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}