| Author |
Message |
joe dunn
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:28 pm: |       |
I want to know how many of you allow your students to call the class "gym or P.E." I believe by pushing the kids to call it physical education we send a strong message. I would like to know more physical educator's beliefs on this subject.
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Gwen Pribble
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:30 pm: | |
P.E. Forum: RE: "gym or P.E."
I have always asked/requested that the class be referred to as P.E./Phys. Ed./Physical Education.
Why? Because I do not teach about the "gym"---I teach about how to move more efficiently, how the skeletal system is designed to work. I told my Principal, when she 1st arrived that I am a teacher and my subject is Phys. Ed.. I slowly taught all to refer to my class by its proper name vs the slang.
gpribble4@home.com
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Michael Miller
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:31 pm: | |
My students mainly refer to physical education class as gym class. My classes are truly more than just gym class. I explain to my students just what physical education class truly entails. I have often defined physical education to my students. I now believe they all know what physical education class involves as well as what it means to be physically fit. They sometimes call me "Mr. Gym" though.
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Matt Johnson
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:32 pm: | |
I want my students to call my subject physical education, PE, Phys. Ed., or the like because my goal as a physical educator is to educate the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective aspects of children not teach them about gym. The term gym seems to imply that our job is to teach them about the gymnasium instead of sports, social responsibility, fair play and physical activity. Itâs not wrong for students, teachers, parents, and administrators to call a PE teacherâs subject gym class. They do this (probably) because they have not been told differently (i.e., they have always known PE as gym). Our job as physical educators is to inform students, teachers, parents, and administrators about PE and of our goals as PE teachers. Then, we must implement a worth while program (appropriate content) that is beneficial to ALL students. If we can be successful in this aspect people will begin to understand why we call it Physical Education instead of gym.
Matt Johnson
Physical Education Teacher Certification Major
Kent State University
mkjohnso@kent.edu
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Gwen Pribble
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:34 pm: | |
In response to this question.......most people, including classroom teachers, believe referring to Phys Ed as "Gym"...is not and should not be viewed as a putdown or as a devaluing of...that instead it probably came from the words "Gymnasium or Gymnastics". Untrue my friends........for I have done a bit of research on this and found that: At the very first Olympics the word/term gym was used in reference to and is actually means; "in the nude". Ta Ta
Solution to the "Gym" dilemma!
I taped a documentary of the 1st Olympics...a PBS special.
Gwen Pribble
So, all may stand corrected and may correct all, for we do not want to speak of nudity at school. Right? Right. |
Melody Johnson
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:35 pm: | |
When I read this question I had to respond. I am currently student teaching so I am not yet a real teacher, but I strongly agree that we are physical educators and we do not teach a gym. We teach P.E. I think it is important for the students to realize this as well as other teachers. We are not just here to play, but we are educating and having fun at the same time. Therefore it is physcial education not gym! |
baby gaynor rico repayo
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:36 pm: | |
I agree with you Melody, PE is a subject taught in school and it should be addressed as PE just like the other subjects such as English, Science et. Gym is the venue for PE.
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Anonymous
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:36 pm: | |
The most pressing issue is not what we call our class but the quality of teaching and are all students achieving.... I've seen some really fancy names Exercise Science, Movement Performance, Physical Education ... but the fancy names don't hide the poor quality in some of these schools (programs). I say you call your class what you want and focus on what's going on from day to day and you will make your program, regardless of what you call it, something all of your students will be proud of ...
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mikespe
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, February 03, 2005 - 7:17 am: | |
In all of my letters/correspondences home I use "physical education" however the kids may use the term "gym". I agree with the Anonymous poster that the name is just a cover. Its what's inside that counts. The majority of my students all look forward to coming to "gym" and that is all that matters to me.
Plus many people use the term "physical education" inappropriately. Many feel that PE should be ALL physical activity. I tend to focus more on the "education" portion of "physical education". For it is in the education part that the students take home with them to hopefully lead them to lifelong physically active lifestyle.
