[Xotol]

(Original post by Super Cicero)
What a load of rubbish. The UK needs scientists, engineers, inventors and academics if we are to succeed as a nation in the future, not a load of morons whose only talent is kicking a ball around. Now there's talk of introducing 2 hours of PE a day?! What is this madness? There's things called "evenings" and "weekends" during which there's time to tackle some rugby oaf to the ground, why waste time which could be spent studying in the library?

In my opinion, there shouldn't be any compulsory sport on the school ciriculum. Its just a method of oppressing those who aren't any good at sport and making them lose confidence, and since the people who are worst at sport are often the brightest most academic pupils, making the kids who are the real future of our country lose confidence is just madness.

You can run around a running track faster than some Chinese guy who's spent his life enslaved into being an olympian? Great, good for you, have a gold medal. But the real heroes are the people who innovate, invent, and actually benefit the lives of the rest of us.

The reason behind doing sports isn't only about churning out athletes capable of entering the Olympics, it's also a way of getting the exercise children need that they might otherwise not get at home. Exercise is crucial to health and even brain activity.

Competitive sports can actually build on characteristics required in the future as posters have mentioned above (e.g. teamwork, ability to handle pressure). The added upside that isn't gained by other activities is that it improves health and fitness.

If there isn't compulsory sport at school, a lot more children would be unhealthy, overweight and obese. Not only do sports at school increase exercise immediately, they get children involved in sports so they can maintain health. It's not as easy as people going to have a kick-about after school if they aren't encouraged to participate in sports in the first place.

[MathematicsKiller]

(Original post by RobertWhite)
I don't think we should encourage children to get into competitive sport for the chance of becoming a professional but for the benefits they'll gain from it. Such as:

- Learning about competition (which we all face in our everyday lives)
- Improved health
- Self-esteem
- Teamwork, cooperation, friendship
- It's an outlet, so there's less chance of dangerous/illegal behaviour
- Perhaps they'll learn how to stay determined, cope with stress etc...

There are lots of reasons why it's a good thing. The Olympics and the such isn't the end all of competitive sport. I have a friend who boxes competitively and earns £250 a fight. He's only been boxing for two years and it's not very difficult to get into. It's a nice amount of money to earn on the side as a student.

I think there is more to be gained in learning academic subjects.
Competitive sport is fine as extra-curricular activities for students wishing, and having the time to take part. I don't feel there is a need to change the way Physical education is taught in school, nor is there a need for more of it.

In my case, if there would have been more time dedicated to PE, and it was done more competitively, I would have skived more. I used to skive most of my PE lessons as it was, and my parents turned a blind eye because they knew my time was better spent doing something else.

The times I did do PE, I convinced my teacher to allow me just to walk around the pitch, which I did listening to my mp3.

[JollyGreenAtheist]

I think schools should encourage productive education and enthusiasm for learning. This is a problem that remains unsolved, and should take priority ahead of sports.

If that were sorted, I think encouraging sport alone would be good - it doesn't need to be competitive. Not everybody has the competitive desire , myself included. Sport is fantastic for lots of reasons, and competition is just one aspect of it. We should nourish kids to enjoy sports for the sake of getting outside, communicating, meeting new people and getting fit, not to breed a generation of sporting superstars to massage national ego.

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by MathematicsKiller)
I think there is more to be gained in learning academic subjects.
Competitive sport is fine as extra-curricular activities for students wishing, and having the time to take part. I don't feel there is a need to change the way Physical education is taught in school, nor is there a need for more of it.

In my case, if there would have been more time dedicated to PE, and it was done more competitively, I would have skived more. I used to skive most of my PE lessons as it was, and my parents turned a blind eye because they knew my time was better spent doing something else.

The times I did do PE, I convinced my teacher to allow me just to walk around the pitch, which I did listening to my mp3.

I don't think we should be forcing students to take part in competitive sport. What I do think is a good idea is making it known and available to those who wish to take part. I personally believe the benefits children will gain is worth it and so we should encourage them to take part. However, I do understand not everyone is cut out for sport/won't gain anything from it and we shouldn't force them/make them feel guilty if they do not wish to take part.

[Drewski]

(Original post by MathematicsKiller)
I think there is more to be gained in learning academic subjects.
Competitive sport is fine as extra-curricular activities for students wishing, and having the time to take part. I don't feel there is a need to change the way Physical education is taught in school, nor is there a need for more of it.

