Teachers find ways to fill physical education quotas ? Mediocre Show

ORMOND BEACH ? Standing in line may never again mean the same thing to the fifth-graders in Carolyn Pratts physical education class at Pathways Elementary School.

The children had no excuses for standing still earlier this week while waiting in line for their turn to run a relay race in the school multipurpose room while it drizzled outside.

Pratt had placed cue cards by each line showing the children what exercise they should do while waiting to run. Some ran in place. Some did jumping jacks. Some did pushups.

Its all part of programs to promote physical activity among Volusia and Flagler schoolchildren in hopes of promoting better health, fitness and even better academic performance.

Childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That can lead to health problems including diabetes, heart disease and asthma.

About 34 percent of Volusia elementary school students were overweight or obese in 2009-10, the last school year for which complete screening results were available. The rate in Flagler schools was 21 percent.

The goal and focus now in physical education is lifelong fitness as well as teamwork and cooperation, said Hollie Newnam, an assistant principal at Hinson Middle School in Daytona Beach. A former dance teacher, Newnam is president for physical education of the Southern District Board of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sports and a past president of its Florida affiliate.

Newnam said theres also a growing body of research showing that physical activity also can help improve students academic performance.

There is substantial evidence that physical activity can help improve academic achievement (including grades and standardized test scores), concluded a 2010 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reviewed 50 research studies on the issue.

Physical activity at school can help improve concentration, attention and classroom behavior, the report said.

Time spent on physical education varies some from one local school to another, while many elementary school teachers also try to squeeze a short recess that offers unstructured playtime into the school day.

Since 2007, Florida law has mandated elementary school students participate in an average of 150 minutes of physical education each week. Some of that comes through formal physical education classes, while classroom teachers are expected to augment those with periods of physical activity to make up the difference.

Sometimes, that means taking their class to the school playground for an organized activity. Or it could mean following along with a classroom video that requires students to do various things like running or jumping.

For Stacy Sampson and her kindergarten class at Pathways, it included snapping a colorful parachute up and down early this week while the children tossed bean bags into the center as Sampson called out their colors or letters.

In Volusia middle schools, students typically take daily 45-minute physical education classes. High school students must complete a half credit in physical fitness and a half credit in physical education to graduate.

Physical education and recess schedules also vary among Flagler schools.

Younger elementary students usually play active games during physical education classes while those in the upper grades learn team sports, said Cathie Zanella, a physical education teacher at Bunnell Elementary.

Zanella tries to help students understand they dont have to be on a competitive football or basketball team to be active. She said any type of movement, even walking the family dog, is good.

State law allows parents to request a waiver from the physical education requirements for their children in elementary and middle schools although only a small number do that. Only 153 Volusia students got such waivers last school year. Figures werent available for Flagler, but officials said the number of waiver requests is small.

Parents may request the waivers for students who are required to take a remedial course, want to take another elective class or who participate in physical activities outside of school which equal or exceed the state requirement.

At the high school level, students can substitute participation in interscholastic sports, marching band or ROTC drills for part of their physical education requirement.

? Staff Writer Annie Martin contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.mediocre-show.com/2011/09/20/teachers-find-ways-to-fill-physical-education-quotas/

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