BY: Brittany Vallely
On August 28, 2018, Auburn University at Montgomery’s Physical Education Program started a
social media debate on Facebook about inappropriate games and activities played in P.E.
The post was a document from the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) suggesting
how games such as Red Rover, Duck-Duck-Goose, and musical chairs, which are currently
recommended, should no longer be allowed in Alabama schools.
The post went viral overnight, but was taken down the next day at noon. The debate has even
appeared on the local news, which mentions how AUM started the discussion.
Some people in the comment section did not see a problem with the document and others saw the
board trying to bubble wrap students, but that is not the reason why the post was taken down.
Dr. Erin Reilly, a professor of Physical Education at AUM, is over the Facebook page and took
down the post after she read an article that quoted Superintendent Eric Mackey stating “it’s not
an official state document.”
“The State Department sent it out to every educator in the state,” Reilly said. “I was only trying
to inform people, but when the superintendent denied it, I figured I should take it down.”
According to Reilly the documents have been around for years, and the state department sent out
the documents as a simple reminder that these might not be the best games to play. Most
educators know about these documents, but people outside physical education are just not aware.
However, since the list has finally been shared public through social media, people are starting
debates.
Dr. George Schaefer, Department Head for Kinesiology at AUM, does not have a problem with
the document because the document has nothing to do with recess, just physical education and
instruction.
“The games should have an objective just like any other class,” Schaefer said.
Not all physical educators agree that every single suggestion in the list is right. For example, Dr.
Reilly and Dr. Schaefer believe that not allowing yoga is part of the Physical Education hall of
shame. Nevertheless, there have been many cases where parents have sued over a game of
dodgeball.
“The issue is the elimination games like dodgeball, where the least skilled kid is not getting the
experience,” Schaefer said. “Good teachers know how to modify. People should participate.”
The shared document titled “Alabama State Department of Education Inappropriate Activities”
has also been deleted from the ALSDE website, but The Alabama Physical Education
Instructional Guide can be easily found online and has been there for a long time. The guide also
includes the reasons why they avoid the old childhood games such as:
● Have the potential to embarrass or single out a student in front of class.
● Focus on eliminating students from participation.
● Over-emphasize fun with no purpose or objective.
● Lack emphasis on skill development.
● Have a high likelihood for danger, injury, or harm. Limit maximum participation by
majority of students.
Looking back, Schaefer wishes they left the Facebook post up for the dialog and learning
purposes.
“Having an opinion is okay and that is what college is about, to be able to have a discussion,”
Schaefer said.