The 'Fitness Integrated with Teaching Act' or FIT Kids Act has been approved by the US House on April 21, 2010 and is heading to the Senate for approval. However, this legislation has met some opposition and the fear is that it could get bogged down due to the measure's new reporting requirements.
The legislation would impose a new set of reporting requirements on virtually all school districts to make it easier for members of the public to learn what physical activities and education schools offer. The argument is that these reporting requirements would burden local schools already struggling to meet a vast array of federal mandates.
Like so many initiatives, this bill does not provide federal aid for districts to spend on PE but does call for an unspecified amount of funding for the National Research Council to examine and make recommendations on 'innovative and effective ways to increase physical activity'. As if we need yet another study to confirm findings of hundreds of other studies over the past 10 years.
Boo-hoo to both groups for opposing accountability to finally make PE part of a level playing field (pardon the pun) and legislators for proposing a toothless initiative where the money is not where the mouth is. It sounds like a lot of 'feel-good' language to counter a growing concern about childhood obesity in the USA.
The upside is that physical education is on the front burner of legislators and critical issues are being addressed to imform parents and the public on:
- The amount of time students are required to spend in PE by grade level compared to national recommendations;
- Whether schools follow an age-appropriate PE curriculum;
- How schools promote 'healthy lifestyles' including school programs and policies on nutrition and physical activity as it relates to Title I recipients.
Data collection costs money and so does good programs. Perhaps research appropriation should go to data collection which will identify good practices and thus provide direction on proper spending or equipment and curriculum.
Michael Cordier
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Washington DC Takes the Lead
Washington DC is not a principality but the smallest state in the nation. It could be the most important piece of real estate in the USA, serving as the capital and power bastion. Washington District of Columbia does not house many folks due to cost and size, but saw development of many housing projects during the previous century which today accommodate 71,000 school students. Sadly, it boasts one of the highest obesity rates in the country. 43% of students enrolled in the school district is overweight or obese.
Finally the 13-member DC Council proposed legislation to increase physical education and clamp down on fast foods served in the schools. There is a political angle to this change of heart: Michell Obama's initiative on healthier foods in schools is sited as inspiration.
The Washing Post reports that, "The bill would ban trans fats and limit sodium and saturated fats. City public and charter schools would have to meet the federal "gold standard" for lunches, which requires that a different fruit and vegetable be served every day and that only low-fat or non-fat milk and whole grains be offered.The estimated cost is $23 million over four years. The measure would establish mandatory guidelines on caloric intake at breakfast and lunch, effectively forcing smaller and healthier portions. In elementary schools, breakfasts would have a required range of 350 to 550 calories, and lunches would have a range of 450 to 600 calories. In high schools, the required range would be 450 to 600 calories for breakfast and 750 to 850 calories for lunch".
The bill also put much greater emphasis on physical education in city schools. Elementary students, for instance, receive an average of 45 minutes of physical education a week. The bill would increase the requirement to 150 minutes starting in 2014. In middle school, where students now have physical education for one trimester, they would attend gym class throughout the school year for at least 225 minutes a week.
This is not a lot of money given the size and impact of a very good program but is still unfunded in a struggling economy. Proposals are on the table to levy a tax on soda sales in the state - which has soda distributors and manufacturers up in arms! If approved, it is a giant leap in the right direction!
Michael Cordier
Finally the 13-member DC Council proposed legislation to increase physical education and clamp down on fast foods served in the schools. There is a political angle to this change of heart: Michell Obama's initiative on healthier foods in schools is sited as inspiration.
The Washing Post reports that, "The bill would ban trans fats and limit sodium and saturated fats. City public and charter schools would have to meet the federal "gold standard" for lunches, which requires that a different fruit and vegetable be served every day and that only low-fat or non-fat milk and whole grains be offered.The estimated cost is $23 million over four years. The measure would establish mandatory guidelines on caloric intake at breakfast and lunch, effectively forcing smaller and healthier portions. In elementary schools, breakfasts would have a required range of 350 to 550 calories, and lunches would have a range of 450 to 600 calories. In high schools, the required range would be 450 to 600 calories for breakfast and 750 to 850 calories for lunch".
