Throughout the United States, many public school districts
are implementing physical education standards. The purpose of these standards
is to maintain and improve one’s physical health, mental health, and overall
well-being. It is believed that a student who takes part in physical education
is more likely to become a healthy adult who is motivated to remain healthy and
physically active throughout his or her life. The physical education model used
by many school districts contains standards that represent the essential skills
and knowledge that students need to maintain a physically active, healthy
lifestyle. The program identifies what each student should know and should be able
to do at each grade level. With adequate
instruction and sustained effort, students should be able to achieve the
standards. The standards provide a framework for teachers and schools to
follow, but the decision about how best to teach the standards is up to the
individual.
According
to the Society of Health and Physical Educators, the five national physical
education standards are: (1) The physically
literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and
movement patterns, (2) The physically literate individual applies
knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement
and performance, (3) The physically literate individual demonstrates the
knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of
physical activity and fitness, (4) The physically literate individual
exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others,
and (5) The physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical
activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social
interaction.
Implementing physical education standards poses many
benefits for students. Students learn to take increasing accountability for
their physical health, because they understand the significance of being active
and have been challenged to maintain a dynamic lifestyle. When students
establish an active lifestyle during their juvenile years, it is more likely that
they will continue regular activity as they enter their adult years and reduce
the chances for the onset of hyperkinetic diseases such as stroke, obesity,
type 2 Diabetes, and heart attack. Physical education programs that proactively
promote physical activity and fitness support the entire learning process. A
positive correlation has been documented between fitness and academic
achievement.
While these standards pose many potentially
beneficial outcomes for students, one of the most important areas of the
program is the teaching and instruction. An effective teacher is one who knows
how to teach students about exercise science and the other factors that
underlie a healthy, active lifestyle. At the same time, teachers, “need to
inform students rather than scare them, to inspire rather than preach, and to
be inclusive rather than exclusive. They are not training athletes, but educating
active, healthy citizens.” 1
It is important to remember that the real focus must
be on physical activity levels, nutrition, and lifestyle, and not just on
percent body fat or weight. If teachers focus on percent body fat or BMI, they
will send the wrong message to students about their body and how to care for it.
Students with very little previous physical activity may be intimidated by
these standards and feel inadequate if their peers are performing above the
level that they are capable of. It is important that these students get the
individual attention and education they need because they are the true target
of these standards. While it is beneficial for all students to develop and
maintain an active lifestyle, overweight or at-risk students should remain the
focus of these physical education programs.
1 Peter Rattigan, “Battling Obesity in K-12 Learners from
an Exercise Physiology Perspective,” http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ795604.pdf
Additional sources:
http://www.shapeamerica.org/standards/pe/
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