Saturday, May 20, 2000
Phys ed shunted aside in curriculum changes
Lack of exercise showing up on obesity charts
By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP — Gym teacher Louisa Rise spends about 40 minutes a week with Mrs. Sullivan's fourth-grade class, shouting herself hoarse while guiding 23 youngsters through stretches and a jog around the playground.
Given the current climate in most school systems, she feels lucky to get that much time.
“There hasn't been the effect here that other districts have seen,” said Mrs. Rise, a 25-year teacher who conducts daily classes at Cook Primary School. “We've had to adjust here and there, but it could have been worse.”
It's worse elsewhere, with districts looking to raise test scores and lower economic costs. Those cutbacks have educators and health officials worrying that an already unfit population is getting even more out of shape.
“What good is a bright mind without a healthy body?” said Mrs. Rise, the head of the physical education department at Goshen Local School District in Clermont County.
“And more and more, the kids are in worse shape because they don't do anything but play Nintendo when they get home. So I do what I can here.”
The decline in physical education has been going on for some time. A recent survey sponsored by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association said 71 percent of 30- to 34-year-olds had physical education during high school but only 62 percent of those ages 18 to 24 did.
Carol Plimpton, a University of Toledo physical education professor, said PE offered to current students has dropped even further.
“At the majority of schools, kids are now getting a PE class once or twice a week, and that makes little or no difference in a kid's fitness,” said Dr. Plimpton, also president of the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “While most programs are better than they used to be, they aren't reaching the kids nearly enough to not only make a difference in their fitness now, but get them to like exercising so they'll continue as an adult.”
PE numbers coincide with a decline in schools offering recess periods. According to the American Association for the Child's Right to Play, about 40 percent of the nation's 160,000 public school systems have eliminated recess in recent years or are considering eliminating it.
Anthony Bonno, a veteran PE teacher at Mount Airy Elementary in the Cincinnati Public Schools system, said he saw students as often as four times a week until about two years ago.
“Now I see kindergarten through sixth (grade) once a week, and I'll see grades seven and eight maybe twice,” said Mr. Bonno.
In Kenton County schools, physical education offerings haven't changed much over recent years, but class size has doubled as enrollment has expanded and teachers' duties are stretched.
Tim Moore, high school program coordinator for that Northern Kentucky district, said recent state demands that decrease the number of electives could further reduce time spent beyond the mandatory mininum PE.
And Goshen's Mrs. Rise said that while the time she spends with students hasn't changed much, she has been “doubled up” as well, forcing her to allow one class “free play,” or unstructured activity in which several students forego the traditional kickball game for a gossip session.
School administrators say growing academic accountability leaves them little choice but to cut time in gym, even though clinical studies have shown that kids are increasingly obese and that exercise helps concentration levels.
“It's a dilemma, and not just with gym, but art and music and other subjects,” said Goshen Superintendent Charlene Thomas, a former gym teacher for the 2,660-student system.
Goshen recently was graded “academic emergency” by Ohio, the lowest of four possible ratings on state report cards. “But as administrators ... our task has been set by the state, and that task has been to meet the accountability set forth by the school report cards and the proficiency tests. And that's too bad, because this is one area where kids have fun and we can use that to keep them coming back.”
Ohio PE teachers are concerned things might get worse.
Physical education is considered the same subject as health education, meaning a state model curriculum has not been officially approved because of a political fight over sex education.
In addition, the Ohio Department of Education is reviewing state minimums in all subjects, including physical education.
PE teachers are fighting back, getting a bill called the Physical Education for Progress Act in front of the U.S. Senate.
Currently being debated, the bill would require at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week for all students.
PE teachers also are adapting in an effort to show how good old gym class can help broaden a child's education.
Mrs. Rise incorporates words and math problems that students will face on proficiency tests in her lessons, while Mr. Bonno said traditional team sports are being supplanted by individual activities such as wall-climbing, in which everyone gets a chance.
Fourth-grader Megan Medcalf, from Goshen's Cook grade school, is glad she has the opportunity to get outside and run around, even though she gets more exercise on an Amateur Athletic Union basketball team.
“When we get inside, we're not as hyper, and that helps in class,” said Megan, 10. “I wish I had more, but at least everybody gets a chance and we get to have some fun.”
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