PE's Unlikely Champion...

Why am I interested in improving physical education?  Two main reasons.  The first is professional.  I am very aware of the need for excellent, daily, active, fun PE and the long way we have to go to get there.  The second is personal, and that’s what I want to write about today. As a kid growing up in the 1950s and 1960s I enjoyed many of my PE experiences, but I also experienced just about every kind of “PE malpractice” you can think of.  I was often picked last for teams, running and pushups were used as punishment, we seemed to play dodge ball mainly to amuse PE teachers’ twisted sense of humor, and I spent countless hours “playing right field” but mainly looking for 4-leaf clovers.  In junior high and high school we played the same team sports each year, but I never really learned how to play them better.  I don’t remember doing any particular skill, exercise, or activity frequently enough to improve.  When we were active I had fun, and it was great being outside to escape classroom boredom, but I didn’t understand the point of it. 

When I understood the important role PE COULD play in getting children active and prepared for a lifetime of activity, I also became motivated to help kids avoid my negative experiences.  I have learned from Thom McKenzie, Paul Rosengard, and other visionaries and dedicated teachers and researchers that PE can be active, educational, and fun. 

When we designed the original SPARK study, our goal was to create and evaluate a program that could be a model of health-related PE used around the country.  Happily, that has come to pass in many ways.  The SPARK story, going from a modest research project to a program improving the lives of more than 1 million children per day, has certainly been my most gratifying professional experience.  I am grateful to the people who have worked at SPARK and the many around the nation who have adopted and implemented the program for all these years.  I am humbled to have played a role in this wonderful program that so many children learn from, benefit from, and enjoy every day.  It has been a long way from my inauspicious start in PE. 

Jim Sallis

www.drjamessallis.sdsu.edu

Scout had a bad day

You might remember our precocious 11 month old (now) female labradoodle Scout from a recent blog entry (“Man’s Best Friend – and Personal Trainer”).  Her beautiful long hair (reminiscent of Farrah Fawcett in the 70’s) was recently shorn (like a sheep on the Australian plain) during her first visit to the groomer.  We dropped our Rastafarian looking “big dog” and 3 hours later, picked up a French poodle looking “skinny chick.” 

We were shocked – (Scout, we hardly knew ye) and from the way Scout acted the rest of the weekend, so was she. 

Personally, as much as I love dogs (and all critters for that matter), I have a problem having a poodle.  I know, I know, it’s not supposed to be about looks and superficiality (“Oh, that’s the cutest dog I’ve ever seen,” I’d hear and smile with a sense of fatherly pride.) but about love, loyalty, and companionship.  So why do I feel I need to adopt a Rottweiller to compensate? 

Scout and I used to be most popular pair on the trail (“What kind of dog is that?  Love her hair!)” at the yogurt store (“Can I pet your dog -- oh her hair is so soft!”) and at dog beach (It that a boy or a girl?  Her coat is so pretty and long I can’t tell.”) Now, we’re ignored like two door to door salesmen with vacuum cleaners in toe. 

I know, I know, it’s only hair and it will grow back -- eventually.  Scout is still the same sweet dog I know and love.  I’ll get over it and try and dig deeper; even move below the shallow surface and my 8^th grade mentality (Wendy’s descriptor for my current attitude). 

But for now, if you happen to see Scout and I out for our run, you can call us,

The Hairless Pairless in San Diego.

-Paul Rosengard

Is it time to Tampa with your curriculum?

I’m just back from 6 rigorous days at the AAHPERD Convention in Tampa. Rigorous, not because I was physically active! Rigorous because I made 5 presentations and participated in 2 additional national meetings that contributed an additional 9 hours of sedentary living to my week. I was again reminded that if we don’t plan for physical activity it will not happen—even if the weather is superb and the beach is next door.

I was also reminded that lots of physical educators are unaware of how many others are attempting to get moving. For example, in October the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the first ever National Guidelines for physical activity.  These guidelines describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans. These follow the Surgeon Generals Report on Physical Activity by 12 years (in 1996), and are a BIG deal!

The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans can be found at http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/

Briefly for children and adolescents, the guidelines call for 60 minutes or more of physical activity (PA) daily. Most of this should be of moderate- or vigorous-intensity, and include vigorous intensity at least 3 days a week. Additionally the activity should include muscle-strengthening PA at least 3 days a week and bone-strengthening PA at least 3 days a week.