In my case, if there would have been more time dedicated to PE, and it was done more competitively, I would have skived more. I used to skive most of my PE lessons as it was, and my parents turned a blind eye because they knew my time was better spent doing something else.

The times I did do PE, I convinced my teacher to allow me just to walk around the pitch, which I did listening to my mp3.

It's not perfect for everybody and nobody's pretending it is. But the vast majority can benefit from it if it's done properly.

I'll bet you wouldn't have wanted to skive if there'd been a variety of sports open to you, that something would have caught your attention and, dare I say it, you might've enjoyed parts of it.

I know for an asbolute fact that if I hadn't done any sport at school, even at my low level [6months of playing rugby... that's it] I wouldn't have carried on at uni [in other things] and I wouldn't have got the job I wanted. That job wasn't dependant on sporting prowess, but I needed to prove teamwork. Something you don't get in a classroom alone.

[Spaz Man]

Of course we should as part of a balanced and rewarding national curriculum.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

I'm trying to think of a sport that's not competitive...

[MathematicsKiller]

(Original post by Drewski)
It's not perfect for everybody and nobody's pretending it is. But the vast majority can benefit from it if it's done properly.

I'll bet you wouldn't have wanted to skive if there'd been a variety of sports open to you, that something would have caught your attention and, dare I say it, you might've enjoyed parts of it.

I know for an asbolute fact that if I hadn't done any sport at school, even at my low level [6months of playing rugby... that's it] I wouldn't have carried on at uni [in other things] and I wouldn't have got the job I wanted. That job wasn't dependant on sporting prowess, but I needed to prove teamwork. Something you don't get in a classroom alone.

There were indeed a variety of sports open to us - from basketball to hockey, to football etc. and we could choose what we wanted to do. I didn't do any of them.

The fact is that I hate sports, I would rather spend my time reading. At the moment, I do some exercise in my spare time - if I have some, but only because I want a toned body like everyone else. I have no desire to compete in any sort of sport.

And as for your job - teamwork skills can easily be justified in a group project at university or something along those lines. We all know that claiming to have teamwork skills just because you play sports is BS, we all know a **** who always hogged the ball.

[Drewski]

(Original post by MathematicsKiller)
There were indeed a variety of sports open to us - from basketball to hockey, to football etc. and we could choose what we wanted to do. I didn't do any of them.

The fact is that I hate sports, I would rather spend my time reading. At the moment, I do some exercise in my spare time - if I have some, but only because I want a toned body like everyone else. I have no desire to compete in any sort of sport.

And as for your job - teamwork skills can easily be justified in a group project at university or something along those lines. We all know that claiming to have teamwork skills just because you play sports is BS, we all know a **** who always hogged the ball.

Like I said. Not perfect for everybody. But the benefits for the many outweigh the negatives for the few, imo.

And no, got to disagree there. Teamwork in a group project is indeed a type of leadership and followership, but it's not the only type.

[MathematicsKiller]

(Original post by Drewski)
Like I said. Not perfect for everybody. But the benefits for the many outweigh the negatives for the few, imo.

And no, got to disagree there. Teamwork in a group project is indeed a type of leadership and followership, but it's not the only type.

The point is that those who do want to play competitive sports can already do so - there are clubs and such in place for that.
No more needs to be done.

Those who want to be involved are currently involved and those who don't are not.

[Drewski]

(Original post by MathematicsKiller)
The point is that those who do want to play competitive sports can already do so - there are clubs and such in place for that.
No more needs to be done.

Those who want to be involved are currently involved and those who don't are not.

Not always. There is an inbetween.

And you were fortunate enough to have access to the sports to know you didn't like them. Many aren't. And then many don't know what's available to them. Without a clued up sports department they won't know if there's a hockey club nearby, or a village cricket club to join, or a cycling team in the town.

Ok. Those that want to be are currently there. But what about the next lot? They at least need to be given the option.

[wildrover]

Always used to annoy me how the people who couldn't finish the cross country without walking would feel sorry for themselves and then you would see them at lunch with a plate stacked with burgers. Sport is good for teaching team work, competivness and builds character. It's also important as not all parents encourage there children to do sports and this leads to obisity on later life.

