P.E. Requirement in Public Ed. ? ? ?

[Allison Wunderland]

When I was in the joint (public ed.) -- 1961 - 66, five yrs of required P.E. Dress down, shower. Hurts just to remember it all.

Very athletic, racing cyclist, I was being sexually abused, hit puberty 2 yrs early, and terrified of locker rooms. At 67, still freaked in a locker room, public shower, or RESTROOM.

Recent HS reunion, classmates realized, "Now I understand why you hated PE ! ! !"

Any progress on requiring what amounts to a mandatory "strip search" in public ed. ? ? ?

PE sux. Maco, male BS, dominated by oppressive, sexist jocks.

Post modified for language.

[Isabelle]

When I was in high school, (mid 90's) PE was mandatory until you were 16, then you could opt out and choose more of your own classes (high school where I'm from is about 13 years old to 17/18, then you go to university if you want). There weren't usually showers though... And when there were, they were all individual cubicals in the school gym.... And they reeked to high heaven of supermarket spray deodorant.

[FTMax]

I graduated high school in 2007 in Maryland. PE was required for one year in middle school and one year in high school, and then you were done.

Classes were mixed. Most people did not shower, it wasn't required and they never really left us enough time for everybody to get one. We had 2 or 3 stalls with curtains and then two of the group shower head type things where you stand around it. My school didn't have a pool, so we didn't have a swimming unit like a lot of schools now do.

I never took a lot of issue with it. I figured everyone was just about as uncomfortable as I was. The only thing I disliked is that in the years I took it, I missed out on being able to take another elective that would've been more applicable to my life.

[Allison Wunderland]

Jr. high, was grades 7, 8, 9. High school, 10, 11, 12.

PE required all but Sr. year of high school. Showers mandatory -- as in corporal punishment for no shower (swats with a wood paddle). Locker room was entirely open -- so the instructor could observe. Wood benches, locker baskets along the walls, no partitions.

Shower was a scene out of Auschwitz -- Open bay, nozzles on the wall.

I was being sexually abused . . . uncle 5 yrs. my senior. I didn't understand that I was trans. I just considered myself a "pervert."

Screwed up my entire middle school and high school experience, because I'd spend full-time fixated/obsessed with being exposed in PE.

[Tessa James]

Oh goodness this one should come with a trigger warning.  I am only kidding a bit as the painful recollections of grade school and high school sports is still too fresh in my memory.

The schools and community I lived through were sports and jock oriented.  Being seen as a girly boy I experienced what felt like constant put downs and daily physical threats.  I was sent to a catholic military boys HS with the unspoken belief that this would help make me a man.  What a cruel joke.  I became homeless partly by choice as a 16yo and was in the army by 17 as another suggested man up experience. 

PE is not the problem IMO.  Attitudes and a lack of acceptance for diversity are what cripples us.  Physical education need not come with competitive and sports only activity.  There are thoughtful and inclusive people now working in our schools to address these issues and create a climate of fun, growth and even play.

Locker rooms and bathrooms need not be places of fear.  There are structural and policy options for schools and communities to consider.  We can be better than the history too many of us knew.

[Allison Wunderland]

Noooooooooooooo, wait ! ! !

I have issues being naked in front of myself. I don't like what I see. Also, it's nobody's business. I'm just now getting OK with disrobing for doctors and medical exams.

The message I get in my head runs, "You're in the wrong place! These people are all naked and the wrong gender!"

I have a hard time being in the same room with a penis -- the result of child-hood sexual abuse. Men groups make me uncomfortable, alien, disaffected.

It's PHYSICAL education, focus on the physical aspect of adolescent development. I'm not comfortable with my adolescent physical development. Puberty was like a curse, resulting I felt from being sexually active in a sexually abusive relationship.

Very screwed up feelings. Please don't make me stand naked in public! I'm not OK with my body!

[Tessa James]

Noooooooooooooo, wait ! ! !

I have issues being naked in front of myself. I don't like what I see. Also, it's nobody's business. I'm just now getting OK with disrobing for doctors and medical exams.

The message I get in my head runs, "You're in the wrong place! These people are all naked and the wrong gender!"

I have a hard time being in the same room with a penis -- the result of child-hood sexual abuse. Men groups make me uncomfortable, alien, disaffected.

It's PHYSICAL education, focus on the physical aspect of adolescent development. I'm not comfortable with my adolescent physical development. Puberty was like a curse, resulting I felt from being sexually active in a sexually abusive relationship.

Very screwed up feelings. Please don't make me stand naked in public! I'm not OK with my body!

I share your feeling that male puberty was a curse.  I am very sorry that you have been so badly hurt and the negative consequences so persistent.  I would guess there are more than a few people here who do not enjoy being naked and are also not OK with their body for one reason or another.  It is amazing that we got this far some days.  A tribute to resilience perhaps?

[Northern Jane]

I wasn't just screwed up psychologically but also physically. I was called "it" from childhood 'cause other kids couldn't figure out if I was supposed to be male or female. I had some breast development with the start of  puberty and getting naked in front of people wasn't an option. I had enough trouble with gendered washrooms in school!

Fortunately, when I hit high school (1961), my dad and one uncle were on the school board and P.E. was made voluntary for me. I could do "study hall" if I didn't want to do P.E. or I could change in a single-user staff restroom and had my choice of what to  wear for P.E. Girl's uniform was a dress and the guys wore a T shirt and shorts in school colours so I wore a coloured T and black short-shorts - I had/have GREAT legs!

If I hadn't been given "special dispensation" I would have cut every P.E. class!