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Posted by Barbara Pytel Dec 15, 2006 |
Dr. Deborah Rohm Young of the University of Maryland in College Park lead a study. She told Reuters Health that more and more schools are reducing PE classes. Some schools require only one semester or one year of PE. Her study compared traditional PE programs with the life-skills approach.
Traditional Program
A traditional PE program provides less activity for all students. There is time spent waiting in line to take a turn or to become active. Data shows that students spend 30.5% of their time being vigorously active.
Life-Skills Approach
This newer approach instructs students on problem-solving skills and how to add activity to their lives. Data shows that students spend nearly 50% of their time being vigorously active with the life-skills method.
Results
Anne Harding of Reuters reports that after eight months, both programs show significant improvments. The report published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (December 2006) states that improvments were in waist-hip ratio, blood pressure and HDL (the good cholesterol).
Surprising Results
While the girls in the life-skills classes were more active, there was a surprise in the study. The life-skills students watched less TV. The percentage of girls who watched TV for three hours a day dropped from 22.3 percent to 17.0 percent. The were making choices to be more active and less sedentary. This is a skill that will improve health in the future.
Dr. Young comments on the life-skills program by saying that it is state-of-the-art for physical education instruction but not widely used. Teachers are not trained in this new model. She suggests that this become a focus of teacher education programs.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.