The bill also put much greater emphasis on physical education in city schools. Elementary students, for instance, receive an average of 45 minutes of physical education a week. The bill would increase the requirement to 150 minutes starting in 2014. In middle school, where students now have physical education for one trimester, they would attend gym class throughout the school year for at least 225 minutes a week.
This is not a lot of money given the size and impact of a very good program but is still unfunded in a struggling economy. Proposals are on the table to levy a tax on soda sales in the state - which has soda distributors and manufacturers up in arms! If approved, it is a giant leap in the right direction!
Michael Cordier
Friday, May 7, 2010
Play, Play, Play
Here is a story that 'warms the cockles'. The Arizona Daily Start reports on a preschool program that was started in 1948, is owned and managed by parents, and became fully integrated three years before it became state law in 1954. The Tuscon Community School hosts about 80 children from ages 3 to 6. All learning takes place through PLAY. It was the mission back in 1948 and it is still the mission.
"Children should be able to try things out. Play is how you learn things," says school Director Mary Sue Houser, a proud alum of the school herself back in the late 1960s. Parents can't just simply 'drop off' their kids and drive into the sunrise every morning. It is expected that each parent puts in 12 to 18 days a year on site! "Involved" is the operative word in this unique school.
Activities are split between inside and outside, with inside learning also revolving around play. There are pianos to bang on and art projects to tackle - but NO coloring between the lines. Annual fees range from around $1,500 to $3,300, depending on age and number of days attended. Scholarships are available, and the school holds regular fundraisers.
Reporter Bonnie Henry comments that, yes, kids will still be kids. When they get too rambunctious, they're given 'good work to do'. "We give them hammer and nails and something to work on", says the principal.
Now that sounds like kids being kids.
Michael Cordier
"Children should be able to try things out. Play is how you learn things," says school Director Mary Sue Houser, a proud alum of the school herself back in the late 1960s. Parents can't just simply 'drop off' their kids and drive into the sunrise every morning. It is expected that each parent puts in 12 to 18 days a year on site! "Involved" is the operative word in this unique school.
Activities are split between inside and outside, with inside learning also revolving around play. There are pianos to bang on and art projects to tackle - but NO coloring between the lines. Annual fees range from around $1,500 to $3,300, depending on age and number of days attended. Scholarships are available, and the school holds regular fundraisers.
Reporter Bonnie Henry comments that, yes, kids will still be kids. When they get too rambunctious, they're given 'good work to do'. "We give them hammer and nails and something to work on", says the principal.
Now that sounds like kids being kids.
Michael Cordier
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Fitness and Learning
Imagine a school setting where equal goals are assigned to reading, math, and physical activity? Leveling the playing field through equal priority given to academia and movement.
It is exactly what is going on in in Oklahoma at Steed Elementary School. Coordinated amongst all grade teachers students are called to master 26 math skills, learn 26 reading skills, read 26 books and RUN 26.2 miles! Yes, a full marathon - even if it is over time.
Teacher Christine Paradise says," the goal is to get the kids involved in more physical activities and running is a natural fit as they do it anyway."
The program's success is in students running and learning gradually. They keep journals on their progress and a teacher or parent verifies that each task is completed. Needless to say, students can run any time. The program is now implemented from pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. The finale will be for students to run the final 1.2 miles of their 'marathon' at a Kids Marathon in Oklahoma City.
Goals are pretty tough. One math assignment would be the mastering of the multiplication table. In reading it could mean the ability to understand inferences or main ideas. Ultimately the idea is to encourage students to keep going and persevere - A rare commodity now a-days.
The cool part is that several teachers have joined the program as well, setting 26 personal goals in addition to running a 'marathon'. Breaking it up in parts makes it easy and enhance the chances of success. Such programs teach life skills in addition to personal development, self-discipline, and intrinsic motivation. No fault can be found with this formula.
