I Hated Physical Education Class

I used to hate PE for all the usual reasons that teenage girls hate PE - being made to take part in competitive sports, changing in front of other people, having to wear inappropriate clothing, doing activities in the cold. But I have always loved doing gymnastics and running and I think it is so important to remain physically active if you are able to. Now I am a senior girl I help to coach gymnastics twice a week. Not all the girls I teach are so keen on the lesson as I am, so I try to be sympathetic to their feelings and make life easier for them. So if they prefer to wear T-shirt and shorts rather than a leotard, that is OK. They can also get changed in their own rooms before and after the lesson if they do not want to do it with the rest of the class.

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Rhodesianman · 56-60, M

Your right and wrong .It doesn't help their body image if they are hiding it all the time and can lead to bulimia etc they need to get comfortable in their own skin .I raised my kids nude which definitely gave them positive body acceptance .When I was at school we were often made to do PE and swimming nude which definitely did us no harm .Unfortunately I don't know what the answer is nowadays as being made to do PE nude or sport nude is a big no no and a lot of kids have negative body image .

NankerPhelge · 61-69, M

@Rhodesianman "Your right and wrong"? What does that mean? What right of hers are you talking about?

Rhodesianman · 56-60, M

She is trying to be thoughtful by allowing them to wear shorts and T shirts and change in their own rooms and not wear leotards but unfortunately it is just reinforcing their negative body image .

TammieBear · 22-25, F

@Rhodesianman Most girls of my age are sensitive about their image and people talking about how they look. Being made to wear old fashioned, uncomfortable clothes does not help. I am sorry they made you do that at school 😟

NankerPhelge · 61-69, M

@Rhodesianman Maybe, but that wasn't what I was asking. You said "Your right and wrong". That by itself doesn't make sense. I can see her right to not do PE if she doesn't want to, and it was wrong of the schools to force her to do it against her will. Is that what you were trying to say?

Rhodesianman · 56-60, M

I am not it gave me positive body image and I feel sorry for young girls today as even my daughter had a friend who suffered with bulimia who nearly died because her parents pampered to her bulimia .Negative body image is hell and should not be encouraged and society doesn't help with girls magazines etc showing zero size models etc and making kids who are slightly chubby or not skinny feel there is something abnormal about them .

NankerPhelge · 61-69, M

@Rhodesianman In that case, what does "your right and wrong" mean? It doesn't make sense by itself.

TammieBear · 22-25, F

@NankerPhelge It is right for schools to make sure that all children do some physical activity because of the impact on their future health. But there are ways of making PE less miserable for un-sporty types. I think sometimes that PE teachers don't try hard because it is easier to have us all running around a muddy field chasing a ball 😟

Rhodesianman · 56-60, M

@NankerPhelge No every kid should do PE .I think it was wrong that she encouraged the kids negative body image

NankerPhelge · 61-69, M

@Rhodesianman You think every kid should do PE? That's a bit callous, isn't it?

TammieBear · 22-25, F

@Rhodesianman Body image is complicated for teenagers. I used to feel physically sick about having to undress in public, but a couple of years on I feel differently. It's good to be sympathetic and listen to young people's concerns.

Rhodesianman · 56-60, M

Its good to listen and be sympathetic but to encourage it isn't I have seen the horrible side first hand .I don't know what the answer is but some how we have got to encourage positive body image and not pamper to negative body image .