Michael Rogala
Rochester City School District
www.mikespe.com |
Dustin Lungo
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 6:35 pm: | |
I am a physical education teacher and that is how I introduce myself in greetings or with mail sent home in the community. Sometimes though, my kids will ask when we will be doing certain activities in "gym class" - probably learned from a parent that called it gym during their school days. To me I am not bothered by it at all. I would be bothered if my program had no substance...kids were not learning, becoming less fit, or disliked P.E. or "GYM". As I keep working hard and doing my best to reach students, parents, and the community, hopefully the term Physical Education will be used to describe me and my program. My heart will not be broken though, if PE is called "GYM" from time to time (or is it Health and Fitness, Neuro-kinesiology, Physical Activity/Movement Class, etc.?). I'll use my energy on something more productive. |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Junior Member
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 12
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 5:52 am: | |
I'm with you Dustin. It takes time to make changes. I'm more concerned with my content than title. If one gets offended everytime the word gym or gym teacher is used, positive energy is wasted on semantics. Evolution is not an overnight event! It is very clear in my communications that I teach physical education and that I am a physical educator. |
Dianne Dunn
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 12:15 pm: | |
I have always stressed Physical Education as the class and that they are IN A gym. Gym is a room and you cannot teach a room, you teach Physical Education. I have converted most of the teachers in this elementary school to call it PE as well. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 8:59 am: | |
I think it is about time that we as physical educators be strong advocates for the importance of our curriculum for the total education of the child. So let's call it what it really is and that is Physical Education. We need to gain the respect of all teachers for our programs. |
Anonymous
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 8:49 am: | |
You go to the CLASSROOM to learn about science, not the CLASSROOM. You go to the GYM to learn about PE, not the GYM. We are stuggling daily to have PE treated just as any other of the core subjects, and No Child Left Behind leaves us behind. So, it is important that we do what we can, even the little things. We all know that people judge a book by its cover. Physical Education vs. using the word GYM to describe our subject should be of our concern if we want to be taken seriously. Perhaps asking yourself if you actually take your subject seriously enough to be recognized as a core subject would give you a more clear perspective on this topic and whether it is important. |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
New member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 10:57 am: | |
I agree with Paula that content is significantly important, but we should not see this as an either-or issue. The development of content based/standards based curriculum is our first priority. That being said, image is something that we always have to deal with and something that constantly needs improvement. So let's ask our kids and our colleagues to refer to us as to what we are, physical education/educators. The report card does not say "Gym" it says "Physical Education". A gym is where we teach, but then we don't always teach in a gym either. Be the very best teacher you can be, but be a physical education teacher, not a "gym" teacher. |
Helenabaert
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 7:35 pm: | |
Hi There, I am looking for good PE report cards for elementary. Can anybody share some ideas? |
Neil Kassinger (Kasnei34)
Junior Member
Username: Kasnei34
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 9:09 am: | |
Helenabaert I was just wondering what are you asking when your talking about PE report cards??what is a PE report card??? I kno that A report card has grades on it but your question is to vague!! give me some more info on what you are asking and I wil post u back!!! |
Karen Carlson (Carlka)
New member
Username: Carlka
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:23 am: | |
Our school is developing a new report card for "specials" (art, music, phys ed) grades 3-5. I would greatly appreciate hearing about other schools' physical education report cards. I would also be willing to pay for postage if someone would kindly send me their school's document. Currently, physical fitness, gross motor, sportsmanship, works independently, works in a group, follows directions, follows rules and effort are graded on a scale of 1-3 at our school. 3 means student exceeds expectations. 2 means student meets expectations and 1 is below expectations. The report is sent out three times a year. The categories we grade are ok, I think. But the scale seems inappropriate. For example, I have a hard time qualifying/quantifying behavior that results in a 3 for following directions. Below expectations is easy. Thoughts and guidance on this issue would be appreciated.
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Annette Spagnuolo
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 4:12 pm: | |
My kids all use “Gym Class,” as well as other teachers and administration. And to be perfectly honest, it bugs me beyond belief. I think that when people hear “Gym Class” they get a negative connotation of what our class is all about. Some see our class as one that has no curricular substance and that we just “roll out the ball.” I want to change the way people think about PE and if that means I have to start with a name change, then I think it is worth it. |
George V Harnick (Gharnick)
New member
Username: Gharnick
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 4:46 pm: | |
Hi Annette!!!
