PhysEd-related stories
Gym teachers focus on fitness, not sports
Wow, am I ever glad to read this. Some physical education teachers are warming up to the idea that gym class doesn't always need to be about sports and team games. Instead, they're getting their students up and moving with a mixture of activities that include solitary activities as well, like weight lifting, yoga, and Pilates. In the past, less skilled students may have spent their time on the bench or waiting their turn. Now, everyone is moving and sweating, and grades are based on effort.Though I was a fit kid, I was never very good at team sports. I was shy and not very assertive, which left me more worried about what to do when I caught the ball than whether I was getting better at catching it. I would have thrived in class with this more individualized approach, and teachers are saying overweight kids are getting more exercise this way as well.
So kudos to you, gym teachers, for finding a way to help all kids succeed.
Fitness belongs in the classroom
Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
The kids at Rock Hill's Independent Elementary School start their day by jumping around the classroom. It sounds like a great way to start the day, and it might become more prevalent as school try to incorporate more physical activity into their curriculums. According to this, South Carolina is leading the way by implementing a required 90-minutes of PE per week in elementary schools, plus 60 minutes of PE education each week. It sounds like a great idea to encourage more activity, but 90 minutes a week doesn't seem like much -- that's only three 30-minute sessions a week. I could be wrong, but I thought we did an hour of gym class a day when I was a youngster. We needed it -- kids have lots of energy to burn, especially after sitting in a classroom all day.
Critics argue that too much physical activity at school means less time can be devoted to more important subjects like Math and English. I disagree. I think physical activity is one of the most important things you can teach children, especially in light of the obesity epidemic. After all, what's more important than your health? Just ask someone who is suffering from an obesity-related medical condition like heart disease whether they'd rather have learned about long division or the importance of getting fit and eating right -- I think you'll find that a pen and paper doesn't mean much to someone who is fighting for their life.
What do you think?
