School sports days - agree or disagree

How many posters on here have ever been to a secondary school sports day? From reading the post, it seems that nearly all (if not all) are about primary school.

Sports day here last week. All pupils put in teams. They chose four races they would like to be in. Points then awarded on position. All pupils took part, everyone had lots of fun. My daughter’s not athletic but had a whale of a time.

Having said that, I think the culture of the school can dictate how children feel about participation and if they feel that distressed about it, I’d withdraw them.

Vintagejazz

My friend's daughter is keeping her non sporty child at home this Friday because she gets so upset at being humiliated every sports day by trailing in last at everything and in front of all the pupils and parents. My friend disagrees with this approach saying her GD is bright academically and has to learn you can't be good at everything.

But I don't think non sporty kids necessarily want to win medals, just not to have their lack of ability on public show. I mean, we don't ask children who can't sing to stand up in front of the whole school plus parents and sing a solo from The Sound of Music off tune, regardless of how bright they are academically.

Thank you Thank you.
My father wrote letters for me and he played Rugby professionally, I wrote letters for my daughter and she has made sure that her daughter goes to a school where the less able do different P.E to the rest of the class
There is nothing worse than being laughed at because you are non-sporty. I suffered all my life until I got glasses and it was a revelation where the ball was going in tennis and rounders I had undiagnosed tunnel vision.
I was a teacher myself and never made any child do what they did not feel capable of. If you push them they tense up and have accidents.
Sporty people do not understand. Yes someone has to come last but not you EVERY TIME and get laughed at. They wouldn't do that in an academic subject.
My school reports say "Looks as if she should be able but very poor and uncoordinated'. At one of my daughter's parents' evenings, I was told she was like Bambi arms and legs everywhere. Her uncle played rugby for the county neither of his children is sporty either.
Yes, we might need encouragement and learn we cannot always be the best but why should a certain few children in a class be the fall guy at sports every time?

Chemistry day. OK if only those doing chemistry take part but dangerous if everyone had to do it! ???

It's all part of learning how to cope with life - some you win, some you lose. The child in the OP is learning from her mother that, if you're not going to be first, top in everything, don't even try. Life's not like that which she will find out later.

Despite me advocating sports at school, I was hopeless at running and athletics but, oddly enough, good at tennis and netball.
Did I feel humiliated because I was the one who kept dropping her egg off the spoon and never won? No, I don't remember that at all, I was probably giggling with a friend at the back.

Sports days should have something for everyone and good teachers should make it fun.

The small primary school the 7yr old attends (as did his Mum our DD) has days in the hall whereby parents and grandparents can come along and participate with the children.

They have had arts & crafts at Christmas and Easter, they are also invited along to numeracy and language/literacy days.

Wish there was a like button, Thanks NotSpaghetti and Callistemon21 you've given me a great laugh this morning.

Then, roll on Chemistry Day! ?

I dread to think what might happen on Biology Day ?

We seem to be talking about PE within the curriculum here.
What the OP was about was specifically "Sports Day" which is something quite different.

I think we should also have"Maths Day" where children/parents/guardians could all have a great, fun, frolicking day testing their calculus and probability skills ...
?
Then, roll on Chemistry Day! ?

PE is part of the curriculum ' Mens Sana in Corpore Sano".
Circuits, as run by most schools today, do not expose any child to humiliation.
My local special school for children with profound and complex needs, manages this. I am sure that other schools are equally effective in encouraging participation across the levels of ability. I speak as the least sporty child and adult you are likely to meet.?

Oh Fanny what a brilliant description, sounds like all the sports days I have volunteered at for my children a schools and now at the grandchildrens ones also.

Fun and frolicking ?‍♀️?

All children (sporty or not) should learn from an early age that Sports Day is an excellent opportunity to let your hair down; watch your teachers get a bit giddy on the countdown to the Big Summer Holiday; slurp on some jubblies; and generally mess about with your mates! ?
Bring it on!!

I hated sports day and it made me feel I’ll. the humiliation has never left my memory.mil was good academically though but that one day has haunted me forever!

Exactly Aveline.
Sport definition = an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Physical activity is!

Sport isn’t an integral part of education.
Said the poster to whom I replied.

Joseanne

But it isn't a case of pick and choose. Pupils go to school to be told what to do, or at least to be guided how to learn from each lesson. Is PE not a requirement of the curriculum? Or can the less creative ones drop out of Art lessons too?
And are teachers, caretakers going to be expected to stay after school to run the clubs?

We're not talking about PE

Joseanne And are teachers, caretakers going to be expected to stay after school to run the clubs?*
They certainly are, though many schools now invite external providers in e.g. for judo, or fencing or street dancing etc. Unfortunately, whilst teachers do the overtime for free, external providers charge, which affects some children’s chances of taking part.

At the Olympic Games, it isn't the most beautiful or strongest who are crowned, but those who compete.

Aristotle

Grandma70s
I agree with this, too. Sport isn’t an integral part of education.
Actually, it is, even without it being compulsory for schools to provide it.
For more and more children, dropped off and picked up at school by car, tied to a couch and their electronic devices out of school, sport at school is the only exercise they get.
Does it have to be competitive? No. Not every child wants to be in the football, netball, cricket or hockey team. Not every child wants to compete in table tennis or gymnastic or swimming tournaments so that isn’t compulsory.
For some children, those whose parents can’t afford to take them to all those activities privately, discovering a liking or a talent for any sports at school is important and wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t an integral part.

But it isn't a case of pick and choose. Pupils go to school to be told what to do, or at least to be guided how to learn from each lesson. Is PE not a requirement of the curriculum? Or can the less creative ones drop out of Art lessons too?
And are teachers, caretakers going to be expected to stay after school to run the clubs?

NotSpaghetti

Why can't Sports Day be optional like after-school Drama and Chess Club? It's an unnecessary event in my opinion - but those who enjoy it should be given an opportunity to have fun.

I agree with this, too. Sport isn’t an integral part of education.

On the whole I agree with Luckygirl13. There is no point in sports day. I hadn’t looked at it that way before, but now she comes to mention it, I agree.

Why can't Sports Day be optional like after-school Drama and Chess Club? It's an unnecessary event in my opinion - but those who enjoy it should be given an opportunity to have fun.

When I was at primary school, in the late 50’s and early 60’s, every child had to be in at least one race. The slower ones usually were in the egg and spoon race.

At my GC’s primary school, there were heats beforehand, and those who weren’t fast enough, didn’t get in a race and were cheerleaders on the sidelines.

The sporty ones were in several events. Always seemed a bit unfair to me, I felt if they wanted to be part of it, they should have a chance to be in something.