The recent article by Alia Wong titled “Gym Class Is So Bad, Kids Are Skipping School to Avoid It” has generated a huge response from within the #physed world including perspectives, opinions, and platforms touting more emphasis on this and less emphasis on that. You can insert anything from skill theme, assessment, social emotional learning, whole child education, fitness testing, and more for “this” or “that”. Before we get our whistle lanyards in a knot, let’s look at a few of things I know to be true:
- Kids skip classes. All classes. Yes, even math, language arts, social studies, and more. They skip them in all grade levels (much less at elementary of course), but they skip them.
- It’s not necessarily the content or what they are doing in class that makes them skip. Or even fitness testing.
- There are bullies in all classes. Not just in PE as the article focuses on. There are bullies everywhere including going to the grocery store when you are 53 years old.
The answer is none of the above.
In my opinion, we as physical educators must work on class culture. If you’ve seen my social and emotional learning keynote, I reference the CASEL SEL Competencies. The SEL concepts and how they are implemented have changed drastically over my 30 years. The inner circle used to be the home and then the concepts would make their way out into the classrooms and schools. Now, the classrooms and schools are relied upon to cultivate these concepts and get them into the homes. How does that tie to class culture? We as teachers must create a positive culture within our classes each day. It is incumbent upon us to make sure the following happens in our class with all our students:
- It is OK to make a mistake or not be successful at a skill, behavior or assessment.
- Our success depends on the cooperation of everyone in the room (teamwork).
- Helping each other is an expectation.
- “Caring” about students is the norm.
- High expectations are standard.
- Each person is treated with respect despite any differences.
- Goals are set (by student with teacher guidance) and re-examined periodically.
- Safety for everyone is paramount.
It starts with us.