Michael Cordier
It is exactly what is going on in in Oklahoma at Steed Elementary School. Coordinated amongst all grade teachers students are called to master 26 math skills, learn 26 reading skills, read 26 books and RUN 26.2 miles! Yes, a full marathon - even if it is over time.
Teacher Christine Paradise says," the goal is to get the kids involved in more physical activities and running is a natural fit as they do it anyway."
The program's success is in students running and learning gradually. They keep journals on their progress and a teacher or parent verifies that each task is completed. Needless to say, students can run any time. The program is now implemented from pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. The finale will be for students to run the final 1.2 miles of their 'marathon' at a Kids Marathon in Oklahoma City.
Goals are pretty tough. One math assignment would be the mastering of the multiplication table. In reading it could mean the ability to understand inferences or main ideas. Ultimately the idea is to encourage students to keep going and persevere - A rare commodity now a-days.
The cool part is that several teachers have joined the program as well, setting 26 personal goals in addition to running a 'marathon'. Breaking it up in parts makes it easy and enhance the chances of success. Such programs teach life skills in addition to personal development, self-discipline, and intrinsic motivation. No fault can be found with this formula.
Michael Cordier
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Fatter than we thought!
US researchers declared that obesity among American children is much worse than previously believed, putting them at greater risk of serious health problems as they age. Begging the question where those researchers were hiding during the past 5 to 7 years?
The Journal of Pediatrics quoted a study of 700,000 student in southern California alone that found 45,000 students to be extremely obese (sounds like a new category) with boys leading the charge. Co-authored by Dr. Amy Porter of Kaiser Permanente, says that the study showed extreme obesity rising in almost every group (multi-ethnic study by age, race, and gender). This translates to 7% of boys and 5% of girls being extremely obese and 2% of all children under 5 years old. Previous research from federal health surveys suggested 3.8% of children were extremely obese.
The researchers pointed out that without major lifestyle changes, these kids face 10 to 20 years shorter life spans and will develop health problems in their 20's that we typically see in 40-to-60-year-olds. Scary thought!
And the bottom line? Two-thirds of all adults in the USA are overweight or obese. One third of all children in the USA is obese. The increasing risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses adds about $150 billion a year to US health care costs.
There is not single solution but a combination of more physical activity during the day, healthier nutrition, and participation in organized sports will be a good start.
Michael Cordier
The Journal of Pediatrics quoted a study of 700,000 student in southern California alone that found 45,000 students to be extremely obese (sounds like a new category) with boys leading the charge. Co-authored by Dr. Amy Porter of Kaiser Permanente, says that the study showed extreme obesity rising in almost every group (multi-ethnic study by age, race, and gender). This translates to 7% of boys and 5% of girls being extremely obese and 2% of all children under 5 years old. Previous research from federal health surveys suggested 3.8% of children were extremely obese.
The researchers pointed out that without major lifestyle changes, these kids face 10 to 20 years shorter life spans and will develop health problems in their 20's that we typically see in 40-to-60-year-olds. Scary thought!
And the bottom line? Two-thirds of all adults in the USA are overweight or obese. One third of all children in the USA is obese. The increasing risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses adds about $150 billion a year to US health care costs.
There is not single solution but a combination of more physical activity during the day, healthier nutrition, and participation in organized sports will be a good start.
Michael Cordier
Friday, April 9, 2010
Victory in Small Increments in Texas
Earlier this year the Texas Department of Education lowered the physical education requirements for elementary and middle schools as well as those applicable for graduation. A slew of substitutes to fulfill the PE requirement were also approved. Those included ROTC, cheerleading, or a sememster of organized sports.
The message sent by the Department did say much about their feelings and priority towards physical education. It also send a message to professionals who dedicated at least for years to formal education to become certified physical education teachers. A ground swell of advocacy took place in many districts and local school boards listened.
