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Virtual gym classes click with busy high schoolers
Orlando Sentinel ^ | October 6, 2003 | Denise-Marie Balona

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: education; physicalfitness

1 posted on 10/06/2003 3:09:43 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Gosh, I hated gym!
2 posted on 10/06/2003 3:14:40 AM PDT by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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3 posted on 10/06/2003 3:14:57 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
schools have cut recess to spend more time preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

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.

4 posted on 10/06/2003 3:37:32 AM PDT by Flyer (Visit the Houston Chapter - http://houstonliberty.com/forums/ * (when it works)
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To: Flyer
Now it's cramming to make it appear they're proficient and understand the material.
5 posted on 10/06/2003 3:59:39 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; SpookBrat; AntiJen
A great idea. TV for decades and now the web has been a source of fitness classes and info for adults. Why not for kids who are hooked anyway?
I still watch Body Shaping, Denise Austin and Lee Haney for ideas and recommend them to clients.
And I get up from this chair and goe to the gym. I just got up to see a fox on my deck and at my kitchen door.
6 posted on 10/06/2003 3:59:51 AM PDT by larryjohnson (FReepersonaltrainer.ME)
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To: HitmanNY
It was the uniforms.
7 posted on 10/06/2003 4:10:35 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
In recent years, elementary schools have cut recess to spend more time preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

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.

8 posted on 10/06/2003 4:15:07 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
a way to learn to be fit in a comfortable setting.

With junk food near by, no doubt.

9 posted on 10/06/2003 7:12:40 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: Fresh Wind
Bullcrap. Recess has been replaced by Ritalin.

That's a big part of it.

10 posted on 10/06/2003 7:28:02 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: stainlessbanner
With junk food near by, no doubt.

I hope not but I'm sure it will happen.

11 posted on 10/06/2003 7:28:32 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Fresh Wind
Most band practice takes place in the band room with the kids sitting on their butts.

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.

12 posted on 10/06/2003 10:42:42 AM PDT by justlurking
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I liked gym in high school, especially my senior year when I (having more credits than required to graduate) took two 5-day-a-week gym classes each semester. Aquatics, Team Sports, Bicycling, and Personal Fitness.

The Personal Fitness class sounded similar to this online gym class. The teacher put us on our honor to work out during the 50 minute class period. If I wanted to go for a run, then I went for a run...if some girls wanted to do a Tae Bo video, they went to the aux. gym and did that...everyone did different things, and the teacher only made us meet once a week or so to discuss our activities and progress. It was nice, especially since my house was a block from the high school. I could job home with all my school stuff/books and then change and go for a run or bike ride - no need to come back to school to check in or whatever.

If it gets kids to exercise, fabulous. I remember recess fondly from my childhood and it's sad how recess and PE programs have been cut from most schools now.
13 posted on 10/06/2003 11:22:21 AM PDT by Rubber_Duckie_27
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To: justlurking
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.

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?

14 posted on 10/06/2003 11:27:29 AM PDT by freedomlover
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To: Rubber_Duckie_27
Bump!
15 posted on 10/06/2003 12:08:44 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: justlurking
Well, I guess I just wasn't in a serious band. No band camp, no pre-school workouts, just a couple of after school sessions maybe 2 days a week. In my school, there's no way band could ever have compared with PE. But, then I hear you folks in Texas take this stuff very seriously!;-)
16 posted on 10/06/2003 1:09:30 PM PDT by Fresh Wind
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