Posted on 01/24/2006 8:04:16 AM PST by Millee
State Representative Debbie Benefield, (D) Arvada, wants to make sure there's education in Physical Education.She's pushing a bill that would force all gym teachers to be endorsed in their field.
"When we look at our teachers in our classroom that we also recognize the need for every child, physically, mentally, their whole being to have the teachers that support their whole person and that learning," Benefield says. She adds that this is the time for kids to learn the habits about fitness and diet that could battle the problem of obesity. "It is critical," she says.
"Physical education teachers these days have a unique opportunity to influence kids," says Physical and Wellness Education teacher Joseph Bazzanella. He works at Southmoor Elementary in Denver and agrees with the proposal. "You have adults who are great athletes and they choose to go into gym and they're really just coaching," says Bazzanella.
In his class, Bazzanella tries to teach kids how to stay active and games that improve not only their bodies, but also their minds. "There's a tag game where they're practicing their addition," Bazzanella says. "The kids are educated in their physical skills creating positive self-esteem so this is something they want to do later in life. They want to keep being active."
But, opponents say it would create a hardship for rural districts. "It's not very practical in some of my smaller communities," says Representative Ray Rose, (R) Montrose. "In many cases, our teachers have to teach two or three subjects because we don't have a teacher in each and every subject."
Rose says small schools have trouble enough retaining teachers who are endorsed in core subjects like reading and math. "And, to add one more requirement for that for PE is absolutely the wrong direction to go," says Rose.
Benefield's bill would require districts to comply with the new requirement by 2010.
"I'm re-assured by the Department of Education that this makes it very feasible," she says.
Rose is proposing an amendment to give rural schools more time to comply and a way for a district to appeal to the State School Board if doing so becomes too difficult.
Bazzanella says whatever the outcome of the bill, he just wants to make sure kids know enough to stay healthy.
He says, "Pretty much what I teach for is for the kids to get a mind frame on how they would need to take care of themselves as they get older."
Oohhhh that sounds like fun!! /s
Gym teachers want higher standards for lawmakers.
Ridiculous.
According to this lawmaker no professional athlete would be elibibe to teach PE.
The anatomy and physiolgy classes that they took were also required for a nursing degree.
The anatomy class lab, where I was a teaching assistant doing teaching, testing, and grading, involved cat disection and wasn't a easy class. It was a step below comparative anatomy which biolgy majors took.
It was very challenging since about 70% of the students were nursing majors(female) who did quite well and 30% dumb football players.
As I recall, my grading curve was bell shaped.
Kids need government employees to exercise?
Fire all the gym teachers, and let the kids play after school on their own time.
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