When Columbia County middle school pupils return after the winter break, some might escape the rigors of physical education.
School officials are considering a policy that would allow middle school pupils to skip P.E. in favor of music and remediation classes.
"What it boils down to is in order for the student to take remediation, the student could not be in physical education classes or could not take band," said Mike Lindsey, the school system's director of middle school student learning.
Officials started remediation-acceleration courses in middle schools this year to help pupils in danger of failing the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test, which is used to determine advancement and a school's success in meeting No Child Left Behind goals.
Remediation acceleration is offered as an elective course. Other elective courses include band, chorus and P.E. Though considered an elective, P.E. and health have become required courses in recent years as child obesity rates have skyrocketed.
Middle school principals were worried that pupils with a musical bent might forgo needed remediation classes to remain in band and still meet the P.E. requirement, Mr. Lindsey said.
"We're kind of dealing with a two-edged sword," said Riverside Middle School Principal Chris Segraves. "It's been a concern to keep kids active, but I also know that we've got to have them performing academically."
The school board gave tentative approval during a recent meeting to allowing pupils in need of remediation to supplant P.E. with band or chorus. They likely will take a final vote on the issue at a Dec. 9 meeting.
But even those pupils must still take a required health course, where they learn about issues of drug abuse, alcohol and sex, Mr. Lindsey said.
"Not that we don't feel that physical education is not important; we feel that the health classes are critical for our kids to receive that instruction," he said.
Health courses typically take about six weeks and will be offered to students in remediation and band after the administration of the CRCT in April, Mr. Lindsey said.
Not all middle school educators agree with the board's early decision.
"They're placing more of an emphasis on band and chorus," said Harlem Middle School football coach Benjie Moore. "I think anything physical should be required nowadays with the shape this country is in."
Since the early 1980s, the number of obese children ages 6 to 11 has doubled, and rates of teen obesity have tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
However, Mr. Lindsey said, just 4.6 percent of middle school pupils will be affected should the board approve the new policy.
Also, he said, it is difficult to deny a child a fine arts education. To do so might hinder a pupil's desire to perform well in school.
"There are some kids who are heavily into music and fine arts, and that's where they find success," Mr. Lindsey said. "We don't necessarily want to take that away from them."
Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
If I understand this, we now have less intelligent fat children and you want to make them smart fat children to grow up and be fat adults. Not sure how smart by then since many will not graduate anyway. Coach, I am with you. Extra classes after school or on Saturdays for those that need the extra help. If you want it, you will have to come and get it when it is offered. Overtime for teachers as needed.
As a retired middle school teacher, I think that Benjie's right: our kids need more physical activity in our middle schools, not less. Our middle school students also need longer lunch breaks and recesses to allow them to go outside where they can burn off pent-up physical energy during the long school days.
Well put sandbox. I'm offended by the use of the politically correct term "remediation" instead of the actual term "failing". Refusing to call a spade a spade is a lot of the problem with the lack of comprehension.
All of our American Public School students are in dire need of physica education. And, they need real physical education, not the coach that just tosses out the ball. We need to be teaching how to be physically fit and in good shape or at least not excessively overweight before we even get them to High School. If they need remediation, that should be done in after school programs, with parents or with Sylvan or other types of programs. Middle school students especially need PE during the day to relive all of the energy they have and to take a break from the classroom during the day. PE is very much needed and should be a requirement. Band, Art, Chorus, etc. are all good programs and should be electives or even set up such as football, etc. for after school if needed but being excused from PE is a step in the wrong direction. Columbia County schools make excellent decisions 95% of the time and I certainly hope they will put a lot more thought into this one prior to any changes.
