I grew up when they were doing “tracking” to put the bright STEM (though they didn’t call it that then) kids into the fast track. Too bad they wouldn’t do something similar (and likely pretty much inverse) for PE. When I finally got to High School, I found I could avoid PE by being in the marching (during football season) band. That was actually fun.
Coaches have only one imperative, make the kids suffer. I imagine when the kids die of heat exhaustion the coaches just consider them wimps!! And yes, it happens.
Heh, I don’t remember really having periods in elementary school, though we did have a “special” period at one point in the day where we’d go to either the gymnasium, the art classroom, the music classroom, the media center, or the health classroom, depending on what day of the week it was. It probably didn’t help that the school I went to for grades 1 to 6 didn’t even have a bell system in use!
From what I recall, in elementary school, we had one teacher for everything, including gym or “PE” as we called it. There was no “coach”. Separate classes with a different teacher for each subject started in 7th grade.
Of course, that was a long time ago. Even some twenty years before Calvin’s time.
I hated gym class. Got picked on too much. Finally got fed up and punched the biggest jerk who was picking on me. That ended all the “picking on.” Got suspended for a couple days! :-)
The summer when I was nine was ruined by an emergency appendectomy, but we’ll worth it, as I was excused from gym the first semester of 5th grade, which focused on gymnastics.
I actually had a kid like that in HS. He was an upperclassman, and liked to pick (extort) the freshmen boys in gym class. The “teacher” never seemed to be around the last 10 minutes of the period. Knowing what I know now, I should have just left the class and gone straight to the main office and sat down.
Our gym “teacher” was, of course, the football coach. One of his favorite activities was “jungle ball” – basketball with no fouls called. He would invariably put the football goons on one team & the smart kids on the other. Calvin’s experience in re “aerobic violence”is close to a universal.
I see some commenters suggest that fighting back against bullies will make them stop bullying you. That may work against lone bullies who have little-to-no support backing them, but like I said earlier, I grew up in a community where the bullies were in gangs. Anyone who fought back that wasn’t the police had to deal with not only the bully again but his friends, as well. As hypocritical as it seems, they saw fighting back as disrespectful and they took it as an invitation to push harder.
They were, however, not always the brutish “thugs” that people were quick to label them as. They actually respected authority as long as they were treated fairly, and as long as those with authority acted with authority and made sure the punishments fit the crimes. It’s plausible to theorize that’s where the whole mess began, with authority either abusing or relinquishing their power, and allowing the situation to cycle out of control or something.
My mother taught in the district I grew up in, and she found that approaching bullies and talking to them helps. It wasn’t a magical one-step solution but it helped the smaller kids get through their school days. If you have authority, then talk to the Moes so you can help the Calvins. They tend to be more receptive to advice, at least more so than the anti-vaxxers do.
BE THIS GUY over 3 years ago
Time to feign a stomachache and get a pass to the nurse’s office.
dadthedawg Premium Member over 3 years ago
Sounds like…..Hamburger Helper.
Templo S.U.D. over 3 years ago
What a considerate coach. (Calvin’s father will then say aerobics build character.)
codycab over 3 years ago
Is it any wonder kids go straight from school to the hospital?
Cool Hand Luke Premium Member over 3 years ago
Just give him a good knee shot where it counts. Bullies run away from anyone who stands up to them……especially when you grow 6 inches over the summer.
Concretionist over 3 years ago
I grew up when they were doing “tracking” to put the bright STEM (though they didn’t call it that then) kids into the fast track. Too bad they wouldn’t do something similar (and likely pretty much inverse) for PE. When I finally got to High School, I found I could avoid PE by being in the marching (during football season) band. That was actually fun.
in.amongst over 3 years ago
Methinks Calvin is a budding Progressive – pacifist and destructive in precisely the wrong areas of life.
Baarorso over 3 years ago
How many are willing to believe that Calvin’s coach is Coach Lockjaw (remember him from the “baseball arc”).
Susan00100 over 3 years ago
It may be wrong, but I wish all bullies, male and female (including Moe) would succumb to COVID-19.
chuckcork1 over 3 years ago
I went to boarding school, with no escape they could just leave it to any time they chose.
Tom Browns school days, Lord of the Flies etc., novels that were supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual.
