Comments on: Why I’ll Never Go To MIT

By: Terrance

Terrance — Sat, 13 May 2006 14:46:59 +0000

Yes, it has occured to me that an adult swimming class might be in order. Maybe even sometime this summer.

By: Tim Who?

Tim Who? — Sat, 13 May 2006 02:16:03 +0000

I can swim but I'm a poor swimmer, 4 laps would be tough for me. I had to take a swim test in the Navy (duh) and I passed but it took everything I had. The one thing I did learn was how to remove my pants underwater and tie them off at the ankles then scoop the pants through the air and fill the pant legs with air allowing you to ride the pants like a life vest. Trust me it works.

I'm not sure swimming should be a requirement, but some small swimming skill should be known by all. I'm not saying you should swim miles but lets say your car goes off the road and into a lake, you're going to drown because you can't make it 15 feet back to shore? Or some jackass pushes off a pier. Or you slip off. The shore is but 25 feet away. That's the kind of swimming everyone should know and its that survival skill that MIT is requiring. Four laps is what 100ft 150ft? That's just enough to save your life in most water accidents and something everyone should know.

T, I suspect your inability to swim has more to do with fear than swimming. My Mother had a odd fear of getting her face wet and strangely so do I. My hubby was shocked the first time I stepped out of the shower and my face way dry. To tell the truth I have trouble even with a wet washcloth on my face. But I have learned that if it gets wet I will survive. I still DON'T LIKE IT ONE BIT. But deep inside I know if push comes to shove I can swim underwater 50ft. If I fall into the water I WILL swim to shore.

I say go back to the pool and drag your fear kicking and screaming behind you and learn to swim if only one trip side to side in the pool. (in the shallow end)

Please PLEASE think of Parker. If he fell in water you should be prepared to dive (jump) in and save him. Who cares if you can swim across a lake thats one thing but saving yourself or your child is a skill that every parent should know. (right there with First aid and CPR)

By: Michael Hanscom

Michael Hanscom — Fri, 12 May 2006 15:28:16 +0000

My High School implemented swimming as a graduation requirement while I was there (actually not applying to my class, I was “grandfathered” out of it — but I’d have passed anyway, as swim class was my scheme for getting out of ‘normal’ gym classes), and we were all surprised that it _wasn’t_ a requirement beforehand. But then, in Alaska, when there are lakes everywhere and there are more towns that you have to fly to (over water) than you can drive to, knowing how to swim is kind of a no-brainer.

While I’ll agree that having a swimming requirement for MIT graduation seems less necessary than it would in, say, Alaska or Hawaii, I must join in with some of the above commentors in professing no sympathy for this girl (and the other students in her position). She’s known about this _for four years_ now. If she’s unable to graduate because she ignored or put this off for four years…well, that’s nobody’s fault but hers.

By: Bart

Bart — Fri, 12 May 2006 01:30:08 +0000

I never learned to swim formally — but I could dog paddle for 4 laps, lol!

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 11 May 2006 18:36:58 +0000

I took lots of lessons when I was a kid, but neither me, my brother, nor my dad can swim. When I went to RPI, there was a "swim by graduation" requirement. Fortunately, after my freshman year, they got rid of it.

By: Nyeelah

Nyeelah — Thu, 11 May 2006 18:31:21 +0000

I agree with Neo You knew it was coming should have prepared. I have no use for chemistry nor biology (don’t even think I can spell them) but I was forced to take these classes. Welcome to the real world sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

By: Chris T.

Chris T. — Thu, 11 May 2006 18:29:50 +0000

Whoa, I went to high school with Stephanie. Although when I started the Academy, you had to pass a swim test to graduate, so I wonder if they changed that when she came through. (She was two classes behind me.)

By: ChgoRed

ChgoRed — Thu, 11 May 2006 16:37:33 +0000

Passing a swimming test was one of the requirements for high school graduation in my school district. And even though I almost never swim, and didn’t even know how before I got to high school, I’m glad I have some idea of how to do it. If I ever get in a situation where I *need* to know how to swim, I could at least flail around enough to keep myself alive.

By: Nio

Nio — Thu, 11 May 2006 16:17:17 +0000

I can understand the need to learn to swim. I too think it is an important surivial skill. And I can understand where you’re coming from, that this is an arbitary requirement that serves no *academic* or *educational* purpose. But it’s not like this girl, and others like her, didn’t know this exam was coming. She had four years to learn to swim to prepare for this particular exam. And she waited until the last minute and now she’s panicking.

Feel bad for her? Nope. Not an ounce.