Gym teacher makes 9th Graders do Insanity Workout

yup, my freshman in HS (9th grade) is doing P90X. He is the only one that can sort of keep up...My frustration is more that it is the start of his day and they don't leave enough time for EVERYONE to get showered and dressed in time for class. Yeah...nice to be known as the stinky kid your freshman year! (not my son, thank goodness, but several other kids.) From what I understand . the girls don't even try.

Yeah.....sounds like the gym teacher is being lazy by popping in a DVD rather than instructing the kids on something him/herself.

I agree. Football, for example, was created by someone else and so he can't introduce that sport. Basketball, by James Naismith, so he can't introduce that sport either.

Baseball? Softball? Hockey? Volleyball? Wait, what about Karate? Ooops....NOPE! He can't introduce those games either.

What do you suggest the teacher "CREATE" that he should do in PE? If you mention anything, then he didn't create it.

This is the dumbest thread on the board right now....WOWWW!

Thanks for putting words in my mouth dude. I never ONCE said that the gym teacher needs to "create" a sport or game to show the kids. Insanity is not a game....the kids are never going to become professional "Insanity Players." If you could sit on your *kitten* and put in a DVD everyday for class and still call yourself a "teacher"...I'm sure that's a lot easier than actually teaching something. I'm not hating on Insanity...I've done it several times. If you have too, then you know that it is pretty intense, and that there are certain moves that can be pretty stressful on the body, and if not done properly, could cause serious injury. AND that is says you should consult your physician before participating in any of the workouts. And as the OP said....the parents of these kids were not asked permission, therefore, it's safe to assume that their physicians weren't consulted first. So either way you look at it, the gym teacher fu(ked up.

Do I think there's anything wrong with a high schooler attempting Insanity? Not necessarily, under the right circumstances, it could be beneficial. I think it's a case-by-case basis and not something that should be thrown at a random group of kids.

What part of the program do you disagree with?

I agree kids need a workout program but Insanity is for adults.

The school should have informed the parents about the program and requested permission to participate.

It is good the school is doing something actually real and beneficial and physically active with the kids.
I agree that parents should have been notified. But I think schools keep the parents in the dark about too many things that affect their kids. My kids belong to me, not the school,or government.
How do they expect parents to be involved when they keep them in the dark about things?

(This is just based on my observation and conversations with my friends who have kids in public schools, we homeschool now)

Yeah.....sounds like the gym teacher is being lazy by popping in a DVD rather than instructing the kids on something him/herself.

I agree. Football, for example, was created by someone else and so he can't introduce that sport. Basketball, by James Naismith, so he can't introduce that sport either.

Baseball? Softball? Hockey? Volleyball? Wait, what about Karate? Ooops....NOPE! He can't introduce those games either.

What do you suggest the teacher "CREATE" that he should do in PE? If you mention anything, then he didn't create it.

This is the dumbest thread on the board right now....WOWWW!

Thanks for putting words in my mouth dude. I never ONCE said that the gym teacher needs to "create" a sport or game to show the kids. Insanity is not a game....the kids are never going to become professional "Insanity Players." If you could sit on your *kitten* and put in a DVD everyday for class and still call yourself a "teacher"...I'm sure that's a lot easier than actually teaching something. I'm not hating on Insanity...I've done it several times. If you have too, then you know that it is pretty intense, and that there are certain moves that can be pretty stressful on the body, and if not done properly, could cause serious injury. AND that is says you should consult your physician before participating in any of the workouts. And as the OP said....the parents of these kids were not asked permission, therefore, it's safe to assume that their physicians weren't consulted first. So either way you look at it, the gym teacher ****** up.

Do I think there's anything wrong with a high schooler attempting Insanity? Not necessarily, under the right circumstances, it could be beneficial. I think it's a case-by-case basis and not something that should be thrown at a random group of kids.

