Stand Up and Exercise, Everybody!

Phys ed (physical education) is making a comeback as a part of the school core curriculum, but with a difference. While group sports are still part of the curriculum, the new way is to teach skills that are useful beyond gym class. Instead of learning how to climb a rope, children are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build physical endurance. In this way, kids are given the tools and skills and experiences so they can lead a physically active life the rest of their life.

Considering that 15 percent of American children aged 6 to 18 are overweight, supporters say more money and thought must be put into phys ed curriculum. In many cases, that may mean not just replacing the old gym-class model with fitness programmes but also starting up phys ed programmes because school boards often “put P. E. on the chopping block, cutting it entirely or decreasing its teachers or the days it is offered”, says Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, the executive director of Action for Health Kids. The difference in phys ed programmes is partly due to the lack of a national standard. “Physical education needs to be part of the core curriculum,” she added. The wisdom of the new approach has some scientific support.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have demonstrated how effective the fit-for-life model of gym class can be. They observed how 50 overweight children lost more weight when they cycled and skied cross-country than when they played sports. The researchers also found that teaching sports like football resulted in less overall movement, partly because reluctant students were able to sit on the bench.

Another problem with simply teaching group sports in gym class is that only a tiny percentage of students continue playing them after graduating from high school. The new method teaches skills that translate to adulthood.