Posted on 03/12/2005 11:36:09 AM PST by Born Conservative
Some Pottsville Area High School students can forget about climbing the rope, dodging balls or getting sweaty altogether.
Gym class may be a thing of the past for students when the district eliminates the mandatory physical education requirement next school year.
The Pottsville Area School District is planning to scrap the four semesters of physical education required to graduate.
It's a move that will help save the school district money and it also stems from tougher academic standards for school districts.
Schools Superintendent James T. Gallagher said the district is trying to control costs.
And without a sizable increase in money from the state and federal governments, he said rising health care, special education, retirement and energy costs will force the district to scale back some programs.
With about 1,200 students enrolled in the high school, each student at some time was required to take a physical education class.
By changing physical education to an elective, fewer students will sign up.
"It's great. I hate gym," said Alex J. Bulino, 16, a high school junior. "I won't be signing up (next year). Definitely not. A lot of people take it, but I don't like it."
Gallagher said that if the department had a sizable decline in enrollment, then not as many instructors would be needed, but he said the teachers within the seven-member physical education department would not lose their jobs or positions.
"As we have teachers retire, they will not be replaced and it will be a financial savings to the district," Gallagher said.
Although the changes to the physical education department are the most drastic, the district will also cut the mandatory drivers education class.
Charles V. Wagner, high school principal, said the high school will no longer offer the mandated driver's education curriculum next year.
He did say a driver's education course will be offered in the summer for a fee, but it has not been set.
Cutting unpopular programs and adding new courses has been a familiar practice, but Shirley Black, health and physical education adviser with the state Department of Education, has noted a decline in physical education programs across the commonwealth.
"The districts must ensure that health, safety and physical education are provided at a sufficient level," she said. "Schools have to guarantee that the students can achieve a proficient level in these area."
At Blue Mountain High School, high school students must fulfill a two credit requirement prior to graduation, which breaks down to about four days of physical education a semester for five semesters.
"You are required to have some requirements for health and physical education," said William H. Hall, superintendent of the Blue Mountain School District.
At Pottsville, the high school will require students to take a health class.
With growing concerns about health and obesity in the nation, the chairman of Pottsville's physical education department worries about the lasting affects.
"Sound body, sound mind has been a given forever. I think there's some truism." said James K. Steidle, department chairman. "What can you do now that the decision is made? I think they should be taking physical education because of the society we're living in."
Regarding the obesity issue, Gallagher said people need to be accountable for their own decisions.
"There has to be personal responsibility. We've mandated physical education and you cannot force someone to lose weight," Gallagher said. "We teach students about proper nutrition in health. Students are required to take health."
Some students disagree with the policy change.
"I think it should be mandatory because teen obesity is a problem in the United States," 12th-grader Jess L. Paulo, 17, said.
More schools are also shifting attention to the standardized testing or the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests.
Students focusing on class rank and grade point average would be more likely to opt for another course that carries more academic credits.
Amber L. Welborn, 17, a senior, thinks underclassmen will have an advantage.
"Their GPA and class rank will be higher because the quality points for physical education are lower than other electives," she said. "Students will now have an advantage over what we did."
"Students could fill their schedule with an elective that will offer more quality points next year," she said.
Linda R. Dietrich, Pottsville, waited for her daughter outside of the school.
"I think it's a great idea. Gym is not an important part of the life unless you plan on becoming a gym teacher," she said. "I think it should be a choice cause it's not a major subject."
Junior Samantha A. Martz plans to sign up for physical education next year.
"I actually don't like it. I think it would be better if everyone was involved cause, not everyone is involved in sports," she said. "I plan on taking a semester and playing a sport. I don't like to be out of shape."
As students select their courses for next year, administrators and teachers will see how many students enroll.
"I'd like to think as many students as possible can fit it in, but it's a pie in the sky. I don't think it's possible," Steidle said.
i doubt this is really the plan. The idea is to hurt the public until the school gets something they want. Academic enrichment programs, music, band, art are likely already cut back or will soon be.
I don't mind cutting PE all that much as I believe every kid should be out for some form of athletics. They will get more exercise and have more fun doing this. Of course if the budget crisis continues then the school can cut out sports programs too. (Foolish school, parents have options).
"Charles V. Wagner, high school principal, said the high school will no longer offer the mandated driver's education curriculum next year."
Mandated driver's education? Back in the old days you took driver's ed in the summer and it was not school sponsored. Shoot, when I took driver's education we drove in an Air Force surplus '61 Chevy, three speed on the column without A/C. Just think about those nice warm Texas summer days with no a/c and vinyl seats.
...This smacks more of payback for a defeated bond vote to me.,,
If you're wrong about that, I'll eat my hat.
One time our district made changes to the bus schedules to inflict pain upon us, even though, the money was in place for the schedules to run that year as planned.
No more flippen' tetherball?
Danggggg!
Idiots!
ping
It was my best subject!
If they want to do something about obesity give every boy who can do 10 pullups and every girl who can do five, a free period in lieu of gym. You'll have kids working out at home to get the privilage.
"More schools are also shifting attention to the standardized testing or the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests."
I think this is the real reason. Gotta study for those high-stakes tests, and the more academic courses you take, the better you'll do.
Homeschool them and let them go to college when they're 14.
http://hslda.org/docs/link.asp?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emlive%2Ecom%2Fnews%2Fbctimes%2Findex%2Essf%3F%2Fbase%2Fnews%2D4%2F1110473112242230%2Exml
I agree with this plan 100%. Gym class has served only one useful purpose over the years and that is it was used by the football/ basketball/ track coach to attract star atheletes for the hometown teams. IMHO, all sports should be cut from the school day, moved to after hours, and funded by booster clubs as it is done in many other countries. This should also be done with high school 'marching bands' which also seems to serve no useful academic purpose. Bottom line - schools should compete on their academic and vocational educational achievements, not on their ability to produce one or two star atheletes.
Right now we have physical education,, (homo)sexual education, social(ist) studies, bolshevik revisionist history, Spanish, liberal arts, performing arts etc..
After all that there isn't much time left for English, math, and the sciences.
Texas schools only require a couple of credits of PE, while Pennsylvania schools required a credit each year -
Gym teachers here are often among the highest paid members of the bargaining unit -- earning up to $70,000 (not incl benefits or coaching fees) for 190 days a year of pretty soft work.
The district we were in while in PA had a scale that paid $85,000 for any teacher with 10 years service and a Master's Degree....... I think almost any teacher in Texas would choke to see that figure - I've never compared to see if the salary was actually showing any results for PA students -
Interesting!!!! On the coaching fees, any idea what they might be? Do they get paid any more (or less) for winning (or losing)?????
There's alot of overweight kids feeling like they just won the lottery (I was one of 'em)
A few thousand dollars per sport, IIRC.
Do they get paid any more (or less) for winning (or losing)?????
No.
To the best of my knowledge, Texas does not allow anyone to coach if they are not a district employee/teacher -
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