These guidelines were derived for a thorough review of the evidence related to physical activity and health. This evidence is summarized (if 683 pages can be considered a summary) in a document titled Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report 2008. It is also available free from Health and Human Services 

http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/committeereport.aspx

Based on these new Guidelines, a National Plan for Physical Activity is being developed. This national plan will not only involve Education, but 7 other Sectors:

•         Public Health

•         Transportation/Urban Design/Community Planning

•         Mass Media

•         Healthcare

•         Business/Industry

•         Parks/Recreation/Fitness/Sports

•         Not for Profit Organizations

Wouldn’t it be nice if all these sectors came together to help promote physical activity?  Actually they are! Each sector is producing a “White Paper” which will be presented at a national meeting in DC in early July [http://www.physicalactivityplan.org/conference2009.htm].

Daryl Siedentop, former dean and professor emeritus at The Ohio State University, will produce the white paper for the education sector. It will have 10 important recommendations regarding how schools can be helpful in promoting physical activity. Stay tuned to see if your school program is aligned with these recommendations. If not, perhaps you will need to “Tampa” with it.

Thrive,

Thom 

Got PE?

Like milk, isn’t physical education (PE) “essential” for kids?  Doesn’t it contribute to their growth and development?  So why are so many deprived of it? 

Myth vs. reality:

“Time in PE is time away from academic pursuits – and that’s what the kids are tested in.”

The latter is true – too bad because PE should be a part of standardized testing – but the former is false.  No study has ever shown that more time in PE has a negative impact on academic achievement.  The good news?  Students don’t have to sacrifice their health for the core subjects – they can have their math and move it too.  Need proof?  Go to http://www.sparkpe.org/results.jsp 

“We don’t have enough money to afford daily, quality, PE – or the credentialed teachers we need to instruct it.”

Budgets are tighter than ever.  However, it’s not a money issue – never has been.  There is money to spend – not much, not enough, but there IS money.  Budgets are always a pie to be consumed and the issue is how do you slice it?  How large a piece does PE receive -- deserve?  I believe its section should be the equivalent of the other core subjects and not a penny less – and that includes equality for class size too.  Class size for PE should be linked to class size averages for other subjects.

“Parents care about grade point averages and want their students in class and learning.”

A national survey of parents and teachers concluded that over 75% opposed eliminating PE due to budget constraints or to meet increased academic standards (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2003).   

There are more myths and contradictory realities.  The issue is clear and the time is now.  When PE programs and teachers are placed on the budgetary chopping block – speak up.  Ask if they plan to stop serving milk in the cafeteria too.  Got PE?

We’d like to hear YOUR opinions on this subject.  Wipe that milk mustache off your face and speak up!  (smiling)

-Paul Rosengard

Physical Inactivity- A Growing Crisis

This is my first blog.  What I’ll try to do is share thoughts that might be useful in furthering my goal of getting people more active, thus healthier and happier.  I want to start with the big picture as I see it.  Most Americans are very inactive, and the rest of the world is trying to catch up with us.  Based on accelerometer monitoring in the NHANES study, fewer than 10% of teenagers and 5% of adults meet physical activity guidelines.  The real number is probably higher because accelerometers miss some activities, but I’m sure it is closer to the truth than surveys.  If 95% of adults smoked, we would consider it a health crisis, but that’s about where we are with physical inactivity.  We should consider it a crisis.

The epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults and children are indications that low activity levels, along with disastrous eating habits, are the biggest health challenges of our time.  I suggest you check out www.3four50.org.  The basic idea is that 3 behaviors—smoking, inactivity, poor diet—are the main causes of four diseases—heart disease, cancers, lung disease, diabetes—that account for 50% of deaths worldwide.  Physical inactivity is one of the big three, so we need to be serious about improving the situation.

I want to end on a positive note.  With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as several health organizations, a National Plan for Physical Activity is being developed.  Having a plan does not ensure we will be successful, but not having a plan is a good way to guarantee continued failure.  There are opportunities to have input into the development of The Plan, and it is essential that every person who believes physical activity is essential for health is directly involved in the implementation of plan.  As a first step, visit www.physicalactivityplan.org.

