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The greater purpose of school physical education
Ask current students of physical education teacher preparation
programs what the purposes of school physical education are and
you will most likely hear the following answers: (1) To promote
lifetime physical activity (2) To improve motor skills (3) To create
an enjoyable and inclusive environment for exercise (4) To improve
components of health-related fitness - aerobic fitness, body composition,
muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility (5) To teach sports
skills (6) To teach social skills such as cooperation and teamwork.
Teachers committed to caring, quality instruction and a vibrant,
dynamic school physical education program are well on the way to
achieving the six purposes listed here - important purposes, unique
to physical education and essential to a child's overall education.
But more is needed. Although no other subject area in school can
lay claim to the first five purposes listed here, it is the expansion
of purpose (6) - social skills - that will allow teachers of physical
education to make stronger and more meaningful differences in children's
lives.
The teaching of social skills must extend beyond those of cooperation
and teamwork. A greater purpose is that of developing children of
good character. Opportunities abound during physical education lessons
to teach and exemplify honesty, courage, discipline, compassion,
kindness, commitment, loyalty, perseverance, empathy, determination...
to name but a few. My hope is teachers take advantages of these
opportunities.
Physical activity behaviors, motor skills, fitness, and sporting
ability are important. An equally important but sometimes overlooked
purpose is that of fostering positive character traits in students.
And the good thing is that the aforementioned objectives need not
be compromised in striving to achieve a greater purpose in physical
education.
Darren Dale
Health and Fitness Section Editor
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Questions to Ask, or
Thoughts to Share?
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Journals (and newsletters) to read
Despite regular reporting of health and fitness
news in daily newspapers and on television shows, scientific journals
(peer-reviewed) still offer the most comprehensive and accurate
sources of information for discerning readers. Listed
below are some of the leading journals in the health and fitness
field.
The ACSM's
Health and Fitness Journal; for health and fitness professionals,
covering the broad spectrum of health and fitness topics
Medicine
and Science in Sports and Exercise; ACSM's flagship journal,
sometimes difficult reading (beyond the abstract) for people not
familiar with scientific publications
JOPERD
- for physical education and health education teachers, AAHPERD's
popular professional journal covering issues from teaching and coaching
strategies in schools to nutritional supplements.
Research
Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: AAHPERD's journal for original
research (data-based) studies - teachers should view relevant sections
in RQES as essential reading in in their quest to stay informed.
Strength
and Conditioning Journal: the professional journal for personal
trainers, strength coaches, and athletic trainers, published by
NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association); also see
the Journal
of Strength and Conditioning Research, NSCA's scientific
publication.
In addition, teachers would do well to subscribe to health and
wellness newsletters published by leading universities. Two of the
best are the Harvard Health
Letter and the University of California Berkeley School of Public
Health Wellness
Letter.
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| If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions
about particular topics, please email one of the following Health
and Fitness Section Editors: |
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| Nutrition
- Books on the Shelves |
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Challenging the USDA Food Pyramid
Walter Willet, professor at Harvard University has written 'Eat,
Drink, and Be Healthy -The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy
Eating.' Willet's book is informative and thought-provoking.
He condemns the USDA Food Pyramid and proposes his own Healthy Eating
Pyramid. In contrast to nutritional fads that appear daily, Willet's
nutritional advice is based on his extensive experience as a nutritional
epidemiologist. His eating plan should not be ignored.
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The silliness of low-carbohydrate/high protein
diets
Advocating athletes to choose a diet low in carbohydrate is downright
silly. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for much high intensity
work. High carbohydrate foods also contain (in good amounts) vitamins,
minerals, and fiber - nutrients believed essential to lowering risk
of major diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes,
and colon cancer. Additionally, grams of saturated fat are generally
absent from whole-grain carbohydrate foods.
Athletes (especially) should consume diets high in carbohydrate?
This brief quiz, with answers below, should illustrate the importance
of carbohydrate to athletes in training (note: 1 gram carb. = 4
calories)
1) The amount of carbohydrate needed by a teenage athlete
engaged in high intensity exercise is _______ per kg body
weight per day.
2) During exercise, how much carbohydrate should be provided
per hour for the maintenance of blood glucose levels?
3) If
an athlete is glycogen depleted after exercise, a carbohydrate intake
of ____ during the first 30minutes and again every two hours
for 4 to 6 hours will be adequate to replace glycogen stores.
4) For athletes consuming a sufficient number of calories, protein
provides less than ____% of the energy expended.
Answers: (1) 6 to 10 grams (2) 30-60 grams (3) 1.5grams per
kg (4) 5
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