Benefit or absurdity: Pskov residents are discussing the initiative to introduce mandatory GTO tests in schools

How it all started

At the beginning of the week it became known that State Duma deputy from United Russia Sergei Kolunov contacted the Ministry of Education. He proposed to provide mandatory passing of GTO standards as part of physical education classes. Compulsory for everyone except students with contraindications to physical education due to health reasons.

The author of the initiative hopes that the GTO set of exercises has been the basis for the physical education of children and adolescents since Soviet times, and the standards have been “passed by millions of people.”

Moreover, Sergei Kolunov is convinced: the introduction of mandatory GTO standards will contribute not only to “all-round personal development”but even education of patriotism. How push-ups and bends from a gymnastic bench will help children love their Motherland better is still a mystery.

Meanwhile, the bias of modern education towards the former traditions of the Soviet period is becoming more and more obvious. It seems that in the pursuit of returning “the very best in the world” education, current legislators are beginning to fitfully introduce individual elements such as basic military training or “talks about what is important”, which is ambiguously perceived by society.

A word to parents

Parents of Pskov schoolchildren perceive such innovations with distrust.

“At the beginning of this school year, my children did not study for a whole week, but crawled under barbed wire and threw grenades. These classes were given to them instead of physics, mathematics, Russian lessons… And I don’t really understand how all the skills acquired this week fit in with the mission of education.”– expressed his opinion father of two sons Anton.

At the same time, if the program is restructured so that children really become faster, taller, stronger, and in addition could pass the GTO standard, Anton I’ll be glad.

But is it worth sending children to swimming or shooting classes for the sake of the GTO badge and, perhaps, sacrificing other sections and hobbies? Position Anton In this regard, it is clear: you should send your child to any clubs only if he is interested in it.

“If we do everything, including playing sports and preparing for passing standards, we will get nothing but hatred for this subject.”,” the man emphasized.

It is clear that the idea of ​​mass participation in sports will not cause universal delight among all children, but among them, most likely, there will be those who will be able to reveal their potential through the activities that have become mandatory, I am sure Pskovich Sergey.

“My sister proudly recalls how she and her friend, faster than anyone in the class, even faster than the boys, disassembled and assembled a machine gun at the NVP [курс начальной военной подготовки – ред.]. And she really liked shooting from a rifle (and this is one of the GTO standards). To this day, although she is already approaching 50, she dreams of going to the shooting range again.”– gave his example Sergey.

But there is another opinion. For example, mother of a second grader Anna I’m sure that mandatory standards have nothing to do with health.

“How will the ability to run 100-300 meters affect your health? Some people simply cannot run short distances, while others find it difficult to run long distances. There was a case not even with schoolchildren, but with a Pskov student who died while running. Now, if all this is brought to the level of “mandatory”, will we expect children to die from the stress of running, swimming, jumping?” – she expressed indignation.

And in general, the line of “obligatory”, when it depends on the decision of the doctor issuing the permit, is very vague, I’m sure Anna. The Pskovich resident believes that the standards already included in the physical education program are sufficient for schoolchildren.

“Normal parents will not torture their child for the sake of a GTO badge. But not all children need it. It’s unlikely that any schoolchildren wrote: “Grandfather Frost, I want a GTO badge!” Therefore, I think that this is just for show and a demonstration of the ambitions of politicians. If we would like to improve the level of health of schoolchildren, we would do free tests at school, which would reveal pathologies and diseases, as part of the clinical examination of classes. This is about health. And sport is about stress, and about stress on health.”– summed up mother of an elementary school student.

By the way, judging by the list of mandatory exercises, physical education classes alone a couple of times a week will not get by. You will have to keep in shape regularly, because in order to get a test and score points for a bronze badge, you need to be able to run 3 kilometers in 15 minutes, do 25 push-ups, long jump at least 192 centimeters and much more.

Are schools ready for this?

Of course, in order to introduce such a seemingly harmless innovation, the educational program in physical education will have to be redrawn, she told the correspondent of “MK in Pskov” teacher of one of the schools in Pskov Nina Lvovna.

“It all depends on whether only a mandatory block will be introduced for everyone to take, or an optional block as well. But, in any case, we need to start by equipping schools with sports equipment, teachers and medical workers!” – she emphasized.

According to observations Nina LvovnaEvery year Approximately 12% are sent to take the GTO of the total number of students. Graduates are often interested in receiving a badge, because when entering a university, it can provide from 3 to 10 points, depending on the color. In conditions of fierce competition in large universities, points will not be superfluous. Whether they will remain after the introduction of universal compliance with standards is a good question.

At the same time, another trend is observed in schools: from year to year the number of students with certificates is growingnoticed physical education teacher. Certificates assign a special mode of activity – special group (when certain types of exercise are prohibited for health reasons) and preparatory (when restrictions are weaker). However, both of them are not allowed to pass the GTO standards. And about 20% of students in each class have certificates.

“We know the fact that some parents literally “attacked” clinics on the eve of the new school year in order to get their child a medical exemption from physical education classes.”– added head teacher of the same school Elena Vladimirovna.

What then is the essence of compulsory passing of standards for everyone? How will the nation’s health improve if only the healthiest are allowed to take classes and take the GTO?

It turns out that it is necessary to introduce separate standards for children with different health conditions, taking into account all sorts of factors and restrictions. And, of course, equip the halls and look for teachers, she summed up Nina Lvovna and called the initiative unpromising for a mass school.

Head teacher Elena Vladimirovna I am also sure that passing the GTO standards will not make children healthier, and their physical fitness is already monitored as part of more sensitive tasks in physical education lessons.

“There is a big problem with physical education teachers and primary sports coaches. They are sorely missed. In addition, due to the workload of Pskov schools with children, it is very difficult to organize high-quality preparation for passing the GTO. Often more than one class practices in the gym. We also don’t have a single school in the city that would have its own swimming pool, but those who pass the swimming standard will have to somehow prepare for it… Here we come to the fact that the big The burden of responsibility for preparing and motivating children falls on parentsand we have paid classes in many additional sections”– expressed her opinion head teacher of Pskov school.

Of course, there is no such thing as a uniquely “good” or a uniquely “bad” idea (or initiative, whatever you like). Each of them has something positive – for example, the desire to improve the health of the younger generation and even give them the opportunity to discover previously hidden sports talents. But often such ideas come up against a huge cornerstone – the competent organization of bringing it to life.

What is really missing is not new fresh ideas, but the systematic implementation of previous ones, equipment, equipment and qualified personnel. But whether these problems (which, by the way, we can observe not only in the field of education) will be solved is still unknown.