High hopes for physical education

Back when I was attending graduate school in Oregon, I worked evenings at a local pizzeria.

Dressed in a clown outfit, I supervised children in a play area as their parents socialized, enjoying their food and beverage on the other side of a glass partition. The first thing I did when children entered my area was to learn their names. I used names often – during conversation, while suggesting an activity, and even when correcting a behavior. A name, it seemed, unlocked a door.

By knowing a name, a child felt “seen” and, as a result, there was a connection. A good lesson to learn, well earned along with my $4.75/hour.

After twenty-four years of teaching physical education, getting to know my students’ names – all 500 of them – is still one of my first goals at the beginning of every school year.

Physical education is the type of class in which kids place their social status at risk. In most cases, class performance is known only between the student and the teacher. No one else need know about the failed writing assignment, or the aced math exam. In physical education, performance is public. Furthermore, sports are revered in our culture. All too often, the athletes are the heroes, and struggling in sports can deliver a harsh blow to a child’s self-worth and/or social standing.

On the flipside, many adults relive the glorious memories of heroic moments on the athletic field well into their golden years. It’s one of the reasons communities take such pride in new fields, stadiums, and other sports facilities.

However, we must remember that physical education is not a Sports Hall of Fame. The purpose of physical education is for every student to develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding to be a confident and competent mover in a wide variety of physical activities. Physical educators want all of our students to be healthy and active for a lifetime in whatever recreational or competitive activities they choose. We want every child to create their own heroic pursuits well into adulthood, whether it involves kayaking Alaska’s waters, landing the perfect snowboard jump at Alyeska, or embracing the challenge of a first-time finish in the “Why-Not-Tri?” triathlon.

This lofty goal can only be achieved within an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Learning names is the start of a relationship. Relationships are essential to building trust. Trust creates an environment where we feel safe to take risks. Taking risks, whether those attempts initially fall short or succeed, leads to the possibility of achieving greatness. Students need to feel safe to try new skills, to push themselves beyond their comfort zones in order to reach higher levels of performance. By teaching a variety of skills and concepts that excite and engage every learner, and designing lessons that build upon success, physical educators are working to cultivate a new generation of active, healthy, and confident adults.

Toward that goal, SHAPE America, the national association representing health and physical educators, has launched a nationwide initiative, “50 Million Strong by 2029.” This collective effort aims to highlight the importance of quality physical education for every child in our country. By the time our preschoolers graduate in 2029, we hope to have influenced an estimated 50 million graduates to be healthy and active for their lifetime. Just within the Mat-Su, we have the potential to influence the lives of 18,000 students per year with quality physical education programs, as well as additional extra-curricular physical activities!

What is happening in YOUR child’s physical education class? Make it a point to learn the name of your child’s physical education teacher. Parent conference day for the Mat-Su Borough School District is this Friday, October 30. Head down to the gym and introduce yourself. Building relationships is not just for kids! Discover the learning and the magic that is happening in fields and gymnasiums all around the Mat-Su, and help add your family to the 50 million.

Nancy Blake teaches physical education at Goose Bay Elementary. She is the Alaska PE Teacher of the Year.