| Author |
Message |
Steve Jefferies
Board Administrator
Post Number: 0
Registered: N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 11:44 am: |       |
Remember physical education? Daily lap running, mind-numbing jumping jacks, and the same boring team sports repeated at every grade? Think again. Physical education is changing. Look in today's gyms and you'll see kids unicycling and juggling, learning to skate or play hockey, and practicing the latest line dances. Fly fishing, archery, rock climbing, golf, yoga - you name it and somewhere there's a PE class.
Although the name's the same, physical education in schools and colleges has a new goal: keeping people active and healthy. The reason is obvious. Not only are American adults overweight but now there's an obesity epidemic among young people. Overweight and out of shape, more and more young people have high cholesterol, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Today's inactive youth are at a greater risk than ever of cardiovascular related diseases and cancer. Health care costs over the next half-century will explode. More alarming is the fact that creative minds don't work well inside sick bodies.
In the past, school physical education was something you either loved or hated. You ran to it or ran from it. For those who grew up in active homes, PE classes were fun and inspired a love for movement. For the less active and low skilled, PE often meant squeezing oversized bodies into skimpy shorts and a tummy hugging tee-shirt. "Gym" was the turn off that convinced teens to avoid being physically active.
For years, physical education suffered the bad rap of being confused as an extension of athletics. A sort of athletic-appetizer whose main purpose was to train athletes for school teams. The fact that most coaches also taught physical education confirmed this belief. Not any more. Elementary school PE today helps young children learn basic movement skills. Active adult lifestyles depend on children becoming physically competent. Children ridiculed as "throwing like girls" have simply failed to master proper throwing fundamentals. People who don't learn these and similar movement skills as children will never be successful in organized sports or recreational activities.
Secondary and college PE teachers guide students towards activities they hope will become self-motivating. Forcing fitness on people never really worked. They just quit when it became an option. Much better is to encourage students to try activities that are fun, active, and leave participants wanting more. These "physically educated" students become adults who are skillful, physically fit, and lead healthy, active lifestyles.
It's becoming increasingly harder to fit PE classes into already overloaded academic schedules. But the consequences of eliminating physical education from student schedules needs careful thought. In summary, here are five reasons why physical education belongs in our 21st century academic programs:
- Preventing Happy Puppies From Becoming Old Dogs. Some time, walk next to your nearest elementary school playground and watch children move. The joy of movement, so natural in childhood is drained from us in daylong, sedentary, classroom instruction. Slender, flexible, and healthy bodies change. Inactive children become inactive adults who face many disabling chronic yet preventable illnesses.
- Movement Is Fundamental In Learning. Child development specialists discovered long ago that young people learn much about their world through moving and interacting with objects and people. Through movement we learn what our bodies can do. We also learn the social skills needed to relate to others. Becoming a productive member of society depends on more than learning facts and figures, words and numbers. Humans learn to move, and move to learn.
- Playful People Survive. Among the earliest humans, playful people were the fittest. They weren't just physically superior but their playful creativity helped them adapt to change. Successful adults today are flexible and willing to think differently. Those who resist change struggle and miss opportunities. Physical play stimulates creative thought.
- Living And Working Productively. Adults willing to dedicate most of their waking hours to their job can get rich. But evidence is clear - people who ignore their health (physical, social and emotional) burn out. They get sick, miss work, become less productive, and their careers suffer.
- Balancing Work And Play. Adults who lack movement skills don't enjoy physical activities. In contrast, physically skillful adults choose to participate in active, non-work related leisure activities. Becoming physically competent, creates a foundation for life outside of work and the healthy and productive use of recreational time. And it's through school and college based physical education programs that this foundation is developed.
Steve Jefferies, Ph.D.
Physical Education
CWU
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Lori
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 11:49 am: | |
I have been a teacher for 6 years now and a coach for the past 14 years. I have always wanted to be a teacher and with my love and passion for outdoors and sports Physcial Education was an easy choice.
It still boggles me how so many "educated" people can actually consider the idea of dropping Physical education. From the administrators, "It isn't in the budget," or " we need to save money some how." Does anyone see the cost of not keeping our kids active?
Our well being and health is based on the very standards our PROFESSION is based on. It is our job and our duty to promote Physical Health and help our students learn how to make healthy choices. It is time we made our profession fun again. Just as those kids who enjoy playing as you walk by the fields of an elementary school, why not have fun, learn, and stay in shape all at the same time? It isn't impossible. Our kids deserve it. We deserve it.
Stop teaching in the same old ways. Learn how to inspire and motivate with a few changes. The outcome is the same.
Our kids grow in a time of electronics, computers, and Playstations. We have a lot of competition. We need to work together and standout as one. I still run into teachers who believe that, "it has been done this way for 25 years we have to continue doing it this way." Who said?
Take track and field for example and make it into an Olympic event. Have the students learn about countries. It's only a twist to our curriculum that not only excites our students but us as well. Only good can come from it. We are TEACHERS of a very vital subject to the well being and longevity of our students. Teach and teach well. Teach with enthusiasm. If we lose our students, who are we then? No longer are we over paid recess monitors.
Take Pride in what you do. If you don't who will?
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Gerry Cernicky (Pingeyez2)
New member
Username: Pingeyez2
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 - 5:40 am: | |
A big problem is that many teachers don't know how to get into the trenches. That is, make it the most importsnt detail to "win" over the people who are doubting the importance of PE.
This means integrating with the core subjects to get the classroom teachers to realize that we need them on our side - one that will develop the whole child. Next, inform the parents what you really do in class. Invite them to observe and even participate in the class setting for school events such as a GYM Show , Junior Olympics or PTA event.
