Gym teacher makes 9th Graders do Insanity Workout

I don't think that is a big deal, at all. It's good to train younger kids, and make them work hard because nowadays all kids do is sit on the sofa watching t.v. When I was in 8th grade l I had one hour and a 15 minutes of intense cardio five times a week for our P.E. The teachers are simply challenging the students, which is totally acceptable.

I think this is a brilliant idea! Most kids are lazy and don't want to do anything in gym class! I think I will make a suggestion to the schools in my area.

I think it's a great idea. As long as the children are monitored then I see no problem with it. I only wish they had Insanity in P.E when I was a kid.

I agree P.E. teachers should design a workout program that is suitable for kids. Doing Insanity or P90X is ridiculous especially without the parents contest.

This is what I've thought for years...teach kids how to go from the couch to being in shape and include sports in that plan.

For all the people that keep throwing out the - anyone starting a workout program should be cleared by a physician first - as a reason the kids should not be doing Insanity, every school district we have ever been in required a physical yearly before school started, by a physician. Doesn't that cover this requirement? The doctors already note which children have asthma and other issues that can prevent them from fully engaging in certain activities.

Yes, also, 504s/IEPs/the like will cover a lot if the children can not participate.

My 16 yo hockey playing daughter has been going to do PT with the Poolee's at the Marine Recruit Center since she was 14 1/2. She's been doing a heck of a lot harder things than Insanity. Currently (because we looked it up) She can almost qualify for the Elite Personal Fitness Qualifiers for males in the Air Force.

She's gonna be a Marine.

I think more kids should be exposed to that type of exercise, some would probably love it.

When I was a kid in PE we got to choose what "classes" we wanted to take. I took Jazzercise for a quarter (Yeah, I'm THAT old) thinking easy A. Instead I lost a lot of inches. Too bad we didn't have that more, but it was fun. Insanity to me does not seem fun, but heck, ask my kid and she'd say "Hell Yeah!" and be the first in line.

We need to have more of these choices for kids.

Just found out that my friend's daughter who is 14 years old had to do an Insanity workout at school this past Friday. Apparently the gym teacher made all the students do this very demanding workout. This is crazy especially since this is a workout program for people 18 years or older. The teacher didn't even ask the parents permission to teach this workout program!!

As you can imagine the kids were struggling after 2 minutes of doing Insanity. Also the teacher plans to do more programs.

Don't get me wrong kids needs physical activity but extreme programs are not appropriate for kids.

My friend is going to meet with the principal of the school to discuss this issue.

Are there any parents out there who kids are doing Insanity or P90X in school?

This is not an appropriate workout for teenagers. In fact, the only people who should do Insanity are those who are old enough to make that decision on their own. Most school gyms have basketball, volleyball, hockey, along with baseball and track, etc. If one of these kids has a heart condition that is undetected (and that's been known to happen), and he/she falls dead of a heart attack, there's going to be hell to pay. I agree with you. The idea of Insanity for 9th graders is literally INSANE!

An undetected heart condition is horrible but no reason to live in complete fear, either as an individual or as a society. School REALLY is supposed to prepare kids for the future. Cowering away from new experiences is not in the curriculum. (of course there's the argument that 'when will I ever need algebra?" and basketball has NEVER had any place in my life.. Physical Fitness is different.)

All I can think is "What a lazy teacher..."

Oh HELL no. If this happened in my son's school, I'd raise all different kinds of hell. It's not safe and not meant for children.

This is an old thread, but it is perfectly safe. 9th graders are 14 and 15 years old, hardly little kids.

My 7 year old does full-on circuit training. rope climb, small kettle bell swings, burpees, tire work, rope swings, etc., etc.

Have you ever watched football practice, soccer practice, tennis practice, lacrosse or any one of another million things kids do from pee-wee on? How about swim drills?

Sheesh.

When I was in secondary school (about 8 years ago) we had to do a bi-monthly fitness test. The same one they use in the army. It was ridiculously tough. And then after that they made us run the 20-m shuttle run test as well.
And oh yeah, most of us already had to cycle an hour to get to school (Dutch coutryside, school was miles away for most of us).
Crazy *ss PE teachers.

I am sure your teenagers can do Insanity. They know when they really need to stop.