London 2012

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London 2012; Olympics Time
Tweet Topic Started: Jul 18 2012, 02:50 PM (4,363 Views)
Setenza	Aug 9 2012, 11:18 PM Post #61
Knitting with only one needle Posts: 6,057 Group: Admin Member #7 Joined: September 10, 2010	Boris wants 2 hours PE per day. What's the use of people with little or no interest in PE being made to do it at the expense of other learning? Ok, it's just olympics cashing in from a politican, but along with the unsurpising fact that a lot of the winners come from private school, who just happen to have the best facilties and coaches, it seems especailly pointless.



Clarkie	Aug 9 2012, 11:32 PM Post #62
Mac an t-stronaich Posts: 717 Group: Members Member #12 Joined: September 10, 2010	Well in the more socialist nation of Scotland 70% of the jocks on the medal table were educated by the State the biggest shock is that the show jumping fellow went to state school, maybe every council kid in london should get to try showjumping. But your sentiment is the correct I grew up on an island and my school didn't even have a swimming pool my parents being poor crofters robbed me of my 200m butterfly gold medal. Edited by Clarkie, Aug 9 2012, 11:36 PM.



findus	Aug 10 2012, 02:00 AM Post #63
Jerry Kerr Posts: 4,444 Group: Members Member #2 Joined: September 10, 2010	Clarkie Aug 9 2012, 11:32 PM But your sentiment is the correct I grew up on an island and my school didn't even have a swimming pool my parents being poor crofters robbed me of my 200m butterfly gold medal. Bloody liberty takers! I'd be marching/herding on Whitehall if I were you, Clarkie Being well out of school and completely unaffected, I agree with Mad Commodore Boris that kids should ~~be forced into daily 2-hour long PTSD-inducing gymnastic and swimming drills~~ have the opportunity to do 2 hours of P.E. a day if that's what they want to do, on the proviso that schools are given the additional resources (paid expertise, equipment, facilities) required to meet demand. Which is highly unlikely. Edited by findus, Aug 10 2012, 02:01 AM.



TheDean	Aug 10 2012, 08:27 AM Post #64
ALLEGEDLY CALICO Posts: 2,117 Group: Members Member #53 Joined: September 18, 2011	there are a number of contributory factors but the McCrone deal gave teachers an easy opt out from extra curricular activities. some kids don't like running around unless its round the corner to the nearest KFC.. State school facilties now are as good as if not better then than the private schools in Scotland. I went round George Watsons' (former pupil one C.Hoy) new facility recently. They were crowing about it, but I thought it wasn't up to much. So its no longer an issue of facilities but attitude, cultural and parental support factors and teacher commitment (which may require some incentive around extra curricular support). You don't have to be a PE teacher to support such activity in schools. Better linkages between schools and community clubs would also help.



Setenza	Aug 10 2012, 09:11 AM Post #65
Knitting with only one needle Posts: 6,057 Group: Admin Member #7 Joined: September 10, 2010	findus Aug 10 2012, 02:00 AM Clarkie Aug 9 2012, 11:32 PM But your sentiment is the correct I grew up on an island and my school didn't even have a swimming pool my parents being poor crofters robbed me of my 200m butterfly gold medal. Bloody liberty takers! I'd be marching/herding on Whitehall if I were you, Clarkie Being well out of school and completely unaffected, I agree with Mad Commodore Boris that kids should ~~be forced into daily 2-hour long PTSD-inducing gymnastic and swimming drills~~ have the opportunity to do 2 hours of P.E. a day if that's what they want to do, on the proviso that schools are given the additional resources (paid expertise, equipment, facilities) required to meet demand. Which is highly unlikely. There could be similar calls made about music. Music facilties and teaching is generally being cut back all over. But if kids spent two hours a day in good music classes, they'd have all sort of benefits. Then don't forget money issues and responsibilites, which needs a similar time, as well as learning foreign languages, which would be immensely valauble if kids were taught a second language two hours a day. All going well, kids will be getting educated 24/7. And probably still with not enough time for maths.



Cobardon	Aug 10 2012, 09:35 AM Post #66
Uncle Smurf Posts: 1,768 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: September 12, 2010	Actually, controversial though it may be, beyond the basic drive for keeping kids from being too unfit, sport is rightly neglected at school. It's really not important. At all. The chances of your child being good enough to earn a living from any sport are absolutely tiny (Jessica Ennis may be the first woman's heptathlete who has made a living out of it) and there are more than enough hours out of education for them to do that stuff anyway. I'd rather schools were teaching children life skills as opposed to meaningless drivel like sport.



