Learning to swim--when I was in college we HAD to take swimming.

[raccoon]

Me and some others could already swim, but not the right way; like me, I imagine most of them fiddled around and managed to stay afloat somehow.

Our instructor said those who had learned that way would never swim the prescribed way.

Anybody know the truth of this?


:shrug:

[PRETZEL]

1. For some unknown reason

there was a requirement that if you didn't pass a swimming test you couldn't graduate. Needless to say I didn't come close to passing it first time around and ended up having to take swimming as a PhEd class.

Hated every minute of it,

[DarkTirade]

2. I grew up swimming all the time.

When I was in shape, I could swim from one side of an olympic sized pool to the other with one breath. Breast stroke and frog kick all the way. And yet I can't do a basic freestyle worth a damn. Go figure. :shrug:

[cwydro]

3. I learned at a very young age.

But that doesn't sound right to me. You can learn anything if you're taught correctly.

[siligut]

4. It might take more effort/focus, but never say never.

I think your instructor was full of him/herself. And truthfully, staying afloat is really the most important thing.

[Pharlo]

5. For us,

swimming was mandatory in high school - at least one semester (freshman year). While you got graded on 'form', mere ability to stay afloat got you a 'C'. However, if they felt you made 'insufficient progress', you could get stuck with another mandatory semester.

'Sufficient Progress' was deemed the ability to swim the length of an Olympic sized pool - one way - without having to grab the side of the pool. Stopping to tread water, doggie paddle or float was acceptable as long as you did not touch the edge of the pool.

For everyone who made 'sufficient progress', additional semesters of swimming were available to meet required PhEd credits.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. My Mama went to Winthrop, and

you had to pass swimming there.

[raccoon]

8. That's where I went!

:hi: :pals:

[Are_grits_groceries]

10. She was there before WWII.

She told me that they were called "Fairest Flowers of the Southland." I used to give her grief about that. I have a brazillion relatives who went there. I opted out and went to Clemson.
:hi:

[raccoon]

16. When I went, the college had just started admitting men as day students.

I guess that was about the time they figured they better change that business about the "Fairest Flowers of the Southland." I remember that alma mater, though.

:-) :hi:

[UTUSN]

7. It didn't work for me. It was mandatory in the Navy (duh), in an olympic sized pool

All non-swimmers were identified early in Boot Camp, then had to go to classes. HuMONgous pool. San Diego. Thousands of recruits. The final exam was jumping off the DEEEEP end and making it to the other end. I floundered around and made it. But I don't know how to swim.

[SoxFan]

14. Army ROTC requires it as well

We climbed up on the high diving platform at the Tulane pool and jumped in wearing full web gear and a dummy M-16. I grew up near a lake and have always been a strong swimmer, so it was no problem at all.

[NV Whino]

9. Passing a swimming test in junior college

was required to get a degree, which is the only reason I don't have an AA. This was El Camino in SoCal.
I was skinny as a rail in those days and couldn't even float to the end of the pool.

[conscious evolution]

11. As a former swin instructor

I can attest to what your instructor says.
For some reason that I don't understand people who learned on their own or by the sink or swim method seldom make the transition to swimming with a correct form.

Fwitw,if you can't swim,at least learn how to drown proof yourself.It can save your life.

[Critters2]

12. So, staying afloat isn't the proper way to swim?

Who knew? I always thought that was the point.

I didn't have to pass a swimming test to graduate, but my dad did. It nearly kept him from graduating.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear raccoon!

I went to San Jose State College way back when, and you had to pass a swim class to graduate. It was the only F I had on my transcript.

I took it again, and this time I managed to pass the test.

:eyes:

[madinmaryland]

15. What the FUCK??

We had to take two phys-ed courses of our own choosing.

I chose Billiards and Archery (that was only because they didn't offer Darts 101)!

:rofl: