball out so to speak.
Be proactive, make yourself a "physical education teacher", one you uses appropriate teaching practices, actually plans lessons, units, curriculum, assessments, etc... Become a member of your state AHPERD, AAHPERD, attend conferences (which are also very fun), give workshops, become involved.
I know that it is difficult right now being a major and listening to the negative comments. If you truly believe in what you are studying, then it is all worth while. |
Jason (Jayunf21)
Junior Member
Username: Jayunf21
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 12:32 pm: | |
I have to say that I receive mixed reactions when I say I am a physical education teacher. Some people say “why did you settle on becoming a PE teacher” while other people say “wow that must be really rewarding”. Unfortunately, you will always get those comments due to ignorance about physical education. It drives me crazy when people make it sound like I settled on becoming a physical education teacher. Before becoming a physical education teacher, I was a successful personal trainer and people look at me like I am crazy because I gave it up to become a teacher. I love my job, and I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else! Even though the pay is a lot less than what I was making as a personal trainer, I obviously don’t do it to become wealthy. I love working with kids and teaching physical education!
My wife is actually funny about it, because she gets furious when people say anything when she says I am a physical education teacher. She usually goes off, because she has seen what type of teacher I am. She came to my high school a bunch of times as part of a workshop, and she got to see my classes first hand.
After teacher/parent night, usually all of the parents are amazed at what their children are learning and doing in my class. Parents and other teachers are constantly amazed at the planning and work involved in creating a quality physical education course. In my school, it’s common to see teachers sitting outside watching my classes exercise and participate in lessons during their planning periods.
I agree what someone said in this post about the “New PE”. Once everyone is familiar with the way physical education is taught now, their views will change about physical education and physical education teachers.
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Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Intermediate Member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 40
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 1:42 pm: | |
I would take the comments by Paula and Katie to heart. PE is changing and we are in the midst of an unprecedented opportunity to enhance the quality of many lives for a very long time.
My response to people who questioned my profession was that, in the midst of an economy crushing health crisis in the U.S. (and rest of the world) that doing what I do gives me the chance to have a direct effect of the health and future of those most in need. Being a quality physical educator gave me a chance to fix the pyramid from the bottom up....maximum number of lives re-directed. Knowing what we now know about the value of physical education in terms of improving emotional health, cognition, physical health, memory/recall, etc. gives us multiple opportunities to integrate ourselves with the rest of education, in a much more positive fashion than we have in the past. Take advantage of that. All teachers have a beneficial result on children, but being a physical education is special, because physical activity really does have more comprehensive effects on children. Never forget that you are very special in the lives of children in ways that no one else is or can be. |
Bill Nguyen (Bxn4205)
Junior Member
Username: Bxn4205
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 8:08 am: | |
You are not alone. People would always joke when they found out I was a Physical Education major. They would always ask why? or tell me you are never going to get a job because they are cutting P.E. programs across the country. I do believe that Physical Education is highly competitive but so are other teaching positions and I want to become a Physical Education instructor because I want to make a difference in my students' lives. I want to make change and eliminate our society's problems. The people outside our profession don't know the importance and sometimes you would need to defend your profession by showing them the importance of Physical Education. If you don't show them the importance, then they will never know. |
Courtney Hills (Cnh3585)
New member
Username: Cnh3585
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 11:09 am: | |
I must say I get a little irritated everytime people try to tell me that the Physical Education major is "easy." I also get upset when they tell me it's going to be so difficult to find a job. I chose this major because I too want to make a difference in society. I completely agree with you when you say we have to show them how important Physical Education really is because sometimes people just assume that we don't need it. |
Bryan Erwine (Berwine)
Junior Member
Username: Berwine
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 7:09 am: | |
I just present people with what the research supports. Regular bouts of physical activity has been linked to better attendance, less outbursts in class, increased cognitive function, higher self confidence, better test scores on standardized testing, less health problems, decreased risk of heart disease by 80%, etc.... Take your pic, we are changing the face of America one child at a time. Those who question it had gym class, not physical education. It's a new era for physical educators and we should be proud of that. |
Brent Gates (Bgates12)
New member
Username: Bgates12
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2010
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 10:16 am: | |
As physical educators we have to maintain a level of professionalism even when our jobs are attacked by others, which tends to happen often. Do not pick fights, or take part in the arguments, but rather let research speak for itself in regards to a direct relationship between physical education and learning ability. Physical activity leads to better performance in the classroom. Also, just allow the way you handle yourself and class speak for itself. The only way the stereotype will be lifted from PE is if the physical educators take necessary steps to change it. |
Becky Gruver (Gruverb)
New member
Username: Gruverb
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2010
| | Posted on Monday, November 08, 2010 - 9:57 am: | |
I also hear from parents "How can you fail PE?" I like to inform my parents that we have more district assessments than anyone else and it is not good enough to just dress out and expect to get an A. |
Jennifer Sattele (Jrgjazz)
Junior Member
Username: Jrgjazz
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - 11:52 am: | |
Well said Bgates 12! I have been a health and physical education teacher for 11 years. Over those years I have gotten good and bad feedback from parents, students, family and friends. I have learned to take the bad in stride. It pushes me to an even better job with my students. As long as you know what you are doing to give students a better life that is all that matters! |
Chris Landry (Landry31)
New member
Username: Landry31
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2011 - 10:01 am: | |
I think that Physical Education should stay in the high school environment. I know personally in my school students are required to take one year of PE classes but lately they are making a push to make it so that its no longer mandatory. I feel that it should still be part of the high school graduation curriculum because some of the material you learn in PE class opens students up into different areas of job careers like athletic training, teaching, physical therapists, etc. |
Stefanie Webber (Swebber)
New member
Username: Swebber
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2012
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 - 11:45 am: | |
I completely agree. I think that it is important to be a positive role model for your students. It is important to get the students to realize that they are being held accountable for the work that they are doing in PE. I also think it is so important to be a part of your state associations to keep current with new ideas and lessons that will engage students. It also allows you, as a teacher, to network with other educators. Don’t worry about what everyone else says. Do what you know to be the best practices in PE. |
Stefanie Webber (Swebber)
Junior Member
Username: Swebber
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2012
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 - 11:48 am: | |
I completely agree. I think that it is important to be a positive role model for your students. It is important to get the students to realize that they are being held accountable for the work that they are doing in PE. I also think it is so important to be a part of your state associations to keep current with new ideas and lessons that will engage students. It also allows you, as a teacher, to network with other educators. Don’t worry about what everyone else says. Do what you know to be the best practices in PE. |
Karen Renaud (Wonderwoman)
Junior Member
Username: Wonderwoman
Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2012
| | Posted on Friday, June 01, 2012 - 11:42 am: | |
I like to tell my students that what they learn in Math class may help them get the job of their dreams but what they learn in my Wellness class may save their lives. We have to advocate for ourselves. We are teaching so many life skills ranging from how to care for your precious health to cooperation with other human beings. And, of course, since there is an obsession with standardized testing... we can share with our students, parents, colleagues and administrators that healthy, active kids make better learners. If you want to feel good about what we do in terms of academic performance, read: SPARK, books by Carla Hannaford, Eric Jensen, or Paul Dennison... just for starters. We could easily argue that PE/Wellness is the most important class of the day. No joke!
(Message edited by wonderwoman on June 01, 2012) |
Ryan Schenk (Schenk24)
New member
Username: Schenk24
Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2012
| | Posted on Monday, July 09, 2012 - 3:17 pm: | |
I have been teaching for about 10 years now. As someone told me one time, sometimes P.E. teachers are their own worst enemies. I am sure that all of us know or remember a P.E. teacher who just sat and did the whole "roll out the ball" routine. I have tried to break the stereotype personally but it is so hard to do. So many times when I was in school I had to defend my class and career choice and I am not sure many other majors have to deal with that. Treasure the teachers, staff and parents that truly value what we do because sometimes they are hard to find.
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Thomas Butts (Tom_b)
Junior Member
Username: Tom_b
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2012
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 11:06 am: | |
It is definitely not a great time to be any educator in the public educational system. Until the economic and political environment improves we will have to fight the good fight. We, as Physical Educators have been fighting this perception since before I started teaching 14 years ago. On the good side, most of the feedback that I have received lately from parents has been positive. I think most parents realize that most of our programs are not just rolling out the balls any more. |
Thomas Butts (Tom_b)
Junior Member
Username: Tom_b
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2012
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 11:10 am: | |
It is definitely not a great time to be any educator in the public educational system. Until the economic and political environment improves we will have to fight the good fight. We, as Physical Educators have been fighting this perception since before I started teaching 14 years ago. On the good side, most of the feedback that I have received lately from parents has been positive. I think most parents realize that most of our programs are not just rolling out the balls any more. |
Thomas Butts (Tom_b)
Junior Member
Username: Tom_b
Post Number: 5
Registered: 8-2012
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 11:13 am: | |
It is definitely not a great time to be any educator in the public educational system. Until the economic and political environment improves we will have to fight the good fight. We, as Physical Educators have been fighting this perception since before I started teaching 14 years ago. On the good side, most of the feedback that I have received lately from parents has been positive. I think most parents realize that most of our programs are not just rolling out the balls any more. |