My classes use "Gym Class" as well as my mentor teacher. It also bugs me. I spent my entire time at the middle school level correcting my students that it is PE, and not Gym. However, the community that I am teaching is does not consider PE to be a non-important class. In fact, PE is very very important to them and they will tell you so! HAHA I wish to change how many other people think as well. I guess that if your program is good enough, you can call it anything that you want including Gym.
Not to railroad the topic with a question but, What does anyone else think?
George |
Rebekah Maddox (Maddoxre)
New member
Username: Maddoxre
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 9:36 am: | |
Physical Education should not be called "gym class". I feel that there are teachers that actually take the time to educate the students and assess them and therefor it should be called Physical Education. The gym is the place where we educate them and even this is sometimes not the case for the less fortunate. |
Rebekah Maddox (Maddoxre)
Junior Member
Username: Maddoxre
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 9:40 am: | |
I feel that we may never get away from students calling Physical Edcuation "gym class". This is not necessarily a bad thing as long as the students realize that they are there to be educated and to not just play. As long as you refer to it as Physical Edcuation the students will eventually follow. |
Estee Adery (Ejadery1)
New member
Username: Ejadery1
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 10:39 am: | |
With time, and our help, "GYM" will not be the stereotypical name for Physical Education. With the steps we are taking, Physical Education might even be called Kinesiology or Lifelong Fitness. It is up to us as Physical Educators to make this change. Look at how dodge ball is currently viewed. Very different connotation than years ago. Our domain is everchanging and each one of us plays such an important role. A Physical Educator I worked with once said, "I teach IN a gym. I don't teach gym. I teach you how to be physically educated IN a gym." She would usually respond with this phrase when students asked, "What are we doing in gym today?"
To me the term "gym" has a negative connotation. It reminds me of the past. Anytime I hear a student refer to Physical Education as "gym." I correct them. |
Jeanne O'Brien (Obrien38)
New member
Username: Obrien38
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 7:38 am: | |
I am proud to say that where I am currently student teaching, almost everyone referes to physical education as "FIT FOR LIFE." Even the maps of the school have the gymnasium labled as "Fit for Life", and the children, teachers, and administrators refer to it as "Fit for Life." Some of the older teachers will occasionally forget, but it is the students that remind them that it is not gym, it is "Fit for Life." I truely believe that it is critical to the success of any physical education program for the students, teachers, and administrators to refer to physical education as what it is, not gym! I agree that the term "gym" has a negative connotation, and if we are going to continue to improve and advocate the importance of physical edcation, then we must have students, teacehers, and adminstrators know it as P.E, Physical Education, Fit For Life, Lifelong Fitness, etc. |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Moderator
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 57
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 12:33 pm: | |
Very nice, Jeanne!
I always tried to get people to recognize what I taught as physical education in the gym, but if they called it "gym" I didn't take their head off. Old habits are difficult to change and often they would self correct. The only place I always corrected, was when the principal would err...and he did often, in more ways than one...LOL. I didn't mind so much what they called it as long as when they were in my class, they participated in physical education. |
Ryan Curl (Ryan_curl)
New member
Username: Ryan_curl
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 4:34 pm: | |
I agree with the majority on this topic. I find myself making corrections to the students calling it "gym" class, repeating "this is physical education class, gym (Jim) is a name of someone or where P.E. class takes place." I try to call class anything but "gym"- I tell students this is a physical activity class, not sitting in the living room knitting with your gandma class, so it should be called accordingly. When I hear someone call it "gym" class, I automatically think of some overweight, extremely aged, chain smoking, football coach wearing spandex and "rolling out the ball". It annoys me when I tell people what I teach and get returned with "oh, you mean gym teacher" response- No, I mean I am a physical education teacher, nothing "gym" about it. |
Ann Mottern (Ann_mottern)
New member
Username: Ann_mottern
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 12:53 pm: | |
I refer to my class as PE and my teaching facility as the PE room. It is not a gym but just a big room about the size of two regular sized classrooms with a regular height ceiling, or actually a slightly lower than regular height ceiling. It really annoys me when teachers refer to it as "the gym" because it is nothing close to a gym to me. When I hear this, I nearly always will say something like "Gee, I WISH I had a gym!"
