If you have a child in the public school system of virtually any state, you are being confronted with serious to-the-bone cuts at your local school. It's not just administrative, it's the teaching staff.
Many school systems are utterly at sea in the midst of the changes and their profound inability to respond. The cards are stacked against success. Yet, most teachers are in the field for the love of teaching. The salary level isn't their great motivator. They persevere with the patience of saints.
As parents, we can help them by making an extra effort at home. Parents need to pay attention and fill in the blanks, the holes left in the present circumstances of their child's schooling. Physical education, "phys ed" is an important and now missing, link.
That Phys Ed promotes fitness of the body and mind is a simple truth. Sports and exercise are key to keeping everything in top condition.
The reasons are so compelling: Phys Ed fights childhood obesity which is known to be a precursor to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Various Phys Ed activities burn calories and fat, build muscles, strengthens the immune system and increases stamina and the mental concentration that goes along with it.
Your child may not become an Olympian, but their study skills will improve with their continued dedication and stamina developed by playing sports--it's a fact.
Participation in sports teaches life lessons that may not be learned elsewhere. How to win and lose with grace. How to collaborate as a team. When to be a leader.
This kind of activity goes hand in hand with healthy eating habits. Anyone who works out or plays sports regularly fully appreciates how much better everything works when their diet is full of healthy choices- fruits as opposed to high sugar snacks.
Many school systems are utterly at sea in the midst of the changes and their profound inability to respond. The cards are stacked against success. Yet, most teachers are in the field for the love of teaching. The salary level isn't their great motivator. They persevere with the patience of saints.
As parents, we can help them by making an extra effort at home. Parents need to pay attention and fill in the blanks, the holes left in the present circumstances of their child's schooling. Physical education, "phys ed" is an important and now missing, link.
That Phys Ed promotes fitness of the body and mind is a simple truth. Sports and exercise are key to keeping everything in top condition.
The reasons are so compelling: Phys Ed fights childhood obesity which is known to be a precursor to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Various Phys Ed activities burn calories and fat, build muscles, strengthens the immune system and increases stamina and the mental concentration that goes along with it.
Your child may not become an Olympian, but their study skills will improve with their continued dedication and stamina developed by playing sports--it's a fact.
Participation in sports teaches life lessons that may not be learned elsewhere. How to win and lose with grace. How to collaborate as a team. When to be a leader.
This kind of activity goes hand in hand with healthy eating habits. Anyone who works out or plays sports regularly fully appreciates how much better everything works when their diet is full of healthy choices- fruits as opposed to high sugar snacks.
Phys ed is the ultimate stress reliever. Exercise reduces cortisol production in the body. Cortisol rises when suffering from stress. With stress reduced, concentration is greatly improved and well, again, everything works better.
All that said, what's a parent to do? Here's what we're trying around our neighborhood: we play outdoor games. Most recently, we've started a weekly volleyball game with one team practice a week. We rotate back yards and responsibilities.
The kids are learning overhand serves (some of the adults too!). We're fortunate to have a few more experienced parents who really can instruct.
Besides getting everyone into the fun of back yard games, it's good for the 'hood. People are talking more. Even older neighbors come by to cheer.
Everyone smiles more. And, we're coming up with a solution that helps bridge a gap in our school system in its present status. Phys Ed may have left the building, but all the parents, students and teachers are still present, accounted for and very active--playing outdoor games with gusto.
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