It wasn't bad for me, but I have a cross country and a track letter. Even the running I did in the Marines was kinda boring until I got some rank and could run my troops 'till they puked. (numbah is a sadistic freak)

I hated, hated, hated, HATED gym for about 9 years, but this year is the last year I had to take it, and he just let us walk around the school all class.

P.E. was okay in school. this was years ago but did not recall having a horrid time there. I was about in the middle athletic wise. not awful but not star either. got through for the most part with no awful memories.

I loved Phys. Ed. Maybe I'm one of the few, but I enjoyed the chance to be let loose outside to get out the excess energy I had to stifle all day sitting in a classroom.

I liked PE up until my freshman year of hs. I had played sports all of my life, which I am told eventually led to the problems I had with them in high school. By 9th grade, I had problems with my knees and ankles which led to days when I was physically unable to change into my gym uniform. My mother about had a field-day when she found out that they wanted to give me a referral, a week's detention, and 2 Saturday's because I didn't dress out enough for class, especially since the space I would take up could easily be used for people who were non-productive members of that year's freshman class.

You know, being one of the least athletic people in my school, i was very glad to only have to take it my freshman year. But shortly afterward, durring my sophomore year, i realized that i was not in great physical condition, i wasn't obese, but rather scrawny. P.E helped me because it was the only real workout i got. This should only be necessary for kids who aren't athletic or sick. I will never forget the kid in my 9th grade P.E class, who had asthma, he would have an attack at least twice a week. Those kids should be exempt, and i think now they are. Athletes don't really need PE, but they seemed to enjoy it the most.

I got this out of the way my first year of high school. Absolutely dreadful waste of time.

No way. Easiest class to skip!

Like being forced to run the same cross country course as potential olympians with the sprinting ability of an asphyxiated walrus? This was extremely frustrating for me.

Of all the abject failures of our education system, is any curriculum a more stunning failure to teach, given the growing (pun intended) obesity problem in the US, than that of PHYSICAL education? Now, I'm all for the freedom to choose your lifestyle and what you put or not put in your mouth, but isn't the trend toward more overweight Americans, more diabetics and poorer eating habits, including IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING! ? If ever a curriculum screamed to have some standards set, goals identified and performance measured, it is this one.

Personally, I'm with the more is better crowd here. I'd also like to note that in most high schools, team sports (and individual sports for that matter) are to a large degree voluntary and extracurricular. P.E. itself has the potential to do considerable benefit to all students, from the jocks to the geeks. There's a time to put away the GameBoy and get away from the keyboard.

I agree with GoneAway. Schools ought to take a second look at their PE programs and begin emphasizing a more healthy living approach. The sedate lifestyle has over the past 50 years become the norm rather than the exception. PE programs ought to teach aerobics, weight-lifting, and running. Bottom line is that personal effectiveness is directly linked to your health. The whole team sports approach is totally outdated. There is more to an education besides reading and math after all.

Yes, it's frustrating for those like myself who are terribly unfit for team sports, but I would have to say they should have had more emphasis on health and fitness in school. It might be an unpopular view, but with such a horrible obesity problem in America, we should do more with teaching kids how to do individual sports or focus on athletic activities such as running or weightlifting.

This was the only thing that kept me sane in middle school. Well, recess too. And lunch break and field trips were fun.

If you're geeky and uncoordinated, this can be a true nightmare. My high school required everyone to take a year of Physical Education, and I took my year in the ninth grade and I didn't look back.