Ridiculous Study of the Month: Gym Class

Injuries to American children during gym classes increased by 150 percent from 1997-2007. This has got the media buzzing as they question whether this is a possible drawback to a movement encouraging more vigorous exercise in schools. You have got to be kidding me? Here are some of the injuries listed by the lead author:

• Children got hurt by running into equipment or having contact with structures or other persons


• Heat stroke


• Fainting


• Heart palpitations


• Boys had more cuts and broken bones than girls


• Girls were more likely to suffer strains and sprains

Lara McKenzie, lead author, went on to say that "being healthy doesn't have to hurt." I agree but maybe this is not all the fault of the gym classes? This generation of kids is fatter and more out of shape. Maybe a retrospective study like this needs a little more follow-up. We already are making gym classes less and less fun (as reported by my kids) because they spend half the class on stretching, etc. Everyone is afraid of a lawsuit. At this rate we may as well put the kids in protective suits and make them hate physical activity. We are already getting rid of dodgeball and tag. Soon anything that is fun will be eliminated because so many kids are out of shape that their shortness of breath will scare the gym teachers. I am not going to call this the Wussie Generation but it is getting close.