Posted 9:31 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 2014
Lori Petersen of the Exercise and Sport Science Department will advocate as part of AAHPERD’s 6th annual SPEAK Out! Day on Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 12.
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Lori Peterson[/caption]
A UW-La Crosse physical education instructor will head to the nation’s capital with representatives from 37 other states to help ensure health and physical education are considered as core academic subjects under the federal education law known as Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Lori Petersen of the Exercise and Sport Science Department will advocate as part of AAHPERD’s 6th annual SPEAK Out! Day on Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 12. Petersen, along with more than 100 colleagues from around the country, will seek additional cosponsors of the PHYSICAL Act.
The PHYSICAL Act — Promoting Health for Youth Skills in Classrooms and Life (S.392, H.R. 2160) — would designate physical education and health education as core subjects, making them eligible for federal funding under Title I and Title II. The monies would help school districts expand physical and health education programs and professional development for teachers, leading to potential opportunities to dedicate weekly physical activity time, enhanced classroom instruction or development of creative health programs.
Those advocating will also encourage continued support for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP), the only federal funding for physical education. The grant program, available for 13 years, has awarded nearly $800 million to develop quality programs.
“As a physical education professional at all levels, I have seen day in and day out the impact physical education has on all aspects of a student’s life,” says Petersen. “It has impacted everything from improved academics and behavior in the classroom to increased confidence to excel in other endeavors, both personal and academic, as well as the obvious proven health benefits of being physically active. I hope to help influence the ‘Get Moving’ initiative that Michelle Obama is promoting so all children get daily physical education.”
Petersen says today’s physical education classes look different than classes most parents and grandparents remember. “Our physical education teachers are implementing programs that include lifetime fitness, goal setting, wellness, outdoor activities, nutrition, and an array of innovative games and activities that students enjoy and continue outside class,” she notes.
Currently only six states require physical education in all grades K-12. Many states do not provide the adequate health education instruction time recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most schools in southwest Wisconsin require physical education every other day at the elementary level. At the secondary level, a variety of requirements are allowed to meet the state minimum. Middle school physical education must meet weekly, while high schools require 1.5 credits of physical education.
Some schools may allow sports or other activities to count toward the high school requirement, says Petersen. “While those activities are certainly supported, they do not allow for planned lifetime learning for the student, nor should they be “counted” as credit,” explains Petersen. “Would a school allow students to waive a high school math class if they could balance a check book? There is so much more that happens in today’s physical education classes than the traditional team and individual sports that so many of us remember.”
Through AAHPERD’s 2013 SPEAK Out! Day, physical and health education teachers were able to secure sponsors of the PHYSICAL Act including Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) which led to the bill being introduced in the House for the first time. Other House sponsors resulting from the advocacy efforts include Reps. John Lewis (D-Georgia) and Jared Polis (D-Colorado).
Both the House and Senate have passed ESEA reauthorization bills through respective education committees in the 113th Congress, says Carly Braxton, Senior Manager of Advocacy, for AAHPERD. “The House version makes no mention of health and physical education and eliminates PEP funding completely,” notes Braxton. “The Senate’s proposed bill does include provisions for health and physical education but does not include them as core subjects.”
“We are looking for more staunch supporters to help move this legislation forward and in the right direction,” continues Braxton. “This is our chance to make real strides in leveling the playing field so that health and physical education programs have the same opportunities to grow and excel as other core subjects.”
Petersen will have the opportunity to share stories on the impact of PEP on the local level and the need for more stringent mandates for physical education and health education. In addition, she will attend a luncheon where Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) will be awarded SPEAK Out! Day awards for leadership regarding the PHYSICAL Act. Both are co-sponsors of the legislation and also sponsored a Congressional briefing in September to highlight the importance of health and physical education in the nation’s schools.
Follow #shapeofthenation on Twitter and join the conversation on Facebook, to keep up with the latest on SPEAK Out! Day. Get state-by-state physical education profiles at: www.aahperd.org.
UW-La Crosse … has been a state and national leader in preparing physical education teachers for decades. UW-L graduates, certifiable to teach K-12, teach in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Study is broad based, with emphasis on motor skills, fitness, scientific principles, teaching strategies and program development. The UW-L program balances traditional, individual and fitness activities with non-traditional physical education activities such as backpacking, ropes courses and rock climbing. The balance provides students with numerous experiences to enhance their professional development. The UW System has identified the program as a Center of Excellence, reserved for high quality undergraduate programs
Society of Health and Physical Educators (formerly AAHPERD)
The Society of Health and Physical Educators, doing business as SHAPE America, is headquartered in Reston, Va., 25 miles west of Washington, D.C. Its vision is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" SHAPE America is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport —specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. See more at: www.aahperd.org.