Scots PGC Warwick, Class of 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, I’m talking about YOU.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 3 years ago
Coaches have only one imperative, make the kids suffer. I imagine when the kids die of heat exhaustion the coaches just consider them wimps!! And yes, it happens.
smilingtexan over 3 years ago
This strip could not be written today, sadly.
Gandalf over 3 years ago
It’s the running away that’s the aerobic part.
Puddleglum2 over 3 years ago
It too bad character doesn’t build Calvin.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Gym class teaches aggression and, oddly enough, humility. Sort of mixed messages there.
david_42 over 3 years ago
Every school coach ever.
wiley207 over 3 years ago
Heh, I don’t remember really having periods in elementary school, though we did have a “special” period at one point in the day where we’d go to either the gymnasium, the art classroom, the music classroom, the media center, or the health classroom, depending on what day of the week it was. It probably didn’t help that the school I went to for grades 1 to 6 didn’t even have a bell system in use!
Kaputnik over 3 years ago
From what I recall, in elementary school, we had one teacher for everything, including gym or “PE” as we called it. There was no “coach”. Separate classes with a different teacher for each subject started in 7th grade.
Of course, that was a long time ago. Even some twenty years before Calvin’s time.
Kilrwat Premium Member over 3 years ago
Many sports are thinly veiled organized violence. That’s why they are so fun!
sundogusa over 3 years ago
I hated gym class. Got picked on too much. Finally got fed up and punched the biggest jerk who was picking on me. That ended all the “picking on.” Got suspended for a couple days! :-)
Snolep over 3 years ago
The summer when I was nine was ruined by an emergency appendectomy, but we’ll worth it, as I was excused from gym the first semester of 5th grade, which focused on gymnastics.
dv1093 over 3 years ago
I actually had a kid like that in HS. He was an upperclassman, and liked to pick (extort) the freshmen boys in gym class. The “teacher” never seemed to be around the last 10 minutes of the period. Knowing what I know now, I should have just left the class and gone straight to the main office and sat down.
gantech over 3 years ago
Calvin must have gone to my school…
inevattable over 3 years ago
Back in the day, school would have been tolerable were it not for mandatory gym class – horrible horrible memories.
khcm1157 over 3 years ago
By the time you get to Junior High gym class becomes more anaerobic.
David_J Premium Member over 3 years ago
My childhood in four panels.
WCraft Premium Member over 3 years ago
Quick Calvin – grab some Catsup! It has natural mellowing agents!
smsrt over 3 years ago
Moe is going to have a good time in San Quinten.
KEA over 3 years ago
My gym teacher though PE was a recruiting ground for his basketball team
Cozmik Cowboy over 3 years ago
Our gym “teacher” was, of course, the football coach. One of his favorite activities was “jungle ball” – basketball with no fouls called. He would invariably put the football goons on one team & the smart kids on the other. Calvin’s experience in re “aerobic violence”is close to a universal.
BiggerNate91 over 3 years ago
I hope coaches like that don’t exist anymore.
donwestonmysteries over 3 years ago
Calvin ought to be creative enough to outsmart him.
hagarthehorrible over 3 years ago
Calvin, borrow that Roosevelt stick from Lucy in Peanuts and make this jerk smell some asphalt in the gym class.
A Hip loving Canadian... over 3 years ago
Sometimes, fear of the beating is worse than the beating. But only if you survive.
thepinkbaroness over 3 years ago
It builds character.
Say What? Premium Member over 3 years ago
I see some commenters suggest that fighting back against bullies will make them stop bullying you. That may work against lone bullies who have little-to-no support backing them, but like I said earlier, I grew up in a community where the bullies were in gangs. Anyone who fought back that wasn’t the police had to deal with not only the bully again but his friends, as well. As hypocritical as it seems, they saw fighting back as disrespectful and they took it as an invitation to push harder.
They were, however, not always the brutish “thugs” that people were quick to label them as. They actually respected authority as long as they were treated fairly, and as long as those with authority acted with authority and made sure the punishments fit the crimes. It’s plausible to theorize that’s where the whole mess began, with authority either abusing or relinquishing their power, and allowing the situation to cycle out of control or something.
My mother taught in the district I grew up in, and she found that approaching bullies and talking to them helps. It wasn’t a magical one-step solution but it helped the smaller kids get through their school days. If you have authority, then talk to the Moes so you can help the Calvins. They tend to be more receptive to advice, at least more so than the anti-vaxxers do.