Award-Winning P.E. Curriculums

With more and more emphasis on academics, P.E. time has become more critical for cardio health. Two award-winning teachers have made their classes more interesting.

Award-Winning Teachers in California

In Idyllwild, California, Holly Guntermann, an award-winning physical education teacher has eliminated classic games like dodgeball and baseball claiming there is too much time spent standing around. She wants every student to be active every minute of her class. Instead, she has replaced traditional sports games and replaced them with more interactive games so every child is active.

Randy Dotinga, correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, reports that Guntermann's classes require 100% participation. Another award-winning physical education teacher is Paige Metz who teaches at Westview High School in Poway, CA, a suburb of San Diego. Metz's program was "honored as the best in California by a state association of P.E. and health teachers in 2005", says Dotinga.

What you are likely to see going on in these very active P.E. classes is yoga, choreography, Pilates, synchronized swimming, 3-on-3 soccer, tinikling, line dancing and aerobics.

P.E. Time is Decreasing

Unfortuately, P.E. and recess time in the U.S. is declining. Only one-third of states actually require physical education for elementary and middle school students. These statistics come from the American Heart Association and NASPE. Reasons?

NCLB: No Child Left Behind is being blamed for time limitations in schools. The pressure to find more academic time is forcing schools to find more time to teach reading.

Mediocre P.E. Classes: Joseph Culhane, an assistant professor physical education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana states, "We're going to have to justify our own existence and show the public that we actually can get results, not just by increasing P.E. time, but by increasing it with quality programs."

Painful Memories: Many non-athletic students remember being picked last for teams. Today, teachers are encouraged to fairly divide teams and make the class more enjoyable and active for all.

Winning Is Everything: The Winning Is Everything mindset is being replaced with cooperation. Competition is being emphasized less and how we get along with others and how we treat them is gaining in popularity.

In order to justify having more P.E. time in schools, results must be seen and the painful memories removed. If obesity can be reduced, fitness increased and students happier at the same time, P.E. may be seen as a more justified time slot in schools.

Read more about the importance of physical activity, European Study on Obesity, Childhood Obesity and School and Moving Classrooms.

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.