Very recently my nephew started 1st grade recently, his curriculum startled me. He goes Monday through Thursday, taking standard reading, writing, math, and history and because it’s a private school Latin and Bible Study. Friday is an elective day that he can take elective classes like art, Spanish or Physical Education.
Elective classes.
I can see Spanish for a kid in the 1st grade being an elective, but art and physical education? When did they become unnecessary classes that are only taught to students whose parents feel like signing them up? This isn’t the first time that I’ve noticed a distinct lack of physical education in schools be they public or private.
Once upon a time, sports ruled school. While it’s true that in secondary and high schools sports are still high on the priority lists, but the actual courses like physical education that address why physical education is important are not. On the college level, most degree programs require students to take a 2-credit course entitled Lifetime Fitness and Wellness. This class, mixes Health Class with Physical Education and teaches lifestyle changes and exercise as well as how to build a good physical fitness program.
The class offers fundamentals in basic exercise, understanding physiology as well as how to adapt programs to certain health conditions. Why does this type of education wait until the college level instead of being offered in Kindergarten and 1st grade where it might actually do the students good? When they can grow up performing the activities that will help them live a better, longer and fuller life?
Education should educate. It should prepare students to grow up in a complex world where they are dazzled by a thousand different options that a firm grounding in fitness education could help them decide for or against. Granted, it’s up to parents to provide the guidance and moral compass that will allow children to navigate through the masses of information that is available to them.
Schools, however, need to beef up their fitness programs and not just point them in the direction of sports. Sports are fantastic for teaching team building and healthy competition, but fitness is for everyone and not just for athletes. Check out the fitness programs or gym classes offered at your kid’s school. Get an idea for what they are teaching, if anything and if they aren’t teaching it – get active in the school whether it’s through the PTA or through the director – get gym classes back into the curriculum.
The life you improve may very well be your children’s.