Physical Education programs in publics schools has long been a source of disappointment and stagnant development. As the average rate of an urban youth continues to rise, little is being done within the school setting to meet the growing need for active involvement. School system leaders overlooks physical health due to the need to cut spending and increase test scores, all the while losing sight that school is the place where youth spend most of their time and gain most of their development. Schools and school systems are not only responsible for nourishing the mind, but also maintaining the health of the body, and this is where physical education programs are at the forefront. Physical education is as vital a component of the school day as classroom time, but it is constantly losing its value. School system regulations, conflicting program implementation by teachers, and student engagement are the backbone of the problem and the first sources of the solution.
Many urban school systems often struggle to find the balance between meeting academic quotas while maintaining a balanced school environment that includes recreational time. In efforts to improve test scores, some school systems have considered shortening, or eliminating physical education. However, what they fail to realize is the proper physical education can help students reach their full academic potential and exhibit positive behavior in the classroom (Strong et al., 2005). In a study, conducted by Hammerschmidt, Tackett, and Golzynski et al. (2005), surveying teachers at low-income schools in Michigan, results showed that 50% of high school teachers felt that a lack of funding was the major barrier to proper physical education programs in inner city schools. Results ...
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...ammerschmidt, P., Tackett, W., Golzynski, M., & Golzynski, D. (2011). Barriers to and
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Physical education has yet to become an established and important feature in Australian and English school programs. At one level physical education has enjoyed considerable political support, acquired support from athletes and secured a place on Australia and England's national curriculum. However on another level physical education has been the subject of crisis meetings in Australia, on the verge of being wiped out in later secondary school education in England and had numerous reviews. So why is physical education important? The major factor being the increasing rise in obesity, but also children appear to have less knowledge of physical skill, lack fitness and are very inactive is a few reasons why physical education needs remain in the curriculum but also gain greater priority.
Incontrovertible, physical education programs are getting more attention in the last few years. They are the key to increase teenager’s physical activity levels. Moreover, there are many benefits in the physical education than just having fun, it sharpen overall cognitive abilities and motor skills via athletics. However, what those classes are really trying to promote is the inclusion of a regular fitness activity in our daily routine. Meanwhile, regular fitness activities are “Active living” day-to-day activities, for example, treadmill walking, bike riding and basic daily activities; that is what our parents and ancestors have been doing for most of their lives. These kinds of activities are what our students are not engaging in; rather they are more likely to engage in sedentary activities from playing video games and watching television (The University of Waterloo, 2009). This will, in the long term, increase the risk of virulent diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and even cancer. Despite all these facts, the physical education programs teaches many personal and social tools to the student, some of t...
Schools serve as an amazing venue to provide students with everyday physical movement, and to instruct the essentialness of general physical action for wellbeing. Shockingly, most individuals' get little to no general physical activity while in school. Budgetary obligations and the pressure to increase test scores have brought on school authorities to address the worth of PE and other physical activity programs. This has prompted a significant lessening in the time accessible for PE, and in a few cases, school-based physical action projects have been totally eliminated.
School funding cannot be solely to blame for the decrease in physical activity in the education environment. With the increased emphasis on the need to achieve academic aptitude, children as well as their adult parents see athletics as an extra, or something that can be done when and if homework is completed. Not to say that this is not commendable, but evidence supports the fact that athletic programs have the ability to turn at-risk youth in positive directions. Sports programs promote healthy social and physical development while offering positive alternatives to high risk behavior.
Fitness education is extremely important especially in a school setting because it is an integral part of the total education of every child in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Quality physical education programs are needed to increase the physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so that they can be physically. Skill Development develops motor skills, which allow for safe, successful and satisfying participation in physical activities. Self-discipline facilitates development of student responsibility for health and fitness. Improved Judgment quality physical education can influence moral development. Students have the opportunity to assume leadership, cooperate with others; question actions and regulations and accept responsibility for their own behavior.