So then, when ever they do something physical they need to get a complete physical? So that first week when they lift weights they need to consult a doctor? When they do the kick ball game they need to talk to a doctor? Then when they do something that is self paced they need to talk to a doctor? I doubt that, seriously. The teacher did nothing wrong. The PARENTS GIVE PERMISSION WHEN THEY SEE THE SCHEDULE AND WHEN THEY SIGN THE PERMISSION SLIP GRANTING THEM PERMISSION TO BE IN THE PE CLASS. Because the teacher decides to show a broad spectrum of fitness options available you fire at them? Really?

**Edited because of the quoted foul language.

proffesional Golder in the masters = 14
proffesional Footballers, (uk) =16
olympic gymnasts =12

kids can cope in the adult world of proffesional sport.... your body has a natural mechanism for coping when your exerting to much .. i think they will be ok

bearing in mind im 23 and played sport at a national level at 16... didnt kill me..

Those kids had been working out most their lives and worked up to that level. Most 9th graders are probably not ready to jump feet first into something that intense.

It would make a great elective course, though! For kids who want more that the one size fits all PE classes.

My son's PE teacher makes them do Cup Stacking. I would much rather him do Insanity than CUP STACKING!

Cup Stacking? wasn't aware that was a sport lol

Apparently, it's pretty competitive! My cousin's daughter was on a team. Pretty interesting to watch, but no, no physical activity involved..lol!

Adults seem to really like it, so maybe the teacher thought the kids would enjoy it more than something more traditional. Most 14 year olds will probably never be healthier than they are right now, so why not?

My daughter's 9th class has phys ed every other week. That's the crazy part. Why not every week?
I wish I had been pushed and encouraged to do more physical activity as a teenager. Challenge yourself. Believing you can is half the battle with being fit.
Their class has done the insanity videos. Her teacher encourages them to try each exercise and do as many reps as possible. Everyone has a different personal best and so I don't feel it's too much for her. He also mixes it up. Some days they are playing volleyball or soccer or kickball. Other days they with Zumba videos. It's a mix.
I'm more outaged by the lack of healthy choices in her cafeteria. She packs her lunch each day because we eat healthier at home. But what about the kids who only get to eat a meal at school? Why is pizza and burgers a daily thing?

I personally think this is a little over-reacting. It is PE, which is PHYSICAL education. Most of all those moves in Insanity, I did sometime in PE throughout school. If the child had a condition such as asthma or another medical condition that would be affected by a workout, then I see a cause for concern.

When I went to school, we had to do mile runs ALL the time. I sucked at running. I hated running. I complained because I was a teenager and like to complain. My parents told me to suck it up and to stop whining. They didn't march up to the school and make a big deal about me whining about being physical in physical education class. The poor PE teachers are going to run out of options to teach the kids, because there are to many whiners out there.

The conditioning they put you through when trying out for a sport, is way worse than Insanity, in my opinion.

I, like you, appreciate workouts and fitness for kids and having done wee bit of insanity myself, its a good program.

However, at this age "workouts" won't get their attention much. Competition will. Team work will. They learn a lot via contact sports etc. Boxing, football etc would be much better suited imo.

Everyone learns and is motivated differently. I know many people who are certainly not interested in contact sports and would shy away from it. That's why being exposed to a variety of things is best. Each person can choose what works for them.

Yeah.....sounds like the gym teacher is being lazy by popping in a DVD rather than instructing the kids on something him/herself.

I agree. Football, for example, was created by someone else and so he can't introduce that sport. Basketball, by James Naismith, so he can't introduce that sport either.

Baseball? Softball? Hockey? Volleyball? Wait, what about Karate? Ooops....NOPE! He can't introduce those games either.

What do you suggest the teacher "CREATE" that he should do in PE? If you mention anything, then he didn't create it.

This is the dumbest thread on the board right now....WOWWW!

Thanks for putting words in my mouth dude. I never ONCE said that the gym teacher needs to "create" a sport or game to show the kids. Insanity is not a game....the kids are never going to become professional "Insanity Players." If you could sit on your *kitten* and put in a DVD everyday for class and still call yourself a "teacher"...I'm sure that's a lot easier than actually teaching something. I'm not hating on Insanity...I've done it several times. If you have too, then you know that it is pretty intense, and that there are certain moves that can be pretty stressful on the body, and if not done properly, could cause serious injury. AND that is says you should consult your physician before participating in any of the workouts. And as the OP said....the parents of these kids were not asked permission, therefore, it's safe to assume that their physicians weren't consulted first. So either way you look at it, the gym teacher ****** up.

Do I think there's anything wrong with a high schooler attempting Insanity? Not necessarily, under the right circumstances, it could be beneficial. I think it's a case-by-case basis and not something that should be thrown at a random group of kids.

So then, when ever they do something physical they need to get a complete physical? So that first week when they lift weights they need to consult a doctor? When they do the kick ball game they need to talk to a doctor? Then when they do something that is self paced they need to talk to a doctor? I doubt that, seriously. The teacher did nothing wrong. The PARENTS GIVE PERMISSION WHEN THEY SEE THE SCHEDULE AND WHEN THEY SIGN THE PERMISSION SLIP GRANTING THEM PERMISSION TO BE IN THE PE CLASS. Because the teacher decides to show a broad spectrum of fitness options available you fire at them? Really?

**Edited because of the quoted foul language.

Once again, putting words in my mouth.
No, they do not need to get a physical before every single thing they do in gym class.

I'm sure that when they're weight lifting, or playing an actual sport, they are being INSTRUCTED, by their gym teacher, about proper form and safety.

Have you ever done an Insanity workout? They're SUPER fast paced, when I've done them in the past, I barely have any time to look at the screen in between moves.

Maybe a better approach would be for the gym teacher to take certain exercises from Insanity, and teach them to the kids, taking the time to show proper form and safety. Rather than popping in a DVD which is pretty much nonstop movement, with not a lot of emphasis on safe form. Hopefully this is the route the teacher went, but if he/she simply turned on the TV and played the DVD....that is both lazy and dangerous.

Personally, I think that asking teenagers to do Insanity is a bit much. Yes, kids need physical activity/physical education, but just as most adults couldn't jump in and complete an Insanity workout without having some physical conditioning first, most teenagers probably couldn't either. It's just my opinion, but I honestly believe putting in a video and saying "this is what we're doing today" is a cop out on the teacher's part. If you want teenagers to become interested in physical fitness, I definitely think team sports or even making it a "game" is much more likely to peak their interest.

If my child was being made to do Insanity or similar in PE, I'd hit the f*cking roof.
These are programs designed for adults, and the documentation states you should get clearance from a doctor before up-taking any physical exercise regime. I know no-one really does unless they do already have existing medical issues, but a PE teacher is not a trained physician. Yeah they have the lower impact option but that doesn't decrease the intensity.
If my son had an asthma attack because of the rigorous exercise but because of the pressure he would be under to take part, you can bet I'd be up the school with bells on and wringing that PE teachers neck.

Yeah.....sounds like the gym teacher is being lazy by popping in a DVD rather than instructing the kids on something him/herself.

I agree. Football, for example, was created by someone else and so he can't introduce that sport. Basketball, by James Naismith, so he can't introduce that sport either.

Baseball? Softball? Hockey? Volleyball? Wait, what about Karate? Ooops....NOPE! He can't introduce those games either.

What do you suggest the teacher "CREATE" that he should do in PE? If you mention anything, then he didn't create it.

This is the dumbest thread on the board right now....WOWWW!

Thanks for putting words in my mouth dude. I never ONCE said that the gym teacher needs to "create" a sport or game to show the kids. Insanity is not a game....the kids are never going to become professional "Insanity Players." If you could sit on your *kitten* and put in a DVD everyday for class and still call yourself a "teacher"...I'm sure that's a lot easier than actually teaching something. I'm not hating on Insanity...I've done it several times. If you have too, then you know that it is pretty intense, and that there are certain moves that can be pretty stressful on the body, and if not done properly, could cause serious injury. AND that is says you should consult your physician before participating in any of the workouts. And as the OP said....the parents of these kids were not asked permission, therefore, it's safe to assume that their physicians weren't consulted first. So either way you look at it, the gym teacher ****** up.