Lori Peterson[/caption]
A UW-La Crosse physical education instructor will head to the nation’s capital with representatives from 37 other states to help ensure health and physical education are considered as core academic subjects under the federal education law known as Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Lori Petersen of the Exercise and Sport Science Department will advocate as part of AAHPERD’s 6th annual SPEAK Out! Day on Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 12. Petersen, along with more than 100 colleagues from around the country, will seek additional cosponsors of the PHYSICAL Act.
The PHYSICAL Act — Promoting Health for Youth Skills in Classrooms and Life (S.392, H.R. 2160) — would designate physical education and health education as core subjects, making them eligible for federal funding under Title I and Title II. The monies would help school districts expand physical and health education programs and professional development for teachers, leading to potential opportunities to dedicate weekly physical activity time, enhanced classroom instruction or development of creative health programs.
Those advocating will also encourage continued support for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP), the only federal funding for physical education. The grant program, available for 13 years, has awarded nearly $800 million to develop quality programs.
“As a physical education professional at all levels, I have seen day in and day out the impact physical education has on all aspects of a student’s life,” says Petersen. “It has impacted everything from improved academics and behavior in the classroom to increased confidence to excel in other endeavors, both personal and academic, as well as the obvious proven health benefits of being physically active. I hope to help influence the ‘Get Moving’ initiative that Michelle Obama is promoting so all children get daily physical education.”
Petersen says today’s physical education classes look different than classes most parents and grandparents remember. “Our physical education teachers are implementing programs that include lifetime fitness, goal setting, wellness, outdoor activities, nutrition, and an array of innovative games and activities that students enjoy and continue outside class,” she notes.
Currently only six states require physical education in all grades K-12. Many states do not provide the adequate health education instruction time recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most schools in southwest Wisconsin require physical education every other day at the elementary level. At the secondary level, a variety of requirements are allowed to meet the state minimum. Middle school physical education must meet weekly, while high schools require 1.5 credits of physical education.
Some schools may allow sports or other activities to count toward the high school requirement, says Petersen. “While those activities are certainly supported, they do not allow for planned lifetime learning for the student, nor should they be “counted” as credit,” explains Petersen. “Would a school allow students to waive a high school math class if they could balance a check book? There is so much more that happens in today’s physical education classes than the traditional team and individual sports that so many of us remember.”
Through AAHPERD’s 2013 SPEAK Out! Day, physical and health education teachers were able to secure sponsors of the PHYSICAL Act including Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) which led to the bill being introduced in the House for the first time. Other House sponsors resulting from the advocacy efforts include Reps. John Lewis (D-Georgia) and Jared Polis (D-Colorado).
Both the House and Senate have passed ESEA reauthorization bills through respective education committees in the 113th Congress, says Carly Braxton, Senior Manager of Advocacy, for AAHPERD. “The House version makes no mention of health and physical education and eliminates PEP funding completely,” notes Braxton. “The Senate’s proposed bill does include provisions for health and physical education but does not include them as core subjects.”
“We are looking for more staunch supporters to help move this legislation forward and in the right direction,” continues Braxton. “This is our chance to make real strides in leveling the playing field so that health and physical education programs have the same opportunities to grow and excel as other core subjects.”
Petersen will have the opportunity to share stories on the impact of PEP on the local level and the need for more stringent mandates for physical education and health education. In addition, she will attend a luncheon where Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) will be awarded SPEAK Out! Day awards for leadership regarding the PHYSICAL Act. Both are co-sponsors of the legislation and also sponsored a Congressional briefing in September to highlight the importance of health and physical education in the nation’s schools.
Follow #shapeofthenation on Twitter and join the conversation on Facebook, to keep up with the latest on SPEAK Out! Day. Get state-by-state physical education profiles at: www.aahperd.org.
UW-La Crosse … has been a state and national leader in preparing physical education teachers for decades. UW-L graduates, certifiable to teach K-12, teach in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Study is broad based, with emphasis on motor skills, fitness, scientific principles, teaching strategies and program development. The UW-L program balances traditional, individual and fitness activities with non-traditional physical education activities such as backpacking, ropes courses and rock climbing. The balance provides students with numerous experiences to enhance their professional development. The UW System has identified the program as a Center of Excellence, reserved for high quality undergraduate programs
Society of Health and Physical Educators (formerly AAHPERD)
The Society of Health and Physical Educators, doing business as SHAPE America, is headquartered in Reston, Va., 25 miles west of Washington, D.C. Its vision is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" SHAPE America is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport —specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. See more at: www.aahperd.org.