Conan the Destroyer	Aug 10 2012, 09:44 AM Post #67
I prefer it when we're pish Posts: 3,265 Group: Members Member #6 Joined: September 10, 2010	Cobardon Aug 10 2012, 09:35 AM Actually, controversial though it may be, beyond the basic drive for keeping kids from being too unfit, sport is rightly neglected at school. It's really not important. At all. The chances of your child being good enough to earn a living from any sport are absolutely tiny (Jessica Ennis may be the first woman's heptathlete who has made a living out of it) and there are more than enough hours out of education for them to do that stuff anyway. I'd rather schools were teaching children life skills as opposed to meaningless drivel like sport. To be fair, that's bollocks. Are you suggesting that if something isn't going to get a kid a job it's isn't worth teaching? I'm disappointed in you, man. Sport teaches life skills life working as a team, focusing on goals and dealing with disappointment. It may also give the desire to do something else other than drink and fight and watch TV when they're adults.



Cobardon	Aug 10 2012, 09:52 AM Post #68
Uncle Smurf Posts: 1,768 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: September 12, 2010	Conan the Destroyer Aug 10 2012, 09:44 AM Cobardon Aug 10 2012, 09:35 AM Actually, controversial though it may be, beyond the basic drive for keeping kids from being too unfit, sport is rightly neglected at school. It's really not important. At all. The chances of your child being good enough to earn a living from any sport are absolutely tiny (Jessica Ennis may be the first woman's heptathlete who has made a living out of it) and there are more than enough hours out of education for them to do that stuff anyway. I'd rather schools were teaching children life skills as opposed to meaningless drivel like sport. To be fair, that's bollocks. Are you suggesting that if something isn't going to get a kid a job it's isn't worth teaching? I'm disappointed in you, man. Sport teaches life skills life working as a team, focusing on goals and dealing with disappointment. It may also give the desire to do something else other than drink and fight and watch TV when they're adults. I'm not saying only teach kids things that'll get them jobs. I'm all for introducing compulsory philosophy to the curriculum actually. Just that formally teaching kids sport isn't at all required. If they're interested they'll do it anyway, if they're not then you're wasting valuable lesson time on it. Sport doesn't need to be a central part of any school teaching, that's for sure. I'd maybe allow it to be peripheral, but taught outside school hours. The 'focussing on goals' bit I'd take issue with though: none of that is anything that isn't taught in other areas of school work already.



Conan the Destroyer	Aug 10 2012, 10:09 AM Post #69
I prefer it when we're pish Posts: 3,265 Group: Members Member #6 Joined: September 10, 2010	Cobardon Aug 10 2012, 09:52 AM Conan the Destroyer Aug 10 2012, 09:44 AM Cobardon Aug 10 2012, 09:35 AM Actually, controversial though it may be, beyond the basic drive for keeping kids from being too unfit, sport is rightly neglected at school. It's really not important. At all. The chances of your child being good enough to earn a living from any sport are absolutely tiny (Jessica Ennis may be the first woman's heptathlete who has made a living out of it) and there are more than enough hours out of education for them to do that stuff anyway. I'd rather schools were teaching children life skills as opposed to meaningless drivel like sport. To be fair, that's bollocks. Are you suggesting that if something isn't going to get a kid a job it's isn't worth teaching? I'm disappointed in you, man. Sport teaches life skills life working as a team, focusing on goals and dealing with disappointment. It may also give the desire to do something else other than drink and fight and watch TV when they're adults. I'm not saying only teach kids things that'll get them jobs. I'm all for introducing compulsory philosophy to the curriculum actually. Just that formally teaching kids sport isn't at all required. If they're interested they'll do it anyway, if they're not then you're wasting valuable lesson time on it. Sport doesn't need to be a central part of any school teaching, that's for sure. I'd maybe allow it to be peripheral, but taught outside school hours. The 'focussing on goals' bit I'd take issue with though: none of that is anything that isn't taught in other areas of school work already. Unfortunately, if you allow kids to find their own way into sport/physical activity outside of school you're relying on them having the time, opportunity and a lot of time, supportive parents. If you let them find them own way you end up with a nation of sofa-dwelling fat f*cks playing xbox, exactly like we have just now. You can disregard focusing on goals from my argument if you like, the other points stand.



