The Observation Deck

I received my 8th graders schedule in the mail yesterday and was surprised to see that he was no longer scheduled for a gym class. I assumed it was a scheduling error but in talking to another parent I found that gym is now part of their rotating schedule. Although I am still perplexed because while my friends's child had gym listed as a class later in the year, my son did not.

Personally my children are active. They participate in sports, ride bikes, go for walks, jump on the trampoline and as I said are active. I worry about other children who are not. As it stood gym was only on the schedule two days a week, which I felt was not enough. Children need to move, they need to be active. I am perplexed as to why gym is not a year long class.

Does anyone know the history of why this decision was made? Growing up in California we had PE five days a week all through middle school and high school. It was a requirement that couldn't be waived. In this day and age of obesity having kids be less active doesn't sound like a good idea.

I think the crux of it really is instruction time. They always want more of it. And you don't get tested on standardized test for fitness.

My daughter is at Emerson, and they rotate gym, art, and music. They also do not get gym all year round. And when they have it, it is only twice a week. These all used to be separate classes/instruction time when I went to school.

I guess I am ok with it because at least they still have recess in elementary school. And I want them to get some art and music time instead of nothing at all if they had to do gym all year long.

I do share your concerns about activity levels in children though. The whole thing make me sad.

I realized I should have clarified that my middle school children have always had music three days a week and gym the other two days during the week. This year on my 8th grader's schedule where gym usually is it says "Music SHAll 8". Apparently that is music study hall. He already has band three days a week, so not sure why he has a music study hall. The middle schoolers do have other rotating classes such as consumer science, tech future (computer class), health and art. So really the only thing lacking now is gym. I do know that Mr. Lewis, one of the Harding gym teachers, retired this year and I am not sure if this has something to do with the schedule. I will be calling the school on Monday to see why gym is not on the schedule and I will report back here.

I was just hoping that someone here knew what was going on, wasn't sure if I missed a memo at the end of last school year.

What did you find out? No gym at all for the 8th graders?

Looking at Patrick's schedule (garfield) he has gym 2nd quarter a 3rd period. Personally I am ok with it, but that is because I have a special needs child who hates gym class and struggles with it. We do more with him at home.

I don't remember there being a memo or anything said about it.

Danielle Masters wrote:I received my 8th graders schedule in the mail yesterday and was surprised to see that he was no longer scheduled for a gym class. I assumed it was a scheduling error but in talking to another parent I found that gym is now part of their rotating schedule. Although I am still perplexed because while my friends's child had gym listed as a class later in the year, my son did not.

The school day should be 8 hours long plus one hour for lunch and include gym and art and music. The need to do well on tests does not obviate the need for physical activity and arts education.

Just to offer some historic perspective:
I was at Emerson Middle School from September 1991 to June 1994.

Gym was a 3-quarter-per-year class at that time. The remaining 1 quarter was Health.
Music had a designated period of the school day. Students who were not in a music class had a study hall for 3 quarters and 1 quarter of "General Music" which, to the best of my knowledge, was sitting in a room listening to and discussing music.
Art was a 1 quarter class, in a rotation with 1 quarter of Home Economics, 1 quarter of computer class (ahh, the simple days of typing, Carmen Sandiego and Oregon Trail) and, in 6th grade, 1 quarter of a foreign language OR in 7th or 8th grade, 1 quarter of some kind of shop.

However, this was a time of tumultuous levies. A failed levy during or shortly after 8th grade led to the elimination of the high school's 9th period. I don't know what happened at the middle school level.