Choices for Students Improving Physical Education in Schools

Choices for Students Improving Physical Education in Schools

Taking Action �Childhood obesity has tripled over past 30 years � 16 -33% of children are obese �Schools focus more on nutritional food choices �Budget cuts Prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents ages 6 -19 years Vigorous Physical Activity for Adolescents by Grade Level: 2001 Note: Vigorous physical activity is activity that made students in grades 9 -12 sweat or breathe hard for 20+ minutes on 3+ of the past 7 days. I = 95% confidence interval.

A Different Approach � Changing � More the Physical Education program variety Class Yoga/Pilates Volleyball/ Basketball Track and Field Example Materials Needed/Budget Objective Yoga Mats- $18. 95/per unit. (Could use existing wrestling mats). Yoga/Pilates Videos- $7. 99 -$29. 94 Both gender activity. Build muscle strength and flexibility. Volleyball Net- $12. 00 -$78. 00 Both gender sport. Volleyball- $9. 00 -$49. 00 Learn the rules and regulations Basketball Hoops- (Probably of both volleyball and basketball, and teach the a part of existing gymnasium) students to be able to play the $70. 00 - $499. 00 sport as a team. Basketball- $13. 00 *All equipment. Both Gender Sport. Increase stamina and do strength building exercises. Etc.

Who Should Listen Teachers School Boards Education Professionals The Epidemic Childhood obesity rates in the United States have tripled over the past thirty years. “Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese” (Obesity in Children and Teens Par. 1). A Different Approach Instead of trying to change the types of foods that children eat, why don’t we change the way that they live? A reform in physical education classes in schools Elementary, Junior High, and High Schools should offer a greater variety of physical education classes. Instead of requiring fitness for life, or adopting a fitness test in order to receive a physical education credit, schools should offer classes such as dance, volleyball, basketball, yoga, soccer, gymnastics, etc. that would count as physical education credit in school. The Cost According to Active Living Research, as of the year 2006, “Only 3. 8% of elementary schools, 7. 9% of middle schools, and 2. 1% of high schools were offering daily PE (Active Education Par. 3). Ways to Save When schools do not have the funds to hire on new employees to teach physical education classes, they should fill the positions with in staff personnel. Many schools and school districts have teachers with expertise in sports, yoga, or dancing that would be willing to teach such physical classes. Theeducation Benefits The benefits of this plan will be a visible decrease in childhood obesity rates, and better performance in schools.

Outcomes �Students will enjoy healthier, happier lives �Better balance will lead to academic success �A healthier populace will lessen the financial burden of obesity on the health care system �The life expectancy of Americans will increase