On March 25, 2010 the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees approved an amendment to Board Policy EIF (Local) Academic Achievement, keeping the local high school graduation requirement for Physical Education at 1.5 credits and the high school Health Education requirement at .5. So, although the state has reduced the requirement from 1.5 to 1.0 for Physical Education and from .5 to .0 for Health Education, the Dallas Independent School District will keep these requirements for our students entering the ninth grade during the 2010-11 school year and thereafter.
It is an a victory for passionate teachers and highlights the importance of physical activity and good nutrition. Let all of us continue the good fight.
Michael Cordier
The message sent by the Department did say much about their feelings and priority towards physical education. It also send a message to professionals who dedicated at least for years to formal education to become certified physical education teachers. A ground swell of advocacy took place in many districts and local school boards listened.
On March 25, 2010 the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees approved an amendment to Board Policy EIF (Local) Academic Achievement, keeping the local high school graduation requirement for Physical Education at 1.5 credits and the high school Health Education requirement at .5. So, although the state has reduced the requirement from 1.5 to 1.0 for Physical Education and from .5 to .0 for Health Education, the Dallas Independent School District will keep these requirements for our students entering the ninth grade during the 2010-11 school year and thereafter.
It is an a victory for passionate teachers and highlights the importance of physical activity and good nutrition. Let all of us continue the good fight.
Michael Cordier
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Effective Recess
Used to be that recess was a time for kids to hang out and take a break from sitting in a chair all day. Used to be that kids received their dose of physical activity in a daily PE class. But those good old days are gone. Physical Education has been watered down so much that the challenge is not to get out of it but to be part of it!
In comes 'the new Recess'. All of a sudden the role that recess time plays in schools have been expanded and structured. The start was the Wellness Act implemented by the Bush administration (toothless legislation as no money or penelties were built into it). It mandated structured, supervised recess time for 30 minutes a day in schools as part of a comprehensive school wellness plan.
Several companies such as Playworks jumped on board to develop activities to include before- and after school recess times. These programs focus on good sportmanship, character building, team participation, and fighting obesity. In essence, it provides for structured play and involves participation from all teachers - not just PE specialists. A new set of teachers are taught the fundamental benefits of physical activity.
It is a known fact that children need a time, place, and space to release pent-up energy. Active recess serves as a time to generate fresh blood to the brain to highten concentration and focus in the classroom. This leads to fewer conflicts in class and nurture natural leaders. Many programs allow well-behaved students to become junior coaches to lead or teach recess activities.
It is easy to support structured recess if it get kids moving. Let us all embrace and encourage it.
Michael Cordier
In comes 'the new Recess'. All of a sudden the role that recess time plays in schools have been expanded and structured. The start was the Wellness Act implemented by the Bush administration (toothless legislation as no money or penelties were built into it). It mandated structured, supervised recess time for 30 minutes a day in schools as part of a comprehensive school wellness plan.
Several companies such as Playworks jumped on board to develop activities to include before- and after school recess times. These programs focus on good sportmanship, character building, team participation, and fighting obesity. In essence, it provides for structured play and involves participation from all teachers - not just PE specialists. A new set of teachers are taught the fundamental benefits of physical activity.
It is a known fact that children need a time, place, and space to release pent-up energy. Active recess serves as a time to generate fresh blood to the brain to highten concentration and focus in the classroom. This leads to fewer conflicts in class and nurture natural leaders. Many programs allow well-behaved students to become junior coaches to lead or teach recess activities.
It is easy to support structured recess if it get kids moving. Let us all embrace and encourage it.
Michael Cordier
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Link between Physical Health and Test Scores
Yet another study finds a "link between physical health and academic test scores". It is not sure how many studies must be performed with:
The latest study comes from West Virginia University where author Lesley Cottrell, associate professor of pedeiatrics, found that "children's fitness is associated with their academic performance". Her team found that the fitter the student, the better the test scores. They evaluated 1,200 students and assesed fitness in fifth and again in seventh grades using a standardized test. They also tested students in four subjects (math, science, reading, and social studies) - again using standardized tests.
