I just happened to accidentally catch the elementary principal when I went and picked up DD#1from cheer squad practice yesterday – and couldn’t help myself.  I asked him who I complained to about the PE issue.  He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear me out (he’s a nice guy, so was making a joke), but one of DD#2’s teachers was standing with him, and she was very supportive.  I explained my dilemma, and that it wasn’t just my child who was sick (three of them got sick).  The teacher thought my daughter was actually sick – and I explained that that wasn’t the case – once she came home, had some water and rested a little bit, she was fine.  No fever.  No rumbly-tummy.  No other symptoms.  The problem occurred BECAUSE of PE and nothing more.  Mr. Principal said it was probably the humidity, but he’d look into it further. 

Then, the teacher and I discussed the fact that we are very aware that three of our kids are very NON-athletic.  But, that doesn’t mean they can’t get somewhat in shape – IF we had some direction.  I used the analogy of their previous school, where we received a summer reading list, so the kids read books during the summer and were ready to analyze and discuss the books once school started.  Wouldn’t it just make sense for the school athletic teachers give us some type of direction on where our children should be when they return to school???  For instance, if they were expected to be able to run a mile by the time they started their next grade, we’d be able to schedule time at the track during the summer, working toward that goal.  She agreed, of course, and said she’d see if she could help give my idea some legs for the summer next year. 

I hope DD#2 has a better day in PE today – and I hope her teachers realize that they can’t push unathletic kids into being athletic by starting them at the TOP of the bar…instead of working TOWARD that bar.