AS, dyspraxia and school sports...

Post Reply New Topic

I think the poll options are just a little bit biased.

Autistics can't be heartless? Why did you make a poll anyway if you didn't want any opposing views?


PE isn't normally graded? In my schools it was graded partly for "participation" (which seemed to mean how much the teacher likes you) and partly based on your percentile in physical tests at the end of the quarter. Sometimes they had additional "assignments", like running a certain distance within a certain time in order to get points.


I think I'd be more healthy if an alternative to competitive sports was provided in school. PE cemented exercise as a negative, stressful thing in my mind. Even non-competitive activities weren't safe, with constant threats to make everyone do some strenuous task if a single person fell behind. The threats were almost always empty, but most of the other students were too stupid to realize that and would get pissed off at anyone who fell behind anyway.

I remember it that way at least. I'm 29 at this point though so it wasn't exactly recently, and even though it feels like I have an eidetic memory, I don't actually. I think the way it was graded was mostly about obeying the teacher, because if it had really been about athletic performance there would have been dozens of lawsuits from families with fat kids. I refused to obey her though, so I guess I deserved an F. If she would have told me to do something besides play sports, I probably would have done it.

Agreed, school sports was terrible for me. I'm way too clumsy, have a bad balance and have problems understanding the rules of games. Also in ball games I was always afraid the ball would hit me (which happened quite a lot) or that other people would run into me. I always got mediocre marks out of sympathy and I felt terrible because I knew I looked stupid.

Im 15, and have always been graded in P.E., effort has never had anything to do with my final grade.

That poll is pretty biased, but I agree that students should not be forced to take part in team sports. The point of physical education is to just get out and get moving, to learn how your body works and what exercise is good for you. For many people, team sports just don't appeal.

Doesn't mean you should be made to sit on the sidelines, either. Unless you have a physical problem that prevents you from exercising, you should be out there running, walking, swimming, climbing, doing aerobics--whatever. Dyspraxics especially benefit from physical education; and for them, it might be as simple as just walking a lot. I used to be a lot clumsier than I am because I didn't do a lot of physical exercise; now, when I walk one to two miles daily, I can walk gracefully and even run without falling. That's progress, at least for me. Dyspraxic kids should be getting lots of physical activity, in a way that doesn't cause them to reject it as unpleasant. Usually, that means competition against yourself, not against other, typical kids who find things much easier.

Kids who like team sports, though, should definitely have the opportunity to participate in them. You've seen them--they enjoy the competition, the experience of being on a team and working together.

When i was in school, it was graded but did not count against the GPA as long as it was a passing grade, but now the same school counts the grade.

I think it should be pass/fail, graded on either effort or improvement. Physical education isn't teaching skills you'll need later on--you've already learned the basics by the time you're in school (walking, running, throwing a ball, that kind of thing). It's just a way to expose kids to physical activity and help them learn what sorts of things they like to do. So, if they participate, the purpose of the class has been fulfilled. Kids who excel in athletics can join sports teams to get more competition and higher-level practice.

I apologise; I admit that this was worded poorly. What I really meant was that the voter was heartless in relation to this situation. Most Aspies have experienced this horrible situation at some point in their lives and that someone on the spectrum would be so insensitive about it is very difficult for me to believe.



I did want opposing views. I made the poll because I wanted to tell anyone who voted "yes" how categorically wrong they were and how concerning their attitude was to me.




Nope, in my school, P.E is not graded. Even if P.E is graded on effort, someone on the spectrum could easily be mistaken for someone who isn't trying. I always try my hardest and this has happened to me in the past.



As would many people on the spectrum. I'd rather perform some other form of physical activity instead of competitive sport.



Exactly. The way in which P.E classes are run is also a problem. Children with AS need to be encouraged, not "motivated" negatively.

I can fully understand why it may appear to be biased, but it really isn't. Most children on the spectrum experience difficulty with balance and coordination, causing teachers to think that they aren't trying and giving Neurotypical kids an excuse to bully them. Most Aspie kids (including most of my friends) do experience bullying and humiliation as a result of participating in competitive team sports. This is an irrefutable fact; ergo, the poll is actually unbiased.



I agree with you. Autistic and dyspraxic children should participate in P.E but they should be offered an alternative to the sporting aspects of the subject.



Of course, if an Autistic or dyspraxic student wishes to participate, they should be allowed. I just think that an alternative should be available to those who don't.

I don't even want to be reminded of school sports. I used to hate every second of it when I was still in school. I know that sounds negative again but it's true. Escpecially those sports in involving a ball of any kind. Never again! I am quite contented with my life as a couch potato and I don't even mind if I getting fat because of it. School sports equals trauma in my case.

As I have mentioned here before: sorry for my english, it's not my first language.

Thankfully, I'm physically handicapped so I didn't have to participate in this horror after the first few years. Instead I had to endure physiotherapy, which was really painful. The physiotherapists I had as a kid really didn't understand that I don't understand how my body moves and in what positions it is. Now I love going to the gym, because I can work out on my own without anyone yelling at me.

You have nothing to apologise for. Your spelling and grammar are both much better than many people who speak English as their first language.