The hypothesis was that students maintaining or improving fitness scores over a two-year period would have the best test scores. They were right. Who would have known?
Taken a bit further, they found that students who were unhealthy in 5th grade scored worse at reading in 7th grade. Students who were fit in 5th grade but were not fit by 7th grade did only a little better academically. However, those who were not fit in 5th grade but became fit by 7th grade increased their reading score quite a bit. The best performers were obviously fit students in 5th grade who maintained their fitness through 7th grade.
It is important to note that the emphasis was on fitness not body weight and thereby accommodating different body types, hereditary discrepancies, and cultural differences. It did not matter if a student carried a few extra pounds. Now if we can only get administrators and some parents to wake up to the obvious: Fit bodies = healthy minds.
Michael Cordier
- small groups and large groups;
- long term or short term;
- young or older students,
The latest study comes from West Virginia University where author Lesley Cottrell, associate professor of pedeiatrics, found that "children's fitness is associated with their academic performance". Her team found that the fitter the student, the better the test scores. They evaluated 1,200 students and assesed fitness in fifth and again in seventh grades using a standardized test. They also tested students in four subjects (math, science, reading, and social studies) - again using standardized tests.
The hypothesis was that students maintaining or improving fitness scores over a two-year period would have the best test scores. They were right. Who would have known?
Taken a bit further, they found that students who were unhealthy in 5th grade scored worse at reading in 7th grade. Students who were fit in 5th grade but were not fit by 7th grade did only a little better academically. However, those who were not fit in 5th grade but became fit by 7th grade increased their reading score quite a bit. The best performers were obviously fit students in 5th grade who maintained their fitness through 7th grade.
It is important to note that the emphasis was on fitness not body weight and thereby accommodating different body types, hereditary discrepancies, and cultural differences. It did not matter if a student carried a few extra pounds. Now if we can only get administrators and some parents to wake up to the obvious: Fit bodies = healthy minds.
Michael Cordier
Friday, February 26, 2010
Obesity Prevention Intervention Study
What happens when students of all economic backgrounds are exposed to a school-based obesity prevention intervention that included dietary, curricula, and physical activity components? How does this intervention impacted body mass index (BMI) percentiles and academic performance among low-income elementary school children?
Well, its been done for two consecutive years involving 5,488 students of which 48% were Hispanic. Think about simplicity of the intervention: helping students understand their eating habits, promote healthier choices and increased physical activity. This in itself is a worthy effort to pursue by any school who serves free and reduced lunches. But when one adds the outcomes from this study in is inexplainable why such an intervention is not mandated on a national level.
What researcher, Danielle Hollard and her team from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found is astonishing:
1) Obese children experienced a drop in their Body Mass Index (BMI) - probably expected
2) Regular students maintained their healthy BMI's -probably expected
3) Significant increases in math scores were experienced during both years of the study - surprising!
4) Improvement in math scores occured in both Hispanic and White students - surprising!
5) Higher readings scores were experienced as well for both years but not as high as math scores - surprising!
It is therefore possible to have a regular school program that impacts both the health and academic performance of students. Furthermore it makes the healthy body / healthy mind connection yet again. How many more of these studies are needed to make the same point?
Visit http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/AJPH.2009.165746v1 to see the complete study.
Michael Cordier
Well, its been done for two consecutive years involving 5,488 students of which 48% were Hispanic. Think about simplicity of the intervention: helping students understand their eating habits, promote healthier choices and increased physical activity. This in itself is a worthy effort to pursue by any school who serves free and reduced lunches. But when one adds the outcomes from this study in is inexplainable why such an intervention is not mandated on a national level.
What researcher, Danielle Hollard and her team from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found is astonishing:
1) Obese children experienced a drop in their Body Mass Index (BMI) - probably expected
2) Regular students maintained their healthy BMI's -probably expected
3) Significant increases in math scores were experienced during both years of the study - surprising!