An Investigation into Primary School Physical Education This report will provide a concise investigation into the developmental stages of physical education. Whilst this assignment will provide an overview of the subject in primary schools at present, it will also go on to investigate into the issue of teaching on a practical basis and also look at how physical education can develop a child. Using the information gathered from primary and secondary research, which was conducted whilst attending a primary school as a six week work placement, the latter stages will provide some critique and offer some recommendations to how physical education can be improved or developed in the future. After experiencing physical education at all academic levels, I was very interested in researching into the primary stages of the subject as I understand it to be the most valuable period of learning for any child. This belief is reinforced by the quote that ‘it is widely accepted that the younger the child, the more they learn through physical activity’ (P.Wetton, 1988).
Because these schools don’t have enough money to provide the resources to educate their students, it is likely they are unable to expend funds on sports activities. This results in sports programs being cut first, right behind music and art. Since many of these programs offer a way for adolescents to escape reality, it is a necessity that we fund these programs. Sports programs are a way for adolescents to experience physical skill development and critical
Opposition of mandatory Physical Education in high schools believe that if a student has not developed a desire for voluntary physical exercise by the time he or she reaches high school , he or she may not ever (Eberhardt). It is true that individuals should not be forced into something they don’t want to participate in, but if these students don’t get any exercise outside of school, where will they receive an appropriate amount of fitness? Paul Eberhardt, athletic director, intramural director and head coach of the McNair Marlins basketball team in Richmond, B.C., believes “that students don’t care about participating in P.E. anymore and we have to educate students on the benefits of Physical Education”. In the 1994-1995 school year there were 1,133 students enrolled at McNair High School but there were only four P.E. classes available, which meant approximately 120 students attended in these classes. The remaining 1013 grade eleven and twelve students had no Physical Education at all. This is an astonishing figure. “Many students participate in sports and recreation activities outside of school, but most of them get hardly any exercise at all.
Physical education exists in schools to help students perform physical activity in schools and promote healthy lifestyles. It is extremely important that physical education teachers promote physical activity and healthy diets to young students because they are the ones who will be at risk of developing health issues such as obesity. Physical educators need to teach the younger generation the proper way to stay healthy so that they will continue to be physically active outside of phys...
Over the past decades our culture has changes dramatically. To which our nation was once a physically active nation. Yet now it seems that society discourages physical activity. The human race has been dependent on automobiles, discouraging people to walk or bike, increasing the chance of a poor life-style. Yet there are many factors that affect the achievement and maintenance of a healthy life. Young people are growing into a diverse society, which is characterized by rapid change, inactive work and leisure practices that influence unhealthy behaviors. By incorporating physical activity into peoples daily routine will increase their chances of being healthier, reducing certain diseases and learning how to avoid injuries. Physical education helps students improve their knowledge about health issues and practices that will lead to a more enjoyable life. Students playing and working in a team together develop social skills, teamwork, achieving goals, and development of self-esteem. Overall physical education provides the potential for a better life style.
Physical education must be mandatory for students all over the world. It provides many conveniences for children later in life. Sports in school encourage kids to play more outside of school and from there, their health increases. Unquestionably, physical education improves kids’
Patterson, Joan. “Many schools cutting back on physical education”. Review Journal. Stepens Media LLC, 2013. Web. 28 April 2014
“Physical education plays a critical role in educating the whole student. Research supports the importance of movement in educating both mind and body. Physical education contributes directly to development of physical competence and fitness. It also helps students to make informed choices and understand the value of leading a physically active lifestyle. The benefits of physical education can affect both academic learning and physical activity patterns of students. The healthy, physically active student is more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful. … Throughout the school years, quality physical education can promote social, cooperative and problem solving competencies. Quality physical education programs in our
Physical education provides a variation of motor skills aimed to enhance the physical, mental, social and emotional development. The obesity statistics of 2009 quantified that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980 and in addition to concerns regarding chronic diseases, overweight and obesity incidences have even led to poorer levels of academic achievement (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Additionally, in order to teach students the importance of preventing these ailments, those who oppose the amount of time in physical education or want to cut it out altogether should reconsider. Instead, time in physical education should be as equal as core subjects are seen. Physical education can help children in the classroom as well. The physical educator can incorporate math or science in to their lessons. If they are jump roping, they can skip count...