I also request that my students do not call me "Coach." I USED to be an athletics coach when I coached girls athletics in junior high and high school but I am now a PE teacher and I do see a difference in the two. I have found in the past that some students who use the term "Coach" in referring to the PE teacher really never learn the teacher's real name or they think that the teacher's name is really Coach. I learn all of their 570 names (I teach all 1st and 2nd grade students in my school district) so I feel that they should be able to learn my name as well. I would much rather be called Mrs. Mottern than "Coach." I feel this puts me on the same professional level as my classroom teacher peers.
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steve acree (Stephenpe)
Advanced Member
Username: Stephenpe
Post Number: 82
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 6:37 am: | |
Details details. They call me coach. As long as we all respect each other it works.
What is a gym. Never had one in 27 years.
It is PE where ever I teach. |
Steve Landsberg (Sland10)
Junior Member
Username: Sland10
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 5:37 pm: | |
I am assuming that most of the posts here are from the US as over here in Australia we don't have the problem of kids calling it GYM. Some of the kids here call it "sports" as in "what are we doing for sports today?". I simply just say that "in PE we are doing...."
Our Education Department has it classified too:
Physical Education is done with a qualified PE Teacher.
Physical Activity is when the kids are doing anything that involves them moving i.e. recess play and games with the class teacher
Sports is when you are playing an organised game against another team/school.
Here we also have issues with getting the respect and recognition as a important teaching area and FINALLY our state government has just last month mandated a law that requires all our Primary and Secondary children to have a designated amount of Physical Activity per day. Note the wording states "Physical Activity" and refer to the above definitions from our Education Department.... hmmm? |
Jake Riley (Jr19)
Junior Member
Username: Jr19
Post Number: 4
Registered: 9-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 1:38 pm: | |
Physical Education is what Physical Educators should push for their class to be called. I do not believe "gym" is an acceptable name for our classes, in agreement with most of the people that have posted. We should discourage the course to be called "gym" because the name should be what we teach, not one of the places we teach it at. |
Sarah J. Rush (Coachrush)
Junior Member
Username: Coachrush
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 5:43 pm: | |
I have been teaching for 22 years. Both in the classroom and in the gym, in grades K-12, coaching and academics. This year, my first back in elementary PE in 10 years, I gave the "gym" a new name PELL , the Physical Education Learning Lab. What really angers me is those who think that PE teachers don't have to go to college or that we are just the "baby sitters" while they get to plan and have conferences. |
Jim Greci (Jimgreci)
Junior Member
Username: Jimgreci
Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 9:18 pm: | |
When I tell people what I do I always make a point of saying I am a "Physical Education teacher," not a p.e. teacher. I refer to my class as Physical education, not gym class, but I don't take it very personally because the true test comes from those that honestly evaluate your teaching, not what title it is referred to. |
Alee Kromer (Alee_kromer)
New member
Username: Alee_kromer
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 1:06 pm: | |
I believe it should be referred to as Physical Education. As physical educators we are fighting for importance in schools. If we refer to ourselves as "gym teachers" I feel this dumbs down and lessens the importance of our class when in reality it is just as important as any of the other subjects. |
Melissa Wolfe (Mwolfe23)
Junior Member
Username: Mwolfe23
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2012
| | Posted on Monday, September 24, 2012 - 6:10 am: | |
Jim, I completely agree with you. I refer to myself as a physical education teacher, and my class as physical education class. However, I don't get upset if someone calls it gym class or if the students call it gym class. As long as they are coming to class and learning about being physically fit and getting exercise, I really don't care what they call it. It's more about what they are getting out of it, than what it is called. |
Carmen Lugo (Iam4pe)
Junior Member
Username: Iam4pe
Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2012
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2013 - 7:25 pm: | |
I tell my students and co-workers, Physical Education is what I teach, the gymnasium is where it takes place! |