4) Improvement in math scores occured in both Hispanic and White students - surprising!
5) Higher readings scores were experienced as well for both years but not as high as math scores - surprising!
It is therefore possible to have a regular school program that impacts both the health and academic performance of students. Furthermore it makes the healthy body / healthy mind connection yet again. How many more of these studies are needed to make the same point?
Visit http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/AJPH.2009.165746v1 to see the complete study.
Michael Cordier
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Motives for Getting Involved in Education
Perhaps the most politicized public forum in any community is the typical school district. The appointment of the Superintendent is determined by party lines and that tone cascade to the lowest levels when it comes to career development. But the refrain continues that "it is all for the kids". Hypocrisy! Here is what Rick Hess had to say on his Blog 'Straight Up'. I believe he has a point and a good one.
It's time to banish the phrase, "It's for the kids," (that's "IFTK" for those of you keeping score at home) from the edu-discourse, along with its insipid cousins like "it's all about kids," "just for the kids," and "we're in it for the kids." Actually, it's way past time.
Two things recently reminded how much I loathe IFTK. One was a terrific little essay penned by my old mentor, Harvard University's Dick Elmore. The other, which I'll take up tomorrow, was AFT President Randi Weingarten's painful interview recently on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show.
Elmore bracingly terms "We're in it for the kids" a "monument to self-deception." He argues, "Public schools, and the institutions that surround them, surely rank among the most self-interested institutions in American society"--with school boards "training beds" for would-be politicians, superintendents sketching grandiose visions and then fleeing for cushier positions, and unions sacrificing student interests in the name of teacher job security.
"It's for the kids" is a phrase that encourages obfuscation and posturing. It allows self-interest to hide behind self-righteousness and vapid sentiment. It also imposes real costs.
First, the rhetoric of "it's for the kids" makes it easy for serious disagreements about policy or practice to devolve into name-calling and questions of motive. If I'm "in it for the kids" and you oppose my stance on teacher licensure, desegregation, charter schooling, or merit pay, it can be easy for me to assert (and maybe even assume) that you're not in it for the kids. This fuels ad hominem attacks and makes it more difficult to find workable solutions.
And, honestly, I can't see why motive much matters. I couldn't care less whether my doctor loves me; I just care whether she's any good at her job. If someone is in it for the kids, for the adoring news coverage, or for a buck, all I really care about is whether they deliver. If they do, terrific. If they don't, their noble motives don't matter.
'It's for the Kids' Needs to Go
Two things recently reminded how much I loathe IFTK. One was a terrific little essay penned by my old mentor, Harvard University's Dick Elmore. The other, which I'll take up tomorrow, was AFT President Randi Weingarten's painful interview recently on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show.
Elmore bracingly terms "We're in it for the kids" a "monument to self-deception." He argues, "Public schools, and the institutions that surround them, surely rank among the most self-interested institutions in American society"--with school boards "training beds" for would-be politicians, superintendents sketching grandiose visions and then fleeing for cushier positions, and unions sacrificing student interests in the name of teacher job security.
"It's for the kids" is a phrase that encourages obfuscation and posturing. It allows self-interest to hide behind self-righteousness and vapid sentiment. It also imposes real costs.
First, the rhetoric of "it's for the kids" makes it easy for serious disagreements about policy or practice to devolve into name-calling and questions of motive. If I'm "in it for the kids" and you oppose my stance on teacher licensure, desegregation, charter schooling, or merit pay, it can be easy for me to assert (and maybe even assume) that you're not in it for the kids. This fuels ad hominem attacks and makes it more difficult to find workable solutions.
And, honestly, I can't see why motive much matters. I couldn't care less whether my doctor loves me; I just care whether she's any good at her job. If someone is in it for the kids, for the adoring news coverage, or for a buck, all I really care about is whether they deliver. If they do, terrific. If they don't, their noble motives don't matter.
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