PE to become Leaving Cert subject?

RandomName2

Fine Gael having finally formed a government can now outline its proposals while in power.

One of the first of these to get spotlight attention is the idea to make PE a LC subject. Now, I know what you're thinking: physiotherapy is a legitimate enough (albeit fairly niche) subject; but you'd be mistaken. No, not content with having legislated to make it compulsory for secondary school students to attend PE, Fine Gael has decided that it would be a great idea to award points for it. It's academic merit is deliberately void, just to have people exercise while studying real subjects.

Wonder if temperance could be added as a subject as well...

maudgonner

PE is not physiotherapy...

jamesbere

There's a lot they can learn, from coaching, proper warm up techniques, treatment of injuries and the whole area of sports psychology could be looked at. I think it's a good idea if it's properly done.

MilesMorales1

PE is a GSCE subject in England, I did it myself. It was good, I enjoyed it.

I wear socks

I wonder will grades be penalised for students who don't shower afterwards ?

maudgonner

I'd be interested to see how they will examine it, but it's not a bad idea. Worthy of discussion anyway.

kfallon

maudgonner wrote: »

I'd be interested to see how they will examine it, but it's not a bad idea. Worthy of discussion anyway.

Your grade will be based on how much you sweat!

MilesMorales1

maudgonner wrote: »

I'd be interested to see how they will examine it, but it's not a bad idea. Worthy of discussion anyway.

It was (in the UK) 60% theory exam, 40% coursework. Which involved physical stuff. Got access to do a lot more sports than normal PE.

One eyed Jack

I've always wondered why Physical Education wasn't an examination subject already. We've just completed Active Schools week in schools up and down the country and the feedback is that it's been a great success.

There's plenty could be covered in a physical education syllabus, leading a healthy, active lifestyle, healthy eating and so on.

maudgonner

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

It was (in the UK) 60% theory exam, 40% coursework. Which involved physical stuff. Got access to do a lot more sports than normal PE.

As long as the practical isn't graded on sporting ability that sounds great.

I have an image in my head of some poor kid desperate to score a goal in order to go to college.

kfallon

maudgonner wrote: »

I have an image in my head of some poor kid desperate to score a goal in order to go to college.

I lol'd All they kids D.I.Y.'ing it to try get into the best 3rd Level education :P

RandomName2

One eyed Jack wrote: »

I've always wondered why Physical Education wasn't an examination subject already.

Because it isn't an academic subject.

One eyed Jack wrote: »

We've just completed Active Schools week in schools up and down the country and the feedback is that it's been a great success.

There's plenty could be covered in a physical education syllabus, leading a healthy, active lifestyle, healthy eating and so on.

Some of that is already covered in home economics. It's also covered in years of mandatory material in primary school (and of course doesn't make much difference if the core values of the home don't match up).

HardenendMan

Should reduce the number of obese kids leaving school and dragging the standards down in college.

maudgonner

RandomName2 wrote: »

Because it isn't an academic subject.

Neither is woodwork, it could be argued. Or Art. Or Music.

I'm all in favour of subjects that aren't traditionally academic being included in the LC syllabus., Not everyone is interested in only academic subjects, not everyone will go on to use them in their careers.

Doesn't it seem ridiculous that someone can go to college to study Physical Education or Sports Science without having studied them for the LC, and having gained the college entry points entirely through unrelated subjects? Particularly when we're trying to encourage kids to be more physically active.

TheWarChicken

It doesn't make sense as a concept anyway. Home ec covers the actual academic bit, while the rest is just messing about normally. Besides, I would consider "leaving cert PE " a joke

RandomName2

jamesbere wrote: »

There's a lot they can learn, from coaching, proper warm up techniques, treatment of injuries and the whole area of sports psychology could be looked at. I think it's a good idea if it's properly done.

The motive is clearly just to have teenagers exercise more. As such it's unlikely to get any proper treatment. For it to be a proper subject, you'd have to see the "exercise" bit as superfluous.

If you are talking about psychology, management, injuries, technique or rules then exercise isn't strictly necessary, and, as the entire motive of this is exercise... well, you get the idea.