The Principal will be a main source of importance , not only when they come to observe you , but also keep them aware of all the projects that are happening in PE. This word will eventually get to the school board. Finally, make it of utmost importance to give back to the community. Volunteer for the Little League for example. Or design a fitnes trail, recreation board member. and or work with "seniors" in the SeniorNET project teaching how to use the Internet and computer work.
This should be an ongoing project with a full commitment to not only reinforce those who believe in PE , but also a constant reminder to work on the entire school population and community. |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Junior Member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 11
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 10:59 pm: | |
In Fresno, we formed our own local advocacy group, The Fresno Alliance for Phys. Educ. and Athletics. Various members of our group have been before the school board multiple times. I have met with the past 3 superintendents and will meet with the newest one next week. They seem not to last very long, here. We are also hitting our union, The Fresno Teachers Assoc. very hard about negotiating issues that are crucial to quality teaching in physical education. PE programs through out the city are gradually improving, even in the face of very large class sizes. People really are trying because our alliance and my represention as CAHPERD chair for our area seems to have given them hope that someone really is on their side. We also have all the physicians and health and nutrition professionals, on our side and most vocally so. We have several local schools involved in school based programs aligned with CSU Fresno Kines. Dept. It all starts with good teachers and quality programs, but it requires that we promote those programs and that we get to the people who have the influence to affect positive change. We also work closely with local media to showcase the best of what we have and what our needs are. Progress is painfully slow, but there is progress. Standing still is not an option. In the current atmosphere, PE will either march forward or slide into oblivion. It's up to us to determine which direction we travel. |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Junior Member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 12
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 9:53 pm: | |
On December 14th, With 40 physical educators in the audience, 6 of us spoke to the Fresno Unified School Board. Each speaker was allowed 3 minutes. We had 1 elementary, 1 adaptative, 1 middle school, 1 high school, 1 from the CSUF Kines. and myself as the Valley's CAHPERD Rep. Our speakers were poised, professional and passionate. Usually during this type of presentation, board members (and audience as well) walk around, talk to each other or generally don't "focus" very well. Our speakers were up to the task and they held the board in rapt attention. You could have heard a pin drop as speaker after speaker promoted the values of physical education and asked when the issues/constraints that we face would ever be addressed by the district. As a result, I have January meetings with the District Director of PE, the Assoc. Superintendent for Secondary Ed., and out new Superintendent. We also got a wealth of T.V. coverage out of it, one of the channels even coming to my home to do a surprisingly lengthy interview. I have been stopped in several stores by people who recognized me and either wanted to know more or just to compliment us on our efforts to better serve the kids in Fresno. Advocacy WORKS. Getting the Fresno Bee and local T.V. involved to reach a much wider audience has paid dividends. Progress is slower than we like, but at least we are moving forward. It has taken nearly a decade to get our PE teachers in Fresno truly concerned about teaching conditions and to get them organized. Our own level of independence often works against us. That is an attitude that must change if we are to succeed. The 40 (Of 115 secondary PE teachers in the district) carried the message back to their respective schools. We will go back to the board with a newer message in January, and will go back every month until they tire of us, or the message finally makes sense to them and they accede to our demands for changes and improvements in district policies. Try it, you'll like it. Joe Herzog |
Jeff Van Dyke (Jeff_van_dyke)
Junior Member
Username: Jeff_van_dyke
Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 6:43 pm: | |
Sounds great Joe. I hope you all are successful. I really think the majority of people are concerned about their childrens physical well-being. Many of our colleagues tend to assume that people don't care about the physical wellness of their kids and that assumption tends to create an us against them attitude that evetually affects a teacher's motivation to promote the profession.
I have found that the more I reach out to the community and educate them about my program, the more help and involvement I receive from them.
The bottom line is "we PE teachers" need to get up and start promoting our programs to the communites e.g. parents, other teachers, and adminstrators. Nothing is free and sometimes you have take it upon yourself to raise awareness to the issues at hand. I applaud your efforts in Fresno. |
cary causey (Causeycb)
New member
Username: Causeycb
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 10:38 am: | |
Response to P.E. in the 21st Century:
My name is Cary and I'm a Kinesiology student at the University of Texas at Austin. I'm enrolled in a Physical Education Instructors course here and have learned so much in one semester it is unbelievable, and am looking forward to implementing what I've learned here to a classroom in Austin, TX very soon. We have spent numerous times on areas of space awareness, skill themes, ways to motivate and encourage youth fitness throughout the lifetime of these students. It bothers me to see the fitness and obesity levels of our youth in the 21st century is plumeting on a yearly basis. Many wonder what we can do as physical educators. We are needed by society but more importantly by the youths of future generations to try to make a turnaround in the state of health nationwide. I think it must go beyond what instructors of physical education can accomplish in a 45 minute time span. It must be incorporated into a way of life administered not only in P.E. classes but in the core classroom, and with parents at home. Hand in hand with being physicall active and fit is one of the main problems and habits kids can get into are the ways they develop eating habits. Kids need to get in the habit of eating a healthy diet. I think it was a great step that the nation took this past week to have soda distributors not deliver high calorie and sweetened beverages to our schools. I think it is a great step in the ethical dilema for these distributors as well, and in the end they were a part of the right decision. More steps such as this one need to be made in order to reverse the trend of out stereotype as an unhealthy and overweight society, and I commend such efforts to do so.
Future Physical Education Instructor and
Health Enthusiast,
Cary Causey
University of Texas at Austin |
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