The easiest way to reduce the number of fat children would be for Mom and Dad to take away the X-box and Nintendo.
wow...as if the kids arent lazy enough,....and suprisingly enough, this time I agree with white trash....parents also have a responsibility for theirs fat lazy kids.....make them go outside and play....actively not with their game boy
How in the world did we educate our kids and provide opportunities for music, band, and PE back in the 60's and 70s????? Could it be that we had fewer school holidays / breaks interrupting the educational process? Could it be that we had more discipline in the classroom? Could it be that our parents actually gave a darn that we did our homework? Could it be that there were none of these special cultural class projects to make every student feel good???
Bad decision!!!
Last time I checked, physical activity stimulates the brain. Stimulated brain may place them in a position to actually take in more of what goes on in the classroom. If we get rid of half the PC stuff they don't need, and stick to the basics, they will become more productive in the classroom and the community.
And yes, parents, get them away from the tube and out in the fresh air. It is your responsiblity to train up the child. Be an example by being active yourself and involved in their school.
exactly right, why
great, with all of the fat kids waddling around now, we are going to have more obese kids
It seems that where I grew up, somewhere else, long, long ago, we had seven periods in Junior High. One was counted as home room. Some how we were able to get music, PE, and all the other stuff in there. Let's count; English, history, math, music, PE, science. That's six. Also, when young we did something called "go outside and play", and we rode bicycles everywhere. There was a park with a merry-go-round that you push. The big kids would try to push it so fast that the little kids would fly off. They would cry, then get back on and ask for more. Seems that's not done much any more. Think of the liability. Seems like the current culture does just the opposite of what is healthy.
Where that music class came in; it replaced study hall. You could only take it if you could give up study hall. If your grades weren't up to par, you had to take study hall. In other words, no electives if you were failing something.
I wonder if these comments - unanimously opposed to this visionary "plan" (as of this writing) - might be made available to the CCBOE before they meet on December 9th? After all, we are their constituents. Coach Moore deserves credit for speaking against this.
Music is more beneficial than PE. Students who learn music do better in math and other disciplines. Music programs have always played second fiddle (!) to athletic programs. Learning to play an instrument or sing which last a student a lifetime as opposed to a short life on the gridiron. We've had PE in the schools for years and there's been no drop in obesity; it's probably increased. There is no one factor for this.
Take a bunch of adolescent boys and make them sit all day in classes. Yep, I can't think of a better way to have serious discipline problems.
I was in the band, advanced academic courses, PE, student council, and several other school organizations. Parents just don't do their jobs anymore. I managed, was second in my graduating class, and was expected to succeed. Parents need to get back to parenting, don't let the little fat kids sit in front of the tv or computer for hours upon hours, and become parents.
PE is an important part for these kids. Keep it because the Parents aren't home enough to monitor their kids laying around, for one the parents are struggling to help their families survive, by working. The school system has a responsibility just as well as the parents. If the parents would get involvled in their kids life then maybe we wouldn't have so many fat people. Parents used to care about their kids more years ago, today they are to stressed out so it is easier for them to let the kids play computer, video games and watch TV more so the parents can have some space. Bottom Line, get involved with your childs life at home and at school. You would be surprised by the reaction of your children when you spend some time with them. Children starve for the parents attention. Change your childs life, be active with them and see how they will respond.
More physical activity not less is what is needed. This is a bad idea.
Someone, please, tell Coach Moore that it is the duty of the parents to see to the health of their children...not coaches or P.E. teachers. It IS the duty of the school to tend to the EDUCATION of its' students. GGpap.
It’s obvious that parents can not control their Childs weight. Look at them they are overweight! They should be required to take PE and jog for the hour if they are outside their recommended weight. Not Dodge ball, some actual physical exercise. When they loose it they can loose PE. Loose it fatso!
uncle, the reason only 7 periods were needed back in the 60-70's is because our parent took the time to make sure our home work was done, which eliminated the need for these so called "remediation" classes are nothing more than "knuckle-head" classes which takes up valuable time and resources that could be used for the needed P. E. with all the fat kids these days caused by the lack of exercise and the reliance of mcdonalds and burger king to feed the kids instead of a decent home cooked meal.
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