findus	Aug 10 2012, 10:36 AM Post #70
Jerry Kerr Posts: 4,444 Group: Members Member #2 Joined: September 10, 2010	Setenza Aug 10 2012, 09:11 AM findus Aug 10 2012, 02:00 AM Clarkie Aug 9 2012, 11:32 PM But your sentiment is the correct I grew up on an island and my school didn't even have a swimming pool my parents being poor crofters robbed me of my 200m butterfly gold medal. Bloody liberty takers! I'd be marching/herding on Whitehall if I were you, Clarkie Being well out of school and completely unaffected, I agree with Mad Commodore Boris that kids should ~~be forced into daily 2-hour long PTSD-inducing gymnastic and swimming drills~~ have the opportunity to do 2 hours of P.E. a day if that's what they want to do, on the proviso that schools are given the additional resources (paid expertise, equipment, facilities) required to meet demand. Which is highly unlikely. There could be similar calls made about music. Music facilties and teaching is generally being cut back all over. But if kids spent two hours a day in good music classes, they'd have all sort of benefits. Then don't forget money issues and responsibilites, which needs a similar time, as well as learning foreign languages, which would be immensely valauble if kids were taught a second language two hours a day. All going well, kids will be getting educated 24/7. And probably still with not enough time for maths. Of course, that's the implied extension - not just PE, but music, languages, whatever the hell students want / are good at / show a passion for. Which is surely a good thing. Given the money, organisation, (paid) expertise etc etc. Which isn't there. It's a great idea, but it's a shite idea.



Cobardon	Aug 10 2012, 10:37 AM Post #71
Uncle Smurf Posts: 1,768 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: September 12, 2010	Conan the Destroyer Aug 10 2012, 10:09 AM Cobardon Aug 10 2012, 09:52 AM Conan the Destroyer Aug 10 2012, 09:44 AM Cobardon Aug 10 2012, 09:35 AM Actually, controversial though it may be, beyond the basic drive for keeping kids from being too unfit, sport is rightly neglected at school. It's really not important. At all. The chances of your child being good enough to earn a living from any sport are absolutely tiny (Jessica Ennis may be the first woman's heptathlete who has made a living out of it) and there are more than enough hours out of education for them to do that stuff anyway. I'd rather schools were teaching children life skills as opposed to meaningless drivel like sport. To be fair, that's bollocks. Are you suggesting that if something isn't going to get a kid a job it's isn't worth teaching? I'm disappointed in you, man. Sport teaches life skills life working as a team, focusing on goals and dealing with disappointment. It may also give the desire to do something else other than drink and fight and watch TV when they're adults. I'm not saying only teach kids things that'll get them jobs. I'm all for introducing compulsory philosophy to the curriculum actually. Just that formally teaching kids sport isn't at all required. If they're interested they'll do it anyway, if they're not then you're wasting valuable lesson time on it. Sport doesn't need to be a central part of any school teaching, that's for sure. I'd maybe allow it to be peripheral, but taught outside school hours. The 'focussing on goals' bit I'd take issue with though: none of that is anything that isn't taught in other areas of school work already. Unfortunately, if you allow kids to find their own way into sport/physical activity outside of school you're relying on them having the time, opportunity and a lot of time, supportive parents. If you let them find them own way you end up with a nation of sofa-dwelling fat f*cks playing xbox, exactly like we have just now. You can disregard focusing on goals from my argument if you like, the other points stand. Nah, when I were a lad my mum or dad never came to see me play football once. I played for hours a day. As well as some tennis, cricket, golf. And, no, times haven't changed that much...I had a computer in the house from about 12 or so and it didn't stop me playing sport as much as ever. Because I wanted to. Same as you see lots of kids playing sport now: there were then, and lots of kids who just weren't interested in sport at all. Yet we had school sports back then too. It was uniformly horrible, mainly consisting of running and rugby which I hated. (Oh, and the horror of Scottish country dancing). Hockey wasn't so bad though. I was in the team for a while in that. Though my mum and dad never came to see me play that either. My dad gave me a lift to practice and games once or twice though. So that was my parental support I guess. But that only mattered for formal sports. 99% of my sport involvement wasn't supervised, down at the local park, jumpers for goalposts. Isn't it? I pretty much hated PE as it stopped me playing the sports I wanted to. Have times changed so much? And the lack of formal sports tuition is not to blame for fat kids - we do get sport at school now, after all. Try looking at parental influence on food choices for that one. Feed kids slop and they become pigs.



