Critics Slam Wii 'Virtual PE' Initiative

Scheme labelled 'gimmick'

Posted by Staff
Critics Slam Wii 'Virtual PE' Initiative
The Independent on Sunday yesterday reported that, following an experiment in Worcestershire schools, the government has a pilot scheme in the pipeline to get students fit using the Nintendo Wii as part of the National Curriculum.

Now critics are coming out against the plan bring Wii into school PE lessons.

The chairman of the Campaign for Real Education - a group that claims it is "concerned about falling standards and damaging changes in state education... being forced through without any evidence to support them" - Nick Seaton, said, "Pupils would be far better doing serious competitive sports and games than this sort of thing. It looks like another gimmick. It's pandering to the views of the physically idle."

We love that phrase, "physically idle"... no one outside of BBC TV version of a Charles Dickens' novels or maybe the British National Party uses phrases like that these days. It's a corker!

The scheme, which was put into place by the Droitwich and Worcester City School Sport Partnership, apparently had pupils queuing up at lunchtime to get a go on Wiis at five schools. Heart monitoring showed that the pupils became fitter after repeated use of the Wii.

The Independent tells us it "understands that the departments responsible for improving fitness among the nation's youngsters have officially endorsed the project – with a pilot scheme in the pipeline."

"We welcome the positive impact that innovations like these can have as a first step towards getting people to participate in a range of physical activities and to enjoy the many benefits of an active lifestyle", said a Department of Health representative.

A spokesman for Droitwich and Worcester City School Partnership commented, "The use of computer games to increase physical activity levels and raise attainment to some would seem contradictory but with rigid structures in place and by using specific games students soon found themselves being active and engaged almost without realising it."

SPOnG would like to point something out to all the naysayers before they get up in arms. Namely, the phrase 'Virtual PE' that's getting thrown about is a bit misleading. There is nothing in The Independent's report to suggest the Wii is replacing more... 'traditional' sporting activities.

It points out that students were queuing at lunchtime to have a swing with the Wii Remote. When SPOnG was a lazy teenager we used to spend our lunchtimes sat around trying to look at Jackie Dobson's bra (we weren't sophisticated enough to try and look down it back then). Surely its better for your health to be playing Wii Sports than to be getting slapped in the face?

The government also clearly referred to this sort of initiative as a "first step", not a complete solution.

Were PE teachers plonking students in front of a Wii instead of kicking them out into the rain for a good ol' fashioned game of footy during lessons, SPOnG would be right there with the Campaign for Real Education.

"Give them competitive sports that make them bleed!" we would cry. "We want none of this lily-livered liberal nonsense that tries to engage the pupils' interests!" But, fortunately, our nation's children will still get the opportunity to do cross-country runs in their shorts in January. Not enough cross-country or maybe javelin catching as far as we're concerned, but still some.

Who and how is going to pay for these Wiis in school though?

Nintendo had probably better hurry up and give us an official release date for Wii Fitness in the UK...

Source: Independent on Sunday, †Channel 4 News, Daily Mail
Companies:
Games:

Comments

Joji 28 Jan 2008 13:54
1/6
Its this kind of intiative that pleases me, but there'll always be some naysayer who doubt it'll work.

Forget that lame guy Nick. I'd like to see that sucker play Wii Boxing for an hour, and tell me it doesn't give you a good work out. On my first go I was sweating buckets, perhaps a sign I need more exercise, lol.

In short this Wii idea is good. Its an exercise worthy extention of what some school in the USA have previously done with DDR machines. Its about giving kids something to do that's fun and engaging, but also letting them exercise, without the boredom that can come with knowing you are doing exercise.

The very reason I gave up going to the gym as an adult was due to this boredom and repetitive nature of exercise. Eliminate that and kids will be competing all over the schools Wii's. I'll be keeping a close eye on progress of this.

Nick Seaton, you dumb ass. Try seeing it in action and talk to the kids, you tosser. Its about them, not you.
DoctorDee 28 Jan 2008 14:29
2/6
We love that phrase, "physically idle"... no one outside of BBC TV version of a Charles Dickens' novels or maybe the British National Party uses phrases like that these days.

Mr Seaton hails, I believe, from York... basically as Dickensian a setting as you can get from a production design point of view. Whenever I wander down the Shambles, I expect a first floor window to be cast open, and a gentleman to hand me £20 and beseech me to fetch for him the largest turkey in all of Yorkshire.

Whatever Mr Seaton's qualities (and I bet voting Tory is one of them), this is a particularly reactionary response. Here is a perfectly good idea, designed specifically to stop people being "physically idle", yet because it involves new-fangled technology, luddites like Seaton (who still refers to the three Rs) immediately condemn it.


more comments below our sponsor's message
deleted 28 Jan 2008 15:53
3/6
Critics Schmitics!
Dreadknux 29 Jan 2008 09:51
4/6
Nick Seaton, you dumb ass. Try seeing it in action and talk to the kids, you tosser. Its about them, not you.

People have got to look out for their own job security though; it's all about the Benjamins.

I hated P.E. in my school though. Too much emphasis on football, not enough on rugby... hell, not enough on anything else really. Indoor sports never had the stuff I wanted to play, despite us apparently having a 'choice'... and the teachers were right bastards to boot.

Happy days.
Absinthe-Review.net 29 Jan 2008 20:07
5/6
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
Nick Seaton, you dumb ass. Try seeing it in action and talk to the kids, you tosser. Its about them, not you.

People have got to look out for their own job security though; it's all about the Benjamins.

I hated P.E. in my school though. Too much emphasis on football, not enough on rugby... hell, not enough on anything else really. Indoor sports never had the stuff I wanted to play, despite us apparently having a 'choice'... and the teachers were right bastards to boot.

Happy days.


Sounds just like my PE days. I was one of the few soccer players, and I remember one year we just skipped it. Played about a month of football, but those that didn't want to play could run the track. So, I spent a month sleeping in the bleachers with the other soccer players...

But about this whole Wii and fitness business...all naysayers will be silenced when Wii Fit hits store shelves.
Mr Green 18 Apr 2009 08:29
6/6
Wi means one or 2 players per session...... use the Cyber Coach and get upto 36 players per session

We have one at school and it is very very popular

web site is www.cyber-coach.co.uk
Posting of new comments is now locked for this page.