Issue Date: Jan. 20, 2002
Schools should teach kids the skills they'll need to stay physically fit the rest of their lives.
Modern P.E.: health-club style
PARENTS AND EDUCATORS are raving about an innovative new way to educate kids about physical fitness. This latest concept in physical education is called "new P.E."
The idea is simple: First, design the school gym like a health club -- with weight-lifting machines, exercise bikes and treadmills -- then throw in a little in-line skating, rock climbing and mountain biking (I'll bet all kids can find one activity they enjoy). At the end of each semester, simply grade kids on how well they learned to stay within their target heart-rate zone, understood perceived exertion, mastered a new sports skill and improved their overall fitness. Like much in life, sports and fitness are learned skills that can be instrumental in maintaining lifelong health.
As a baby boomer, I was schooled in traditional P.E. methods, which focus on general athletic skill: jumping jacks, kickball,
50-yard dashes. This antiquated and less than motivating method often ends up benefiting about 30% of the kids in class -- the athletes. Those who aren't athletes, or who don't play team sports, are set up for failure. They may never learn to enjoy physical activity and may become more prone to obesity, heart disease and related illnesses. P.E. should not be just for the athletes in class; all kids need the physical and mental skills to stay fit and healthy.
So what about learning team sports skills? We all know sports enhance and improve physical skills, sportsmanship, team spirit and more. But with statistics showing that nearly 75% of U.S. families with kids have at least one school-aged child playing organized sports on community teams, I think schools probably are better off working on the fitness side of things.
I applaud the growth of the new P.E. You can learn more about this trend at www.ncusd203.org/madison, the Web site of new P.E. pioneer Madison Junior High School in Naperville, Ill.
I used to run three times a week, but my knees have been bothering me for two months. So I quit exercising, and now the weight is coming on fast. Are there any exercises appropriate for someone with bad knees?
Patty Elis Mertt, Glendale, Calif.
Your bad knees may limit your running, but there are plenty of other exercises that'll keep you in great shape. First, to be on the safe side, consult with your physician before you jump back into any exercise program. Once you've got the go-ahead, consider various low-impact aerobic activities like swimming, stationary cycling, walking or using an elliptical trainer.
Get into the weight room for exercises to strengthen and stabilize your knees. Specific exercises include hamstring curls and quadriceps extensions. Stabilization exercises also will help to strengthen the muscles around your knees: Beginners, try balancing on one leg; more advanced exercisers, try balancing on a wobble board.
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