| Author |
Message |
Matthew Graves (Mgraves2)
New member
Username: Mgraves2
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 7:08 am: |       |
I am a junior physical education major. The question that I have deals with separating the genders for physical education classes. What are the advantages and disadvantages of separating the genders for classes? What are some of the noticeable differences when the genders are separated and when they are together? |
Richard A. Campsie (Pe_rules)
Junior Member
Username: Pe_rules
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 - 7:36 pm: | |
Matthew,
This is an interesting question. I am sure I am not the only poster with an opinion but I will take a stab at this one.
The advantages of separating females from males during PE class are as follows:
1. Avoids natural distractions that boys and girls might face during a physical education class.
2. Likely, but not always, keeps skill levels closer together.
3. Socially boys and girls might feel more comfortable in front of their own gender.
4. Girls have a better chance of getting more attention, practice and performance without their more competitive male counterparts in the way.
Disadvantages of separation:
1. Less interaction between boys and girls this way. Less chance of developing some social skills.
2. Less appreciation for all efforts, attitudes and performances in a PE class.
3. Sometimes having boys and girls in the same PE class fosters a more cooperative climate and provides a greater point of view on the students part.
Noticeable differences when apart? Girls might thrive more without boys dominating all the activities. Girls might also get more out of a class that caters more to their interests, which are not always sports-centered.
Together? Less athletic females will not participate as much or get as much out of the class. |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Intermediate Member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 41
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 - 8:02 pm: | |
Richard and Matthew:Richard's list of advantages and dis-advantages is reasonably accurate and does raise an interesting observation.He states that girls might get more out of a class more to their interests; which are not always sports centered. The question is really, why are "boy's classes" so sports centered. Have we learned nothing over the past couple of decades about a more holistic, broad based curriculum. Yes boys can be and frequently are interested in dance and rhythms, in outdoor education (camping/fishing/orienteering, etc.) cycling, in-line skating and so on. Activities that lead to ATHLETIC competition is a component of activities that we teach in physical education, but not the most important and NOT the goal of the discipline.
The other statement was #4: Girsl have a better chance of getting more attention, practice and performance without their more competitive male counterparts in the way. Is it out OUR responsbilty as TEACHERS to see that that does not happen. A teacher should teach ALL students without regard to gender, but should make sure that both genders receive equal attention. It is OUR job as TEACHERS to see that ALL of our students are comfortable with being in our classes.
Less athletic students of both genders tend to have a lower level of participation in activities. It is our job as TEACHERS to see that we establish practices that allow lower skilled individuals to have full opportunities and to feel confident about their ability to be physically active, regardless of their (current) skill level.
We, as PE teachers, have a lot of cultural boxes to break out of. Our collective view of our students must not be "who has the most skill", but has to be how can we provide activities and an appropriate social setting so that every student, regardless of his/her skill level will be motivated to as active as possible and the result is that they move to the next developmental level.
Teaching co-ed PE is more work than an all single gender class, and as EDUCATORS we must be committed to providing a success oriented class setting. We as PE teachers must put aside some of our out of date thinking that equates student success or student worthiness with athletic potential.
I can tell you from personal experience that if you make that effort your students will thrive under your direction and you will achieve a level of personal satisfaction with your profession that you were probably unaware of.
Best of luck.
Joe Herzog, Fresno CA
bigfish344@hotmail.com
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Becky Gruver (Gruverb)
Junior Member
Username: Gruverb
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2010
| | Posted on Monday, November 08, 2010 - 10:13 am: | |
One of the benefits that I have found is when boys and girls are on different teams they play differently. We start out coed and split later depending on our classes. The girls are more likely to participate more when they are not playing the aggressive boys. The boys are more likely to play harder too. |
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