WHAT MAKES PE IN THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL?

written by Cindy Kuhrasch, University of Wisconsin

For the past two years I have had the privilege of working in a unique program at our university. The "Chinese Champions" program pairs world class Chinese athletes with our Kinesiology program as a way to help them identify skills for a career in the field of Kinesiology. Many of these students are interested in helping students develop motor skills, so their most common question to me is "What are the best things about Physical Education in the United States?"

It's a great question, and one that has given me much to consider.

• What ARE the best things about Physical Education in the United States?
• What DOES set us apart?
• What is it that we do especially well?
• What can we look at in our society that demonstrates the differences our Physical Education practices have made on the youth of our society?

The Sad News

Recognizing that physical education is not directly responsible for every issue that students face, there are a few areas in which we would expect there to be an impact. Activity levels and healthy eating are two areas upon which we, as physical educators, would like to have a positive impact. Here is a snapshot of the trends in those areas by the Center for Disease Control:¹

Trends in the Prevalence of Physical Activity-National YRBS: 1991—2009

Trends in the Prevalence of Obesity, Dietary Behaviors, and Weight Control Practices -National YRBS: 1991—2009

As these statistics seem to indicate, most activity and dietary behaviors remain unchanged or continue to move in a less-than-healthy direction. In addition, the emotional health of our young people is declining.

• About 20 percent of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood.
• Between 10 to 15 percent of teenagers have some symptoms of teen depression at any one time.
• About 5 percent of teens are suffering from major depression at any one time.
• As many as 8.3 percent of teens suffer from depression for at least a year at a time, compared to about 5.3 percent of the general population.
• Most teens with depression will suffer from more than one episode. Twenty (20%) to fourty (40%) percent will have more than one episode within two years, and 70 percent will have more than one episode before adulthood. Episodes of teen depression generally last about 8 months.
• Dysthymia, a type of mild, long-lasting depression, affects about 2 percent of teens, and about the same percentage of teens develop bipolar disorder in their late teenage years. Fifteen (15%) percent of teens with depression eventually develop bipolar disorder.²

The Good News

On the other hand, there is research that supports the connection between physical education and development in all domains.

Bailey, in his 2006 review finds that physical education and sport have the potential to make significant and distinctive contributions to development in all domains of learning. ³

In addition, a recent report published by UNICEF demonstrates that through sport, recreation and play, children develop social skills and ways of thinking, learn how to deal with emotions, improve their physical abilities, and find out about themselves and their capabilities. ⁴

That same study stated that "Through sport, recreation and play, children and adolescents learn to exercise judgment and think critically while finding solutions to problems. They promote the spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play, teaching teamwork, self-discipline, trust, respect for others, leadership and coping skills."

The Difference

Statistics show that physical education has incredible potential for development in all areas of a child's development, yet statistics also show a steady decline in the healthy development of youth. What is the link between the two? The TEACHERS and PARENTS!

Physical education DOES have the potential to make an incredibly positive impact on today's youth, but those who provide and support the education make the difference. As Bailey points out later in his review:

"The review also stresses that many of these benefits will not necessarily result from participation, per se; the effects are likely to be mediated by the nature of the interactions between students and their teachers, parents, and coaches who work with them. Contexts that emphasize positive experiences, characterized by enjoyment, diversity, and the engagement of all, and that are managed by committed and trained teachers and coaches, and supportive and informed parents, significantly influence the character of these physical activities and increase the likelihood of realizing the potential benefits of participation."

So what answer do I give to the question of "What are the best things about Physical Education in the United States?" Physical education teachers who are passionate about their work, and dedicated to finding the best means of providing consistent, high quality education in a manner that is meaningful and engaging to their students.

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

² 2009, Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General

³ Bailey, R. (2006), Physical Education and Sport in Schools: A Review of Benefits and Outcomes. Journal of School   Health, 76: 397–401. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00132.

⁴ United Nations Children’s Fund, Division of Communication, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

Additional resource added by webmaster

How Does Exercise Affect My Brain.

http://facebook.com/coachlana The brain is very dynamic and can respond to exercise like the lungs, heart, and muscles do. The brain can actually add new neurons, new connections between neurons, and add new blood vessels.

MRI scans have shown that exercise increased over brain volume, the amount of gray and white matter.

An adult brain can continue to make new neurons throughout life. It happens most in an area called the hippocampus. An area concerned with forming memories and processing emotions. Exercise can increase the generation of new neurons in this area throughout life. This may explain why aerobic exercise enhances learning. Since stress decreases the formation of neurons, this can lead to depression and anxiety it makes sense that exercise decreases these.

Exercise also increases neurochemicals calls growth factors. They help neurons grow and keep them healthy.

Exercise can help treat and possibly prevent depression, anxiety, stroke, Alzhiemer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

A sedentary lifestyle affects the brain by lessoning mental capacity. There is a clear connection between how much exercise children get and their cognitive performance. The more exercise they get, the better they perform on verbal, perceptual, and mathematical tests. This was also found in adults. This active lifestyle decreased age-related risks for cognitive impairment and dementia.

Bottom line. We have an incredibly complicated body. It is a gift to be able to use it every day. We need to make sure we are doing our best to take care of it and a responsibility to ensure those we love do the same. What are you going to do today to boost your brain power?

Cindy Kuhrasch has had the opportunity to teach Health and Physical education to students in grades K-12, and numerous subjects to undergraduate students as well. She is currently employed as a faculty associate at the University of Wisconsin. In addition, Ms. Kuhrasch has served as a consultant in many school districts, working in the areas of curriculum development, instructional strategies, and technology. Ms. Kuhrasch has over twenty five years experience in course development, implementation, and evaluation. She has presented on a wide variety of education topics at state, district, and national conventions, and has written numerous articles in national educational journals.

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