Gym teacher makes 9th Graders do Insanity Workout

Hmm, I had some really good P.E. teachers in Jr and High school. And I had some meh P.E. teachers. My high school aerobics teacher was the best, and even though I'm much heavier than I was then, I still really enjoy aerobics and vigorous walking. And I think that's to her credit. They're my go to exercises now.

However, she never put on videos and made us do them. She did every exercise herself and we followed along, and eventually, we were able to put together our own routines and be the 'class lead' in rotation.

IF it is just the teacher, turning on an LCD projector and playing Insanity against the wall with blasting speakers and telling the kids to follow along, complain, that's bull and really bad teaching.

IF the teacher is actually teaching how the body works, safety and streching, how exercise affects us, target heart rate, and Insanity is a 'sometimes' activity for a boosted exercise regime, I think it's okay. It could really interest kids who do not know how to exercise, are too old to 'go out and play', and do not run around for exercise on their own.

It's better than just being told to run laps all day. <-- This will turn kids off exercise because it's boring and you're not allowed to use ipods during class (at least not at my school).

That's a genius idea! I wish they would do that in the UK schools then we wouldn't have such a high obesity in youth problem.

Wish they did that when I was younger. My fat a55 hated PE :laugh:

I find I interesting we ***** about the obesity problem in America and with our kids and when we have a gym teacher who is taking the initiative to make these kids work (check out what football, basketball and wrestlers in school have to do) we complain. We are a country of pansies. I just read this to my wife and she said when she was in school, (years ago) they did the same type program every Friday, called Fit Friday. So let the kids work out and become fit role models.

Considering how little physical exercise kids get nowadays and rampant childhood obesity, they probably need something like Insanity in PE.

Not really sure what the complaint is here. You want to give consent for your kid to do something more than LOLJUMPINGJACKS?

I complained about the jumping jacks and windmills when I was in PE. I complained about field day. I would have complained about Insanity. Hell, I complained about having to sit outside on the bleachers while watching the other kids do crap. Why? Because I was a teenager and complaining about everything it what teenagers do.

Hopefully, your kid will get something out of that program other than your whining.

^^ this

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!

^^^This!!!

To add my thoughts to this thread:

The children are FINE with doing any kind of exercise in PE! As long as it's safe. Yes, I have experience with Insanity and know it's tough! They can do it their own pace as others have mentioned. Also, as others have mentioned, there is no need for me, as a parent, to be notified of my child taking this in class. Which, by the way, his football instructor has had them take! And, NO... the Coach did NOT get our approvals first. My son told me because I was bugging him to do the program with me and he wouldn't, then he came home and told me Coach had the team work on it one week.

Wow...we used to do somethign similar when I was in school...

Seriously tho kids need physical activity...move their butts...childhood obesity and diabetes is an epedimic in our countries (Canada, US, UK etc)

tell your friend to be glad the PE is still in the school and the teacher cares enough to teach them Physcial education.

On a side note no one seems to have issues with having football or hockey in our schools which can permantly disable our children...Hellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

What sort of PE classes do you guys have over in the USA that some of you think insanity is too hard for young people? I'd have fallen down and kissed my PE teacher if all I'd had to do in high school PE classes was an insanity workout.

Instead we got mountain climbing (I hate heights), wind surfing (that was cool!), triathlon races (swim 1000m, bike 10km and run 3km), Gymnastics (rings and parallel bars, again the heights), trampoline (with somersaults, nearly broke my back here), karate, football (soccer), orienteering (10km circuit) and biking around the darn country for a whole week. I was fit and healthy all the way through my youth thanks to PE despite the fact that I despised those classes with the hate of ten thousand burning suns.

At least they are up and moving. Insanity beats the hell out of dodgeball.

THIS. IS. CRAZY!!! Kids muscles aren't developed enough to do intense workouts like this. I hear this can cause serious permanent damage. My teen sister is my best workout partner. We do Zumba, SHORT sessions of Insanity, and Rockin' Body but this is one or two times/wk, not every day and we switch up the workouts. I would never make her do a full Insanity session as I can't do it myself, yet. Being required to do this without the parent's consent is WRONG. When I was in high school, we did Sweatin To The Oldies. I think that, or Tae Bo, maybe a good option, but Insanity is WAY TOO MUCH. Also, what is the gym teacher doing while the kids are watching a video. How lazy is that?!

I don't see anywhere in the post that the kids are forced to work out beyond their ability or that they are being forced to do entire sessions. I certainly don't see where the teacher is laying down eating bonbons during the workout. Nor does it say that this is anything semester-long or any different in any way from any other workout or exercise program introduced during the class.

So, in short, I don't see what the difference is between this and what you do with your "best workout partner."