Physical “Lack of” Education...

… In the Cape Cod article on the link to the left on this page, the Cape Cod Schools are identified as having various P.E Programs that are in compliance with MA state Education laws for meeting the physical education state requirement. As a Physical Educational Professional, I read the article about what is considered physical education, Fitness for life, Wellness and how schools try to squeeze in P.E. in deference to the academic classes, and I felt so frustrated by the articles references to what Physical education is currently in Mass. In the Dennis-Yarmouth Elementary Schools, the P.E professional staff discuss the issues of what a comprehensive P.E curriculum should entail and what is happening in our schools day in and day out. Our curriculum addresses how children learn to move and control their bodies in space; they learn the value of developing body coordination to perform complex movements inherent in games; they learn the physical reasons and benefits of safely performing exercise; they learn how to utilize strategies to accomplish difficult personal and team goals; they learn game concepts and playing fairly and respecting themselves and others, sportsmanship and fair-play; they learn values about hard work, team play and working as a unit for the benefit of a group; they learn a comprehensive list of activities so that they can personally decide what it is that they are good at and perhaps want to learn as a life long activity; they learn that every year that they advance in school that new layers of learning occur and that hard work has to continue to become the best at something; they learn to respect others hard play and that failing is an opportunity for growth and not an end to one’s pursuit of success,; they learn how to set goals for themselves and learn strategies to accomplish those goals. Our physical education staff would never be satisfied with a goal of walking without an understanding that moderate exercise is essential to cardiovascular health and that walking at a slow pace has little health benefit for the normal person, or that strength and conditioning be used as a sole curriculum focus and that wellness would never be defined by soley offering yoga or conditioning alone nor would be walking with friends as a goal to "balance the body and mind” to be with friends ever pass our test for learning. These concepts that exist is an example of an ignorance around a discipline but yet people believe it to be the true measure of wellness or being fit because the state approves it.! Something is wrong with the Mass. mandate and with Education if academics become the driving force and this becomes the definition of Physical Education!. Yes education is crucial but for adults it’s the physical health concepts of healthy living, proper exercise and doing fun social things that keep us alive for many years. Yes electives and choice is great in schools, but without the mandate to require those electives to be taught along with the reasons for and to teach the why’s of good health values, people will never grow to learn these concepts, values and practices of an educated person’s knowledge to fully implement a quality fitness for life strategy. Lets hope that Physical Educators speak out about why the need to be educated about our ability to move in life and remain healthy is as valued as getting an academic education to work and become productive in society. Too many “educated people” are dying early because of a lack of “education” about their bodies, and understand what are good health practices. P.E. practices teach personal control and if people are having difficulty with self control to implement their life choice knowledge, perhaps it is because they missed out in their own P.E history because it wasn’t required and thus they never had the opportunity to learn what our DY kids are learning every day in their physical education classes. Our staff work together so that essential learning concepts occur for all of our kids without the guidance of the State mandates but with a staff sense of professionalism.