PURPOSE of Physical Education … Is it a PREP for Teachers or is it to TEACH Students PE?

I present this question knowing what a physical education teacher would answer and I also know the answer I would get from administration and classroom teachers.   I am taking this opportunity to share the value and purpose of physical education.   Yes, it is part of a child’s education and in many states such as California, physical education is mandated with a required number of minutes.  

California:     

Grades 1st-6^th 200 minutes every 10 days of school.  ED Code 51223 

Grades 7th-12th 400 minutes every 10 days of school.  ED Code  51222

Every state is different concerning physical education, some do have mandated minutes as California and others may have physical activity mandated that also includes recess time.   You can look up your state here.   https://www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy/son/

I am sharing this information to emphasize the importance of physical education.   It is not about playing games and running a mile.  Yes, we run, skip, jump, and play.  However, there is so much more to physical education. Quality physical education programs offer the best opportunity to foster the development of physical literacy for all children and youth.  A Quality Physical Education Program does teach “the whole” child. Physical education has an impact on the “HEART, MIND, BODY, & SOUL”. This relates not only to their physical competence but also their motivation, confidence, knowledge and understanding. 

SHAPE AMERICA defines a physically educated person as someone who: 

1. Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities. 
2. Shows understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to learning and performing physical activities. 
3. Participates regularly in physical activity. 
4. Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. 
5. Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings. 
6. Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction. 

THE ULTIMATE GOAL of a quality physical education program ….is for students to live and understand the value of a healthy and active lifestyle, to be PHYSICALLY LITERATE. 

SHAPE AMERICA identifies key elements in the development of a quality physical education program…… The Premises of Physical Education Programs for Students 

• The ultimate purpose of any physical education program is to help students gain the skills and knowledge to be physically active for a lifetime. 
• Physical educators design physical activity experiences that are appropriate for the developmental level of the students. 
• Physical Education is a unique and important component of the total school program. 
• Physical activity and physical education are not the same.
• The program goals for intramurals and athletic programs are different from physical education goals. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

Standards in any curriculum are used to determine what is to be taught and at what grade level. However, what I have discovered teaching in California and presenting nationally is that teaching to the standards vary greatly from state to state, district to district, and even teacher to teacher in physical education. There are National PE Standards that provide a guideline for states to write their own. However, having state standards is not mandated nor is it required for districts to adopt the standards. With that said, there are standards at the national level to provide a teaching foundation for all physical education programs. 

Again, if you are curious about your state, SHAPE America posts the SHAPE of the NATION report every year. https://www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy/son/

This document offers a wealth of information concerning the importance of physical education in schools, including status in each state and recommendations. (This is another document that you can use to help you be an advocate to improve your physical education program). 

NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

Standard 1 – The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns. 

Standard 2 – The physically literate individual applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance. 

Standard 3 – The physically literate individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness. 

Standard 4 – The physically literate individual exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others. 

Standard 5 – The physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction. 

Now that I, a physical education teacher, has presented the value and purpose of physical education I will address the opposite side of the coin, what do administration and classroom teachers believe the purpose of physical education.  (Before I begin, I want to clarify my experience teaching over 25 years in California in multiple schools and districts, both public and private as well as what I have learned from other PE teachers around the country.)   

Over and over, I am told by administrators that they do value physical education, however their actions indicate otherwise.  Let’s begin with grade level PE.  Yes, the picture I posted for this Blog is 180 students that I and my co-teacher were to teach for 45 minutes so that the classroom teachers would get a prep.   We were on the blacktop and with minimal equipment, for example we were given 18 balls for 180 students.   So, as much as the administration repeatedly stated they valued PE, I strongly disagree.  My co-teacher and I traveled to a total of 6 schools in the district and saw 1000 students a day.   We did our best, but it was more about class management rather that creating a quality physical education program for the students.  This photo is dated 1997, I wish I could say this district no longer does this, but I can’t as well as to share that many other districts do the same as I am hired to provide professional development to help PE teachers in this same situation.   

Another example that “shows” how administration values physical education.   Again, providing a prep period to teachers, entire grade level out for as long as 90 minutes one day a week and taught by a recreational outside program not credentialed PE teachers.   To comply, there will be a classroom teacher present with the recreational leaders, they are not teaching but watching.  This schedule was brought to my attention in an IEP when a parent stated his son hated Thursdays because it was PE day.  His son was in first grade, I stated in the meeting that 90 minutes of PE one day a week was not best for any student at any grade.   Unfortunately, this district was only concerned with the demand of the classroom teachers that they wanted 90 minutes of prep one day a week.   

One more example that is common here is California is for a district to not hire any credentialed elementary PE teachers and the PE mandated minutes are to be taught by the classroom teacher.   I am not stating the classroom teacher can’t teach PE but to highlight that they may or may not have taken a class on physical education in their credentialing program.   In addition, rarely does a district provide a classroom teacher with a curriculum, equipment, or any professional development.  Last summer I did present a PE PD for classroom teachers and a teacher spoke up that this was the 1^st PD on PE he had in the 22 years he had been teaching.  

Yes, there are some schools and districts in California that will hire credentialled PE teachers at the elementary level.   However, they are often given large class sizes, and in many cases only see the students once or twice a week and don’t teach the entire 200 mandated minutes.   This means the remaining minutes are to be taught by the classroom teacher, which truly some do, and others do not.

I have shared California examples as I have personally experienced, however it has been brought to my attention that the value of PE is in question around the country as well.   As I present my PE Seminars around the country, I have learned of so many interesting program schedules.  First, often students are only getting PE one day a week.   In addition, PE is grouped with the “specials” and is put in a rotation such as a PE teacher will see a class for 6 weeks then again 12 weeks later after the class has music and art.   This scheduling certainly is not helping the students understand the importance to be physically active daily.  

Based on my experience and what I have observed and learned from other physical education teachers is that physical education is often on the bottom of the education ladder, for me “on the blacktop” …. not even on the first step.      Large class size is common, students only getting the minimal minutes and in California often not taught by credentialed PE teachers.   

Here it is, “What is the PURPOSE of PE?” …. well as I identified the objectives and value that students gain in participating in a quality physical education program, YES the purpose is to teach the students.  Personally, I take every opportunity to educate and advocate for quality physical education for all.   I shared my photo for this Blog, as I do on every presentation and ask the teachers “Would you like your child in a class this big?”  I acknowledge their wish to have a prep, but is this fair to the students?   There are other strategies to give a prep to classroom teachers, ones that don’t compromise a child’s education. 

All said and done, what I have described has been happening for years and very little has changed.  If your school district has elementary PE teachers and they only see one class at a time, cheer for your district.  YES, your administration and school board value physical education.   However, if they don’t…ask WHY? And find out what they are doing to ensure a quality physical education program to be provided for the students.   If it is like one of the examples I gave you today, speak up whether you are a parent or a teacher.   I know, (Bold Statement) that districts get away with what they can.  They assume parents do not know their child is to have a minimum of 200 (elementary) or 400 (secondary) minutes of PE every 10 days of school (California).   Parents can and do make a difference.   I am aware of a school district hiring elementary PE teachers because parents went to the school board and demanded it.   Also a few years back in California, parents sued multiple school districts for not meeting the required PE minutes.   

Remember, THE ULTIMATE GOAL of a quality physical education program ….is for students to live and understand the value of a healthy and active lifestyle, to be PHYSICALLY LITERATE. 

Is your child participating in a QUALITY PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM?   Not Sure ? Don’t Know?   ASK…..FIND OUT…..and CHEER !!! Or SPEAK UP….you can make a difference.