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Posted on 10/06/2003 3:09:43 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
……….PE advocates in Florida have complained for years that students are getting less exercise at school. In recent years, elementary schools have cut recess to spend more time preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Last year, lawmakers agreed that members of high school marching bands get so much exercise practicing that they should only have to take one PE class. And state officials omitted PE requirements altogether this year when they introduced a program that lets students graduate from high school early.
Virtual School officials insist the online PE courses weren't designed as an easy out for the lazy. In fact, the teens most likely to sign up are overachievers who need a way to cram more classes into their busy schedules, said Steve George, an online PE teacher who works out of his Oveido home.
School officials also said the online program gives overweight teens and others who may not otherwise participate in sports and activities with peers a way to learn to be fit in a comfortable setting.
In George's personal fitness class, students complete 32 assignments, including essays and logs of their workouts and meals. They also submit fitness tests scores, which gauge, among other things, students' speed and flexibility.
George "holds class" with a few students at a time in an Internet chat room. He answers e-mail daily and speaks to students and parents at least once a month.
Although the school has taken steps to discourage students from lying about their work -- many assignments must be signed by parents -- the program relies on an honor system……….
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
That's the key sentence. When I was in school we took various "achievement" test. The preparation was our regular school work and the 15 minutes before the test telling us how to properly pencil in the little circles.
Bullcrap. Recess has been replaced by Ritalin. Remedial classes for the test have replaced actual learning in the classroom.
Last year, lawmakers agreed that members of high school marching bands get so much exercise practicing that they should only have to take one PE class.
More bullcrap. Most band practice takes place in the band room with the kids sitting on their butts. The only ones who actually get real excercise during the marching part are the Sousaphone players.
With junk food near by, no doubt.
That's a big part of it.
I hope not but I'm sure it will happen.
Only during concert season (the winter semester). The fall semester is almost entirely marching season.
We started on the practice field an hour before school officially began and continued through the first class period. And, we also started "band camp" a full month before most people attended their first class of the school year. It lasted all morning.
The only ones who actually get real excercise during the marching part are the Sousaphone players.
Try telling that to the people that spend August and September in Texas carrying any instrument around the practice field.
Try telling that to the people that spend August and September in Texas carrying any instrument around the practice field.
No kidding. The band and the football team practiced on either side of our field in high school. Our band practiced in the sun just as much as the football team and frankly I felt sorry for the band (I played football). At least we could vent our frustrations with a good physical hit. How can you really let off some steam with a flute in your hand?
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