Last Friday, my daughter wrote herself a note

[Not_Giving_Up]

It said:

Please do not allow (LittleNGUGirl) to participate in PE today because she has a sprained ankle.

I learned from the teacher that particiapte was spelled wrong, and she knew that it wasn't my signature. She took the note, but noticed that when it was time to go to PE, my child had a piece of paper in her hand. The new note said:

Please do not allow (LittleNGUGirl) to attend PE today because she has a sprained ankle.

She then signed it with my initials.

Well, the teacher knew that it was fake, and since she got caught for the second time in one day, she busted her on it.

Apparently, she started limping when she got to school, but kids from the bus told the teacher that she was fine until they got to school.


Ah, kids!

[Politically_Wrong]

1. I've done that multiple times...

I've faked ingrown toenail...broken finger (I just happen to have one of those foam things that goes over your finger)...sprained ankle...I’ve done it all! PE is the most ridiculous class in my opinion...it's worthless...and i ain't gonna put up with it anymore...apparently PE has to be taken from grades 9-12...but when i enter the semester when my PE class is required I will want proof that says I must take it!

[Not_Giving_Up]

2. Well, she's only 9

PE has never been a problem for her before...guess she didn't feel like dealing with it that day.

[Politically_Wrong]

5. 9? yoiks...i didn't start faking injuries until i was 12...

[toey]

13. Some reasoning that may make sense

My psych professor did a study in Arkansas about why the drop-out rate of this school and these young girls was so staggertingly high. It turned out that these kids were dropping out of school because of PE and the fact that they were forced to shower in the lockerroom shower with all the other girls. Also, this is the time when kids (especially girls) are very self-conscious of their changing bodies.

I found that very interesting when I looked back on my personal experience with PE and faking injuries to skip class.

[Not_Giving_Up]

16. I could understand if she were going through that

I remember those days. I was a late bloomer, and hated changing in front of the other girls. However, in 4th grade, they don't change or shower in PE. So, that's not it.

[toey]

20. ok, blew that theory right out of the water

the other theory is that she's craving attention. i used to wear band-aids all the time and wrap my arm with an ace bandage to fake injuries for attention. One time I even scraped the skin on my wrists and poured red ink into the scrapes for attention. I was your daughter's age then and my older brother got all the attention from my mom (my dad was out of the picture). Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say anything personal toward your parenting, just giving you my spiel. good luck with her.

[Debbi801]

15. My kindergardner did this once...

The big clue was that it was written in crayon. :rofl:

Everyone was too amused to get her in serious trouble. Now she's 10 and loved gym. :-)

[Not_Giving_Up]

18. LOL

Written in crayon! Mine writes hers in pencil.

[Shine]

7. PE is required in all grades, to some degree or another.

Middle school (6th-8th grades) is when they have to start wearing the PE uniforms. I, for one, as a parent, am grateful the kids have the opportunity to get physical and burn off some energy. With all the reports coming out about childhood obesity and how much time kids spend in front of the TV or a computer screen, it's even more important.

That said, I'm sure we can all relate to doing things like fake note-writing to get out of it.

I'm lucky, I guess, cuz for my son, PE is his favorite class!

[Politically_Wrong]

10. They should make PE an elective...

...i'm not overweight or out of shape...but PE is pointless in my opinion...and parents should have the right to say, "I want my kid to take PE so he/she can become more physically fit!" But parents should also have the right to say, "I don't want my kid getting his ass kicked because he lacks athletic skill!"

[Not_Giving_Up]

12. Well, she's not getting beat up, she can do what's required

I've got no problem with PE, it helps to keep the kids active in this day and age of video games.

[MissMillie]

21. PE should be less about athletic skill

and more about how to stay fit.

Seriously, kids should have to learn about target heart rates for weight loss and/or cardio vascular health. They should have to know the muscle groups. They should have to know about weight training for body building versus weight training for metabolic health.

Let the kids have their own pick-up games of basketball or football or whatever, on their own time... but PE really should be about teaching kids what fitness is about. And that has little to do w/ athletic skill. I'll never be an athlete. But I am physically fit.

