All Physical Education is Not Created Equal

SPARK’s Paul Rosengard (and friend)

With the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States, a great deal of focus has been put on schools as the “heart of health” — the best location to address behaviors leading to childhood obesity.  Schools are tasked with creating an environment where making the healthy choice is the easy choice,  Even with this goal in mind, with limited resources, many schools are faced with reducing the number of physical education hours available to students.

With limited access to PE, it’s important to make all physical activity in K-12 classes count.

In a recent blog post, the Thriving Schools team interviewed Paul Rosengard, author, researcher/educator, and executive director of SPARK programs of San Diego State University. According to its website, SPARK is a research-based, public health organization dedicated to improving the health of children, adolescents, and adults by disseminating evidence-based Physical Education, After School, Early Childhood, and Coordinated School Health programs to teachers and recreation leaders serving Pre-K through 12th grade students.

The blog post is the first in a three-part discussion on what makes quality PE.  Rosengard touches on the variances in PE requirements from state to state, as well as how to measure the quality of a PE program (hint: frequency and duration are only part of the story).

Read the first in a series of three posts highlighting this interview with Rosengard on the Thriving Schools website and news blog.

The Center for Total Health has a new, interactive, touch-screen exhibit focused on healthy schools and healthy workplaces, and much of its content addresses the growing challenge of obesity in the United States.  If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, we invite you to stop by and experience it — and the rest of the center’s exhibits — first hand.  You can find information about visiting the center here.

Source: http://centerfortotalhealth.org/2013/all-physical-education-is-not-created-equal/

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