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I don't agree that traditional, competitive sports ought to be removed from the schools. Lots of kids like them, and they can be good exercise. However, what's the harm in adding new sports or activities? Some schools have vertical climbing walls, for example, that are excellent exercise.
These team sports require good PE teachers, which are in short supply. In my experience, they spend their time coaching the kids who already know the sport and do it well. They don't teach the rules and the moves to the kids who don't know them or are poor at the game. PE's job is not to develop superstar athletes at the expense of other kids - it is to keep all kids physically fit. If kids do an activity like play soccer and are allowed/encouraged to stand there and not contribute to the game, they are not getting any benefit from the activity. It's not a first-grader's fault if his parents are physically inactive and he hasn't had a chance to learn a game. That's why they are PE TEACHERS, not sports team coaches.
Not all kids are naturally competitive. PE should be designed to appeal to as many kids as possible, including the competitive ones, the kids who could be competitive if given a chance, and those who might like other forms of activity better. Granted, some kids will be better than others - same as in the regular classroom.
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Alpha Xi Delta
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