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PHYSICAL EDUCATION VERSUS NON-PHYSICAL
EDUCATION DAYS AT SCHOOL
written by Brian
Malkinson, submitted by Pamela
Kulinna
 As
many of us know there have been countless
recommendations by the federal government
to increase the quality and quantity
of physical education in our schools.
This recommendation comes in response
to the ever-increasing childhood obesity
epidemic that our nation is faced with.
The recognition of physical education
as part of the solution to childhood
obesity is due to the fact that educators
have the potential to reach a vast majority
of this nation’s youth.
Approximately
95% of children ages 6-17 are currently
enrolled in school which gives them
the opportunity to learn meaningful
content that should include fitness
education, development of cognitive
abilities, motor skill acquisition,
and an improvement of social and cooperative
skills which should ultimately lead
to an increase in physical activity.
The question
examined in this article is whether
or not children are more physically
active on days they receive physical
education versus non-physical education
days.
The research
that is being synthesized in this article
was intended to determine the contributions
of physical education on youth activity
patterns. The sample population consisted
of fourth and fifth grade boys (n=400)
and girls (n=429), Caucasian (44%),
Hispanic (36%), African-American (10%),
Native American (5%), and Asian/PI (4%).
The children's activity levels were
assessed using pedometers on five consecutive
days during the week.
The results
showed that children were significantly
more active on physical education days
compared to non-physical education days
throughout all categories. Boys increased
their amount of steps on physical education
days by a little more than one thousands
steps. Girls increased their step count
by nearly 2,000 steps per day. The study
also showed that results were not restricted
to children who were in good health.
Children classified as being overweight
(n=177) or at-risk for being overweight
(n=127) accumulated an additional 1,137
and 711 steps on physical education
days, respectively.
This study provides support for the
critical role of physical education
can play in increased opportunities
for children to acquire the recommended
daily amount of physical activity.
Reference:
Brusseau, T. A., Kulinna, P. H., Tudor-Locke,
C., van der Mars, H. & Darst, P.
W. (March/April, 2009). Children’s
physical activity on physical education
and non-physical education days.
Paper presented at the National American
Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation, and Dance Association meeting,
Tampa, FL. [Note this presentation was
a Press Release for AAHPERD on March
23, 2009].
biography
Grad
Teaching Assistant
MLF CTEL TA/RA
Graduate Student
Curr & Inst (Physical Ed) PHD
MaryLouFulton Teachers College
I am currently entering my second semester
of course work in the Curriculum and
Instruction PhD program. My area of
emphasis is physical education along
with health and community wellness.
I received both my BA and MA from California
State University, Chico in Physical
Education Pedagogy and Kinesiology.
My research interest range from the
effects of physical activity on children
to the effect of intense exercise programs
for individuals with a disability, specifically
spinal cord injuries.
Along with
my course work and research interest
I am an instructor for CTEL (College
of Teacher Education and Leadership).
This semester I am teacher two courses
on Child and Adolescent Development
(TEL 315). I have previously taught
Classroom Management (EDC 405) and Writing
and the Professional Educator (EDC 340).
My other teaching experiences included
K-12 assignments in various areas and
a upper division course at California
State University, Chico on Foundations
of Childhood Physical Education.
Beyond education
I have also work at a spinal cord injury
recover center in Carlsbad, CA. My role
at the facility included developing
and implementing their certification
program and coordinating a majority
of their education department.
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