Not your parents' PE for today's kids....

I am proud to say that the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have been leading defenders of physical education in our schools in Illinois. Our experiences taught us that there is a huge disconnect between the adults, many of whom have anything but fond memories of their own time in PE class, and the reality of today's "New PE."

Good PE today resembles a health club, focusing more on individual fitness and learning healthy lifestyle skills. (Below is a link to an interesting article making this point.) Unfortunately, parents are still remembering embarassing moments being "nailed" during dodgeball or being the last one picked for a basketball game. Until the parents, taxpayers and other investors see the return on investment from the New PE, it'll be an uphill battle....

PE: Focus on Exercise, Not Team Sports
Jan 15, 2008

RICHARDSON, Texas (AP) - With music pumping in the background, the kids in Terry Wade's physical education class are in constant motion, going from sit-ups to jumping jacks to curls with light weights. After their 45-minute session, the sixth-graders who are sweating the most, or as Wade calls it, "burning butter," get stickers."My main goal and emphasis is getting these kids up and moving," said Wade, who teaches at Northrich Elementary in the Richardson school district in suburban Dallas. "It's 'Can this kid do this for a lifetime?' I don't care how good they are. I care if they're having fun." Instead of team sports, Wade and other physical education teachers across the country
are focusing more on individual activities that students can incorporate into their lives long after their school days are over.
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080115/D8U6JS500.html