[crispini]

22. I agree. 100%

I hated PE as a child because of the whole "game" thing -- I was one of the smart geek children, never very good with hand-eye coordination, never very fit, not competitive at all, and as a result always wound up being the last chosen for teams, etcetera. It doesn't do much for your self esteem or for your liking of sports to be forced into that kind of environment day after day after day.

As an adult, though, I have learned to enjoy cycling, running, yoga and dance -- all wonderful things for your health. But it took a lot for me to overcome the block I had around all kinds of "sports."

[MissMillie]

23. yoga, aerobics, even dance

all things that could be implemented into a school's PE program at little to no expense, and would increase the fitness level of all the students (as opposed to giving the good basketball players a chance to show off how good they are).

There should also be an extensive set of free weights.

The exams should be able knowledge of fitness--not about how quickly one can get through the obstacle course.

[Shine]

24. I totally agree.

:thumbsup:

[RumpusCat]

3. PE is for the birds!

I never did a bit of PE during middle school because I had a very shy and slow-thinking male gym teacher who was easy to bamboozle. I just told him that it was 'female problems' every week for like three years, ha ha. He was too embarassed to inquire further, I think. Poor guy.

Of course, this is probably why I was kinda a chubby middle schooler... :blush:

[davsand]

4. Wow, at NINE that is pretty savvy.

I never figured ot the whole note from home wrinkle until high school. Once I did, however, I did it right.

The first part of the school year, I would wait until I had a legit reason for a note from home (Dr's appointment or something like it.) Mom would write the note, and then I'd re-copy it in my own handwriting and hand it it to the office. When they called to double check it, Mom would say "Well--DUH--I wrote the note. YES, I know she's leaving school early."

From that point on, all notes were in my handwriting... :evilgrin:

I hope to heck my kid doesn't ever figure that one out.



Laura

[Not_Giving_Up]

9. Yeah, she catches on quick

I've caught her signing my name before. Certain homework assignments have to be signed off on. If she doesn't do the work, I won't sign it. She gets to school and does the work before she has to turn it in, then signs my name. I must admit, she's pretty good. She's an excellent artist, and has quite a gift to copy things.

Yes, your children will catch on.

[DS1]

6. My parents have one of my old fake letters up on the fridge

I thought it was pretty good at the time :rofl:

[Not_Giving_Up]

8. I wanted the first note

So I could show it to her boyfriends later...but the teacher said she threw it away after she took it from her.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. Tom DeLay? Is that your kid?

:hide:

[Not_Giving_Up]

14. LOL!

Well, I don't think that my nine year old daughter is Tom DeLay. Possessed by him, maybe?

[MissMillie]

17. A couple of years ago, my son just stayed in bed for a week

He was on the drill team which has to report to practice at 5:30 a.m. He used to be up and out of the house (he got a ride w/ another kid) before I would even be out of bed.

So one week, he just stayed in his room until I left for work.

I didn't find out about it until about 4 months later.

[radwriter0555]

19. okay so my 12 year old is doing this too.... should I just not make her go

to PE?

Let her sit it out now and then?

[Shine]

25. I think it depends on if she's started her periods, or not.

I remember sometimes in school feeling so incredibly shitty from cramps that I would beg my single parent Dad to write me note...or I would just stay home from school entirely.

Bottom line, missing the occasional PE class isn't gonna kill anybody.

[MissMillie]

26. exercise helps cramps

I know this from experience. I used to have miserable cramps, but since I've been working out regularly, the cramps are much more bearable.

[Shine]

28. I wish I could say the same, but on the other hand, REST is important, too

I usually workout three times a week, for 1 1/2 hrs each time, if I'm lucky. I also am an avid cyclist, so I get a LOT of exercise.

However, there are certain times when I just have to take a break and let myself R E S T, when I'm having cramps. Today, interestingly enough, is one of those days. I'd usually be at the gym right now, but I'm letting the Advil do its thing and hangin' in the lounge... :)

I think it's all about Balance.... We do what we can.


Shine

[Pacifist Patriot]

27. Oh I never did that as a kid. Not me. No sirree Bob.

I spelled participate correctly. ;)