Physical Education & Youth Obesity; Whitesboro High School Offers Unique Approach
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: December 10, 2012
The American Heart Association points to loopholes in physical education
programs. Nearly 75% of states mandate physical education, but nearly
half allow exemptions, waivers and substitutions for participation.
Eyewitness News takes a look at P.E. here at home.
And despite the study, Central New York seems to be leading the way when when it comes to physical education. Eyewitness News visits Whitesboro High School, and the P.E. curriculum there is filled with a variety of physical, cooperative and even video-gaming activities.
Weight-training, team building, and even dancing..
"Giving all the electives for the students really allows them to find what works best for them. Unfortunately in different classes, sometimes teachers don't have that flexibility. With us, we really do," says Corinne Kopytowski, Whitesboro High School physical education teacher.
Each week, the Whitesboro Physical Education staff changes activities. They say it's all about offering variety for the students.
"If you do the traditional things like softball and volleyball, they see that throughout their high school career. So we try to create an environment that's always changing" says Sara Stamboly, Whitesboro High School physical education teacher.
"The weight lifting unit with kids who enjoy personal fitness, there's the competitive games where kids who enjoy working on a team can enjoy that choice," says Kopytowski.
And they're even keeping up with the times.
"It's that active technology. We're not sitting on the couch with remotes. It's the technolgoy that will make them move. And the Wiis for example are excellent in that respect in getting them active but still staying in that video-game era," says Tom Maggiolino, Whitesboro High School physical education teacher.
"Its' a good way to get those students or children who wouldn't partake in other athletic events and sports and do it with the video," says Maggiolino.
"It's finding what really connects the kids and really makes them enjoy what they do, that's what we try to offer to them," says Kopytowski.
While physical education is a New York State mandate, the time spent in P.E. decreases as students age. Whitesboro students meet for gym class every other day for 40 minutes. But the American Heart Association says these numbers still fall below their recommendations.
Their recommendations are 150 minutes per week for elementary students. And 225 minutes per week for high school students.
For a complete look at the study:
http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/2012-shape-of-the-nation-report-240796.aspx
And despite the study, Central New York seems to be leading the way when when it comes to physical education. Eyewitness News visits Whitesboro High School, and the P.E. curriculum there is filled with a variety of physical, cooperative and even video-gaming activities.
Weight-training, team building, and even dancing..
"Giving all the electives for the students really allows them to find what works best for them. Unfortunately in different classes, sometimes teachers don't have that flexibility. With us, we really do," says Corinne Kopytowski, Whitesboro High School physical education teacher.
Each week, the Whitesboro Physical Education staff changes activities. They say it's all about offering variety for the students.
"If you do the traditional things like softball and volleyball, they see that throughout their high school career. So we try to create an environment that's always changing" says Sara Stamboly, Whitesboro High School physical education teacher.
"The weight lifting unit with kids who enjoy personal fitness, there's the competitive games where kids who enjoy working on a team can enjoy that choice," says Kopytowski.
And they're even keeping up with the times.
"It's that active technology. We're not sitting on the couch with remotes. It's the technolgoy that will make them move. And the Wiis for example are excellent in that respect in getting them active but still staying in that video-game era," says Tom Maggiolino, Whitesboro High School physical education teacher.
"Its' a good way to get those students or children who wouldn't partake in other athletic events and sports and do it with the video," says Maggiolino.
"It's finding what really connects the kids and really makes them enjoy what they do, that's what we try to offer to them," says Kopytowski.
While physical education is a New York State mandate, the time spent in P.E. decreases as students age. Whitesboro students meet for gym class every other day for 40 minutes. But the American Heart Association says these numbers still fall below their recommendations.
Their recommendations are 150 minutes per week for elementary students. And 225 minutes per week for high school students.
For a complete look at the study:
http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/2012-shape-of-the-nation-report-240796.aspx