[Joinedup]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
I don't think the government should provide schools, let alone encourage sports in them.

got to find something for under 16s to do, and there aren't nearly enough chimneys to sweep these days

[HDBrowne]

What a demeaning way to talk about state schools.

[blu tack]

(Original post by Xotol)
The reason behind doing sports isn't only about churning out athletes capable of entering the Olympics, it's also a way of getting the exercise children need that they might otherwise not get at home. Exercise is crucial to health and even brain activity.

Competitive sports can actually build on characteristics required in the future as posters have mentioned above (e.g. teamwork, ability to handle pressure). The added upside that isn't gained by other activities is that it improves health and fitness.

If there isn't compulsory sport at school, a lot more children would be unhealthy, overweight and obese. Not only do sports at school increase exercise immediately, they get children involved in sports so they can maintain health. It's not as easy as people going to have a kick-about after school if they aren't encouraged to participate in sports in the first place.

Why does this have so many negs, it's totally reasonable

As with all things, a happy medium is the way to go. Some compulsory sport every week, but not 2 hours a day. The government shouldn't be cutting funding for sports facilities but in an ideal world they wouldn't be cutting funding for anything.

[manchesterunited15]

(Original post by Super Cicero)

In my opinion, there shouldn't be any compulsory sport on the school ciriculum. Its just a method of oppressing those who aren't any good at sport and making them lose confidence

is maths just a method of oppressing those who aren't any good at maths?

[Xotol]

(Original post by blu tack)
Why does this have so many negs, it's totally reasonable

As with all things, a happy medium is the way to go. Some compulsory sport every week, but not 2 hours a day. The government shouldn't be cutting funding for sports facilities but in an ideal world they wouldn't be cutting funding for anything.

I honestly do not know why. I haven't even been responded to by any of the neggers unfortunately.

Compulsory sport is crucial, not just because it gives people that don't exercise at home a chance to exercise, but because it also lets young children explore a variety of sports and take up sports they like in the future, either at a competitive level or not. Competitive compulsory sport would also have its benefits, although I think many parents would be reluctant to have it implemented in schools. I also agree that 2 hours a day is a bit ridiculous.

[Super Cicero]

(Original post by manchesterunited15)
is maths just a method of oppressing those who aren't any good at maths?

No because have some mathematical knowledge is a necessary skill for life. If you can't add or subtract then you're going to find it very difficult to buy things from shops, pay your bills or get a job. If you can't rugby tackle someone to the ground then what does it really matter? It is completely irrelevant in the real world.

It shouldn't be the responsibility of the government to make people play sports. Provide kids with information about local sports clubs, swimming pools, gyms etc. but don't make it compulsory at schools.

[Drewski]

(Original post by Super Cicero)
No because have some mathematical knowledge is a necessary skill for life. If you can't add or subtract then you're going to find it very difficult to buy things from shops, pay your bills or get a job. If you can't rugby tackle someone to the ground then what does it really matter? It is completely irrelevant in the real world.

It shouldn't be the responsibility of the government to make people play sports. Provide kids with information about local sports clubs, swimming pools, gyms etc. but don't make it compulsory at schools.

Rugby isn't the only sport in the world.



Seems to me like the only ones complaining are the ones who were bad/didn't enjoy PE.
As a kid who was rubbish at it and always got beaten - tough. Welcome to the real world.

Being active has just as important place in a person's development as doing long division. And nobody's saying that because they need to do some PE that they should then skip science.

[cl_steele]

(Original post by NB_ide)
No, because the children who lose will feel bad and inferior, when maybe they're better than the "winners" in other ways. For example, if you make everyone play rugby then some of the weak and timid students will do really badly but only because they're weak/slow/scared, etc. So it's not fair, it's not a level playing field. Because if they were better at rugby, then maybe their team would have won instead. The only fair solution is do away with concepts of winning and losing, and just play non-scoring games for fun and general health and fitness. Sports days should be done away with completely, as they encourage unhealthy competition and rivalry between forms/houses/classes or individual pupils, and again fail to take into account the fact that it's completely unfair to penalise someone for being worse at something.

Then perhapse they shouldnt play a full contact sport such as rugby... why ruin the great game that is rugby because of a few ladies?
Besides comp[etition is what drives people to be better if you just play 'non scoring sports' what would be the point? people like to win... if everyone just came in equal there would be no incentive to play thus no point in having the game in the first place