Conan the Destroyer	Aug 10 2012, 10:41 AM Post #72
I prefer it when we're pish Posts: 3,265 Group: Members Member #6 Joined: September 10, 2010	Kids don't play in the local parks any more cos their parents are scared of paedophiles and the ground is covered in dog shit. And while you had a computer when you were 12 it was obviously a Vic 20. Given the choice of staying at home playing Call of Duty versus getting covered in shit and molested, kids are going stay indoors. Improve PE, get the wee c*nts playing fitba.



Vex	Aug 10 2012, 12:17 PM Post #73
Paul Sturrock Posts: 216 Group: Members Member #51 Joined: July 20, 2011	Sport is just the fashionable focal point this week, it'll be something different next. I'd be happier if we gave kids a more comprehensive grounding in basic history and geography. Through active schools programmes there is a huge variety of after school sports activies available. We do transferable skills now really well I'd say at primary school level. Presenting, pupil voice, computer skills etc are much, much better than when I (as a 34 year old) was at school. Rightly there is always a focus on Maths and English as these are what we use to compare ourselves to other nations. I'd argue we don't push the more able enough. A huge % of resources is used to try and drag the bottom few % up to a minimum level (not a bad thing) and next to nothing on truely gifted and talented (in whatever subject) kids.



Skeletor	Aug 10 2012, 02:27 PM Post #74
Most likely to be Ann Widdecombe Posts: 2,157 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: September 10, 2010	TheDean Aug 10 2012, 08:27 AM State school facilties now are as good as if not better then than the private schools in Scotland. I went round George Watsons' (former pupil one C.Hoy) new facility recently. They were crowing about it, but I thought it wasn't up to much. So its no longer an issue of facilities but attitude, cultural and parental support factors and teacher commitment. That's completely untrue in Glasgow. You can have a look at the sports facilities in Glasgow/South Lanarkshire at private schools such as Hutcheson's Grammar and Glasgow High School, then take a wee mosey over to any of the state schools in the area. Their facilities are top class and I'm presuming free for the students to use at any time. My school had tarmac and a 2 shitey glossed sports halls. They then used classrooms for keep-fit sometimes, and there was no grass area. That is, until South Lanarkshire council built a sports facility right next door in the recently recently decontaminated grass area (the school was built in the centre of the site of an old Chromium waste dump. The surrounding areas weren't decontaminated, just fenced and signposted as prohibited.) That was the answer to our prayers wasn't it? No. We weren't allowed to use these facilities, nor the absolutely shite football pitch they built. We didn't have a football team because the head couldn't be arsed running one. Oh, but we had an American football team! And I think the story's the same in Dundee isn't it? Have you had a look at the facilities High School of Dundee has versus the local council schools? Their fcking groundskeepers chucked me and my cousins off the pitches for having a kickaround a few months ago. Their groundskeepers*. 2 hours of P.E. a day is excessive. 2 hours every second day, or maybe an hour a day isn't. Keeping fit and healthy is an essential life skill, and if they can inspire some athletes in the process that's a bonus. Taking part in sports is fun, doing exercise is clinically proven to make you feel mentally better (releasing endorphins), and I'm pretty sure the self-esteem benefits of being fit speak for themselves. Isn't there also a study saying that it can boost concentration? For some kids this will be the only exercise they get, due to the lack of facilities in their area, or dog shit all over their parks, or neds hanging around the park waiting to harass anyone passing by. As for fitting it in, it's not a direct trade-off with other things that should be in the curriculum. I personally lost 2-3 hours of learning time a day through being disinterested, tired, hungry or daydreaming. I would have been happy to be physically doing something other than showing up dressed in formal wear trying to cram 6 hours of information into my brain consecutively, 5 days a week. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you got to check out the girls bouncing around in shorts.



Skeletor	Aug 10 2012, 02:43 PM Post #75
Most likely to be Ann Widdecombe Posts: 2,157 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: September 10, 2010	As a side note I'd like to say that having sporting clubs and physical competition in the school seems like only a good thing. One of the few joys I got from Secondary school was putting in hard but clean challenges on the neds at football, being a "geek" you always got a bit less of a hard time after that.

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