Gym Class Woes

The article, Unbearable Lessons: Contesting Fat Phobia, really addresses an issue that almost every child uncomfortable with their bodies has felt. Whether they are fat, skinny, or just average sized, gym class is awkward enough as is, and on top of that, they also have to go out and try new sports they've never tried before. At a time where most girls' bodies are changing physically, they now have to be publicly weighed in front of the opposite sex and demonstrate their physical prowess, or lack thereof.
I attended public school my whole life and experienced all of this, as did many. Just the pure mention of P.E class made me shudder to think of the slew of embarrassing activities we were all forced to do. More education and sensitivity has to be put into how P.E classes are run. Students should be taught how to better themselves in sports instead of just being tossed blindly into an activity where many fail and few flourish. The usual procedure surrounding sports in P.E is choosing a sport of the day and letting the students learn how to play it on their own. Some know how to play; other stand timidly on the outskirts of the field hoping that no one comes their way. Teachers should also listen to the woes and the concerns of the students instead of following the standard procedures. If middle school and high school P.E teachers gave out the same critique sheet college students get at the end of their courses, they could hear how awkward and troubled some students feel and figure out a way to change that. Even just the little things like making weigh-ins and physical fitness tests less public would make the students feel less humiliated. If P.E classes were tailored just right, it could become a meaningful class for students instead of just being an alternative to academic classes. It could teach students healthy eating habits, how to exercise correctly and understand that bodies come in all different sizes. They could then take this advice and use it when they are encountering those moments of self-consciousness.

Charlene Chang
KIN 338-01
T & Th 9:30-10:45