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Physical Activity as Punishment
As some of you know in addition to contributing to PELINKS4U and
teaching at CWU, I serve on a local school board.
Recently, we begin reviewing Board policies. Two of them caught
my attention. One related to Bullying and Intimidation; the other
was on Capital Punishment. This, I decided would be a great opportunity
to officially prohibit the use of physical activity as punishment.
We met and I explained why this modification was needed.
I pointed out that in an era of increasing childhood obesity, it
was inappropriate to use the very behaviors physical educators were
trying to promote as punishment. I suggested that today’s English
teachers would not use the learning of poetry to punish off-task
classroom behavior, and then attempt to promote a love of verse
among their students. I pointed out that it was illogical to punish
people with activity or exercise for unrelated behaviors. I noted
that as parents we are constantly reminded to use logical consequences
when addressing children’s behavior. I observed too that punishment
through activity was really a form of bullying and intimidation
- adults inflicting pain to demonstrate their power and authority.
(I neglected to point out that most adult child abusers were themselves
subject to childhood abuse.) Most importantly, I added, while it
works in the short term – by substituting physical activity
for off task behavior – in the long term it is rarely effective.
Typically, it’s the same off-task students who are regularly
punished. Because there’s no obvious relationship between the
misbehavior and the punishment, students learn nothing about the
negative impact of their misbehavior on the class.
Finally, as a coupe de grace I explained that a simple web search
revealed that the National Association of Sport and Physical Education,
the Centers for Disease Control, the National School Board, the
leading Coaching Education Programs, sport psychologists everywhere
– ALL recommended against the use of physical activity as punishment.
Nowhere, I concluded could I find ANY support for this outdated,
militaristic, disciplinary technique.
Their response will interest (but probably not surprise) you. Initially
silence, then questions began. “This would be a big change,
we will need to get more input.” (What sort of input would
we solicit I wondered, in addition to the evidence I had presented?)
“Do you really think using physical activity is corporal punishment?”
(Bear crawl for 200 yards and then tell me what YOU think, was the
response I wanted to share!) “What can you do then if the students
are off task? (I pointed out that there were many effective classroom
management techniques available that focused on solving the misbehavior
rather than imposing punishment.) “I’m concerned about
taking away a tool the teachers can use to manage their classes”
(Can anyone provide me just one program that advocates physical
activity as a management tool, I asked?) “Well, what about
the squirmy kids who can’t sit still. This change wouldn’t
allow the teacher to have them do 5 jumping jacks to release their
energy” (I think you may be advocating for increasing physical
activity in the curriculum, I suggested – as well as missing
the point of the discussion!).
The discussion continues and I will keep you informed.
Best Regards
Steve Jefferies
Central Washington University
Publisher PELINKS4U
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