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P.E. faculty worry students not fit
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
For many Beloit teens, the most exercise they get is during their nine-week, 90-minute physical education class, which just isn't enough, a Beloit Memorial High School P.E. instructor said.
“Kids are more prone and used to sitting in a chair playing Nintendo,” said Terry McCann, physical education department chair. “Their fingers may get more exercise, but the rest of their body suffers because of it.”
Although the School District of Beloit teaches students about healthy lifestyles in today's world of childhood obesity, P.E. instructors said challenges such as limited funds inhibit the program, which some say is just as important as the traditional core subjects.
“It probably should be the fifth core class,” McCann said.
According to the American Obesity Association, about 15.5 percent of children 12 to 19 and 15.3 percent of 6- to 11-year olds were obese from 1999 to 2000. Two decades ago only 5 and 7 percent of kids in the same age groups were obese.
Elementary P.E. chair Mark Anderson has been with the district for six years and has noticed the national trend of shying from fitness. However, he couldn't say whether more overweight children have passed through Beloit's schools because teachers don't measure kids' height and weight.
“It's more of a private thing for them,” he said, calling it an activity for the doctor's office.
The district tests kids' overall fitness, though. Anderson said third- through fifth-graders undergo the President's Challenge, which includes curl-ups, pull-ups, a shuttle run, mile run/walk and sit and reach. Afterward, gym teachers show the children how they compare nationally and talk about ways to improve their scores.
“Almost everyone thinks they're more fit than they really are,” Anderson said, adding many students think they can be a professional basketball or football player and, after hearing how fit they are, realize they have some work to do.
To promote lifetime activities that center around individual fitness, Anderson said three elementary schools - Cunningham, Gaston and Robinson - have climbing walls while others - Cunningham, Hackett and Todd - have walking programs during the lunchtime recess.
If money weren't an issue, Anderson said, he'd have the district purchase more climbing walls (so far they've been funded by grants or Parent Teacher Organization) or equipment for golf, bicycling, rollerblading and cross country skiing.
Though McCann would also like to have more funding to purchase cardio equipment like treadmills and elliptical machines, different worries cross his mind.
“Because of budget cuts, I'm very concerned about future class sizes,” he said.
About 12 years ago classes were capped at 28 students, a number that crept up to 32 in the late 1990s and to 35 last year. And it'll only continue to rise, McCann said, explaining it concerns him because research shows smaller classes are more effective for performance, and large classes sharing limited space in BMHS's field house raises safety concerns.
Besides growing classes, McCann said he's also concerned about freshmen P.E. The ninth grade initiative schedule doesn't allow room in teens' schedules for gym class, so those who want to earn the credit must attend class from 7 to 7:45 a.m. daily for a semester. About 20 enrolled in the class in the fall and spring, McCann said, and 46 are expected to take the course each semester next year.
To cater to the students' different interests, the school has developed specialty classes, such as team activities and lifetime wellness, teens can take after completing P.E. 9 or general phys ed. Once students reach 12th grade, they can take outdoor adventures - its curriculum includes canoeing and SCUBA diving - or high school officiating.
About half of the senior class usually exceeds the state requirement of 1.5 physical education credits to take those classes, McCann said, noting the popularity doesn't surprise him because a “class that has value” will attract students.
“Kids are more prone and used to sitting in a chair playing Nintendo,” said Terry McCann, physical education department chair. “Their fingers may get more exercise, but the rest of their body suffers because of it.”
Although the School District of Beloit teaches students about healthy lifestyles in today's world of childhood obesity, P.E. instructors said challenges such as limited funds inhibit the program, which some say is just as important as the traditional core subjects.
“It probably should be the fifth core class,” McCann said.
According to the American Obesity Association, about 15.5 percent of children 12 to 19 and 15.3 percent of 6- to 11-year olds were obese from 1999 to 2000. Two decades ago only 5 and 7 percent of kids in the same age groups were obese.
Elementary P.E. chair Mark Anderson has been with the district for six years and has noticed the national trend of shying from fitness. However, he couldn't say whether more overweight children have passed through Beloit's schools because teachers don't measure kids' height and weight.
“It's more of a private thing for them,” he said, calling it an activity for the doctor's office.
The district tests kids' overall fitness, though. Anderson said third- through fifth-graders undergo the President's Challenge, which includes curl-ups, pull-ups, a shuttle run, mile run/walk and sit and reach. Afterward, gym teachers show the children how they compare nationally and talk about ways to improve their scores.
“Almost everyone thinks they're more fit than they really are,” Anderson said, adding many students think they can be a professional basketball or football player and, after hearing how fit they are, realize they have some work to do.
To promote lifetime activities that center around individual fitness, Anderson said three elementary schools - Cunningham, Gaston and Robinson - have climbing walls while others - Cunningham, Hackett and Todd - have walking programs during the lunchtime recess.
If money weren't an issue, Anderson said, he'd have the district purchase more climbing walls (so far they've been funded by grants or Parent Teacher Organization) or equipment for golf, bicycling, rollerblading and cross country skiing.
Though McCann would also like to have more funding to purchase cardio equipment like treadmills and elliptical machines, different worries cross his mind.
“Because of budget cuts, I'm very concerned about future class sizes,” he said.
About 12 years ago classes were capped at 28 students, a number that crept up to 32 in the late 1990s and to 35 last year. And it'll only continue to rise, McCann said, explaining it concerns him because research shows smaller classes are more effective for performance, and large classes sharing limited space in BMHS's field house raises safety concerns.
Besides growing classes, McCann said he's also concerned about freshmen P.E. The ninth grade initiative schedule doesn't allow room in teens' schedules for gym class, so those who want to earn the credit must attend class from 7 to 7:45 a.m. daily for a semester. About 20 enrolled in the class in the fall and spring, McCann said, and 46 are expected to take the course each semester next year.
To cater to the students' different interests, the school has developed specialty classes, such as team activities and lifetime wellness, teens can take after completing P.E. 9 or general phys ed. Once students reach 12th grade, they can take outdoor adventures - its curriculum includes canoeing and SCUBA diving - or high school officiating.
About half of the senior class usually exceeds the state requirement of 1.5 physical education credits to take those classes, McCann said, noting the popularity doesn't surprise him because a “class that has value” will attract students.
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