Forgot that we already have many universities offering sports based scholarships to people who excel in a particular sport: but of course, this suggestion of PE as a LC subject has nothing to do with excelling at sport, merely exercise.

kfallon

Imagine doing Pass P.E.

TheWarChicken

Sport and school should absolutely be separate. Some people don't like sports, and now their being forced into it by the government, LC students have enough to worry about.

valoren

I've always thought that it should be a test. You can choose your discipline and will get tested for the leaving cert.

Say you like running. You would be tested for a 10k timed run. The grade received would be based of of current known standards.

It would be optional. A healthy way to propose up your points tally.

MilesMorales1

TheWarChicken wrote: »

Sport and school should absolutely be separate. Some people don't like sports, and now their being forced into it by the government, LC students have enough to worry about.

Is giving people PE as an option forcing them to do anything?

The Backwards Man

They should be teaching wains how to rod drains and bake scones, none of this fancy pie in the sky nonsense that they'll never use. Name one practical use for a shot put or jumping a skipping rope.

Just one, I dare you.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Anything that gets people exercising more should be encouraged it's a key part of life and if it gets students in good habits for the rest of their lives and improve the health and well being of people going forward then there should be no argument against it.

There should be at least 1 class/1 hour of PE per day in every single school in Ireland.

maudgonner

TheWarChicken wrote: »

Sport and school should absolutely be separate. Some people don't like sports, and now their being forced into it by the government, LC students have enough to worry about.

It's being proposed as an optional subject.

But I do think PE should be mandatory in school (not as an examined subject). It doesn't have to be sport, but some form of exercise. And I'm speaking as someone who really didn't enjoy PE in school

jamesbere

TheWarChicken wrote: »

Sport and school should absolutely be separate. Some people don't like sports, and now their being forced into it by the government, LC students have enough to worry about.

I didn't like Irish but still had to do it

Dirty Dingus McGee

TheWarChicken wrote: »

Sport and school should absolutely be separate. Some people don't like sports, and now their being forced into it by the government, LC students have enough to worry about.

People don't like maths and the government are forcing them to do that aswell.

There is not one negative about having students exercise more.

TheWarChicken

valoren wrote: »

I've always thought that it should be a test. You can choose your discipline and will get tested for the leaving cert.

Say you like running. You would be tested for a 10k timed run. The grade received would be based of of current known standards.

So under that logic, a person can get all A's and have a big f on their college application because they failed PE. Being in peak physical condition won't help a writer or a scientist.

maudgonner

The Backwards Man wrote: »

They should be teaching wains how to rod drains and bake scones, none of this fancy pie in the sky nonsense that they'll never use. Name one practical use for a shot put or jumping a skipping rope.

Just one, I dare you.

When you bake scones and they turn out hard as rocks you'll need to know how to dispose of them by flinging them as hard as you can so that they end up in the neighbour's garden.

Doing the spinning around in a circle and letting out the shotputter's roar is entirely optional.

:pac:

Dirty Dingus McGee

TheWarChicken wrote: »

So under that logic, a person can get all A's and have a big f on their college application because they failed PE. Being in peak physical condition won't help a writer or a scientist.

Being in good physical conditions helps everything. If you are only sitting at a desk all day being fit will help you.

clairewithani

Why not have PE as an exam subject. If you are good at art you have a subject easy for you, same with music, same if you are from a Gaelscoil. If you are talented at sports why not have this as a subject?

valoren

TheWarChicken wrote: »

valoren wrote: »

I've always thought that it should be a test. You can choose your discipline and will get tested for the leaving cert.

Say you like running. You would be tested for a 10k timed run. The grade received would be based of of current known standards.

So under that logic, a person can get all A's and have a big f on their college application because they failed PE. Being in peak physical condition won't help a writer or a scientist.

It would be optional. Bonus points. Like for those who do honours maths. An incentive but not mandatory.

TheWarChicken

Getting students to exercise more should absolutely be encouraged, just not through "get fit or fail" I have no problem with it as an option, it's difficult to get sports scholarships, and every little helps.