Do I think there's anything wrong with a high schooler attempting Insanity? Not necessarily, under the right circumstances, it could be beneficial. I think it's a case-by-case basis and not something that should be thrown at a random group of kids.

So then, when ever they do something physical they need to get a complete physical? So that first week when they lift weights they need to consult a doctor? When they do the kick ball game they need to talk to a doctor? Then when they do something that is self paced they need to talk to a doctor? I doubt that, seriously. The teacher did nothing wrong. The PARENTS GIVE PERMISSION WHEN THEY SEE THE SCHEDULE AND WHEN THEY SIGN THE PERMISSION SLIP GRANTING THEM PERMISSION TO BE IN THE PE CLASS. Because the teacher decides to show a broad spectrum of fitness options available you fire at them? Really?

**Edited because of the quoted foul language.

Once again, putting words in my mouth.
No, they do not need to get a physical before every single thing they do in gym class.

I'm sure that when they're weight lifting, or playing an actual sport, they are being INSTRUCTED, by their gym teacher, about proper form and safety.

Have you ever done an Insanity workout? They're SUPER fast paced, when I've done them in the past, I barely have any time to look at the screen in between moves.

Maybe a better approach would be for the gym teacher to take certain exercises from Insanity, and teach them to the kids, taking the time to show proper form and safety. Rather than popping in a DVD which is pretty much nonstop movement, with not a lot of emphasis on safe form. Hopefully this is the route the teacher went, but if he/she simply turned on the TV and played the DVD....that is both lazy and dangerous.

I took that because of this:

And as the OP said....the parents of these kids were not asked permission, therefore, it's safe to assume that their physicians weren't consulted first.

And yes I have done Insanity, and IT IS SELF PACED. If you pushed yourself to the wall then that is you. But, it is a SELF PACED DVD set. Also, what makes you ASSUME that the teacher is not watching over the kids as they are doing the workout? As another poster has posted, everything in Insanity you have done in one form or another by grade 9. In 3rd grade I was learning push ups, pull ups, sit ups, etc... In 8th grade the boys who wanted to try out for football that summer were learning about burpees and plyo moves.

This thread is ...just... WOW...... I mean REALLY.... Are you people for real. Do those of you posting that this is SOOOO wrong, and that this age of children just can't possibly do this, and that it is BAD for them, know anything about the human body? Or muscle physiology?? I raced MX from the age of 10, BMX from the age of 12, Skated from I do not remember how young. do you have any idea how physically demanding these sports are?? I was skating or riding MILES a day by the time I was 10 yrs old. As were all the kids I hang out with. By the time I was 14 I was working out with a few of my friends 3 days a week. @ 15 yrs old it was up to 5 days a week. And all it ever did was help me in life. I never got/get sick, didn't get all the nasty little "injuries" everyone around me was getting. I was strong. By the time me and my group of friends graduated HS we were all in excellent physical condition. Better than most of the "jocks" actually. Our gym teachers and PT's were great at teaching us the CORRECT FORM and way to exercise. I credit them for my base of knowledge and many issue free years of strength training.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with these kids doing "Insanity", as all it is, is all the old school calisthenics with some newer stuff thrown in. It is really not that hard of a workout. This is the stuff we did at my HS for gym classes. No big deal.

Quit your whining, and make your kids do something. Start to finish, no excuses .... No one stepped on your "parental rights" , as you should expect physical exercise would be happening when you saw "gym" class on your child's schedule. If you don't, then you are an ignorant.

OP - you and all the other indignant, whiney azz, offended people are a major problem with schools and this country in general ..... Suck it up, Man up, and quit whining ...