Learning to play baseball
scrapgal
I think it was on this list that Ren posted something about how kids
would hate to play baseball if it were taught like we teach
history. Instead of just experiencing baseball they are first
taught the history of baseball and then the positions and the key
players in history then all the rules, etc. And *then* tested on how
much they know about baseball instead of just experiencing the
game. (Sound familiar?)
Anyway, I was chatting with one of Emily's friends who is in middle
school and asked how school was going. "Fine."
"Are you doing anything exciting?"
"Well, we are studying softball in PE."
"Oh really? What position are you playing?"
"Oh we don't play softball. We are just studying it right now. YOu
know the rules and how it all got started. That kind of stuff."
"Are you actually going to get to *play* softball?"
"Maybe. We have a test next week and then I guess we will play it."
I was just floored. It seemed so odd that Ren prophesied what is
going on in our school systems. The one class each day that kids
can "play" and they can't even play anymore. <sigh>
Michelle - wondering if she can still hit a ball
would hate to play baseball if it were taught like we teach
history. Instead of just experiencing baseball they are first
taught the history of baseball and then the positions and the key
players in history then all the rules, etc. And *then* tested on how
much they know about baseball instead of just experiencing the
game. (Sound familiar?)
Anyway, I was chatting with one of Emily's friends who is in middle
school and asked how school was going. "Fine."
"Are you doing anything exciting?"
"Well, we are studying softball in PE."
"Oh really? What position are you playing?"
"Oh we don't play softball. We are just studying it right now. YOu
know the rules and how it all got started. That kind of stuff."
"Are you actually going to get to *play* softball?"
"Maybe. We have a test next week and then I guess we will play it."
I was just floored. It seemed so odd that Ren prophesied what is
going on in our school systems. The one class each day that kids
can "play" and they can't even play anymore. <sigh>
Michelle - wondering if she can still hit a ball
soggyboysmom
That's not really all that 'new'. I graduated high school in 1979 and
we had actual final exams in phys ed. Things like rules of soccer and
names of the positions (there'd be a small scale picture of a soccer
field and we'd have to label certain designated areas for example).
Generally, though, that part of it was over and done with after the
first class (depending on the particular activity) and we got on with
mostly just playing. Some things, like gymnastics, had more
instruction and information along the way as we got to more and
different types of appartus. But, in younger years (1-6 grades), gym
was mostly for running and playing. Of course, back in my grammar
school days, we'd wear 'hot pants' (boy am I dating myself there lol!)
under our skirts so we could change for gym easily and then change
back - jeans weren't allowed at all and I was in 5th grade by the
time 'pant suits' were even allowed.
we had actual final exams in phys ed. Things like rules of soccer and
names of the positions (there'd be a small scale picture of a soccer
field and we'd have to label certain designated areas for example).
Generally, though, that part of it was over and done with after the
first class (depending on the particular activity) and we got on with
mostly just playing. Some things, like gymnastics, had more
instruction and information along the way as we got to more and
different types of appartus. But, in younger years (1-6 grades), gym
was mostly for running and playing. Of course, back in my grammar
school days, we'd wear 'hot pants' (boy am I dating myself there lol!)
under our skirts so we could change for gym easily and then change
back - jeans weren't allowed at all and I was in 5th grade by the
time 'pant suits' were even allowed.