Jim Sallis

www.drjamessallis.sdsu.edu 

An Unhealthy Irony

While the “Next Great Depression” has school physical education (PE) budgets down on the canvas listening to the eight count, USA Today (March 11, 2009) publishes an article titled, “21% of Americans Scramble to Cover Medical, Drug Bills”.

It continues on page 5 with a headline that reads, “The biggest problem the country has is the cost of health care.”  Jim Clifton, Gallup’s CEO and chief scientist for well-being and workplace management says,

“It’s a lot bigger problem than war and a bigger problem than the current (economic) meltdown because there are no fixes to it on the horizon right now.”

Well, I have a suggestion:  Support the concept of quality, daily PE for every child grades K-12 instructed by credentialed, well-trained specialists. 

CDC summarized the research and strongly recommends PE as an effective way to promote children’s health.  The data show that highly active PE classes (like SPARK) help children move more now and hopefully, that behavior continues into the future.  Simply stated, physical education IS preventive medicine.  Let’s contribute to reducing the cost of health care by ensuring the next generation of adults is ill less frequently than the current one.   

How to do that?  I believe our challenge has been in formulating a clear message around physical education’s preventative assets and building an effective marketing campaign (simple and clear) that can be sustained.  Verb (funded by the CDC) began a media blitz years ago and data show they were making some progress -- until their funding stream dried up.  The PEP grants (Physical Education for Progress) are federal dollars that have been generously supporting PE and PA programs (but for only 50-75 winners nationally) for the past 6 years.  These dollars remain precarious year to year. 

Therefore, I call upon our national organizations and friends of SPARK, including AAHPERD and their state affiliates, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, American Heart and Cancer Associations, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and all others who have a stake in public health, to work together and formulate a compelling message that can be broadcast via various media (websites, podcasts, webinars, presentations, television, radio, more) and organize behind a common theme- physical education is prevention – and a proven solution to reducing health care costs. 

Speaking for SPARK, we are willing to contribute time and staff to this cause.  Who will join us?  Share you thoughts online and lets start the movement (pun intended) here.

-Paul Rosengard

Man's Best Friend (And Personal Trainer)

YOUR blog contributors, Dr. Jim Sallis, Dr. Thom McKenzie and Mr. Paul Rosengard (YOURS TRULY) have been conducting SPARK research and disseminating those findings worldwide (with the help of MANY of our friends) since 1989. 

In the weeks and months to come, we hope to share stories of what we've learned, people we've met, and how our work-life experiences have shaped the thoughts we have today. Our observations will cover a variety of public health topics: Childhood obesity, physical activity promotion, coordinated school health, healthy eating, best practices and resources, the latest research, behavior and environmental change, and much more. 

We'll tag team this task and have a different contributor each week. Please plan to join us every Wednesday when a new blog is posted!

Man's Best Friend (And Personal Trainer)

Wendy (my much better half who you met in previous entries) and I added Scout, a labradoodle puppy, to our family last June.  Since she's a 3rd grade teacher (Wendy, not Scout) we wanted to get a puppy at the beginning of summer knowing there would be many lessons to learn (Scout, not us -- at least that's what we thought...)  and the time to learn them. 

 

We had never raised a puppy together before, so Scout was a very new adventure.  Sure, I have stories to tell about crate training, housebreaking (the wet and smelly housebreaking and the other kind Scout tries from time to time) and socialization (or lack thereof) with other people and dogs, but since I'm a physical educator, let's look at a quality of Scout's that I'm particularly found of.  The girl is a  4-legged  exercise machine.

 

Now MY activity regimen was set before Scout's arrival -- running and lifting weights on alternate days. But Scout has changed Wendy's life for the better.  Wendy comes home for work and takes Scout for a walk every day, 5 days a week.  She didn't use to do this before, in fact, Wendy was your classic weekend exerciser.  Scout is her motivation and together, they are quite a pair.  Wendy feels better, is less stressed, sleeps well, and really has a better quality of life because of Scout and their daily constitution.  Yea Scout!  Yea Wendy!

 

A friend gave us a very sweet book called, Puppy MIracles that provides the following "advice" from a very perceptive puppy (the author is anonymous):

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
2. Run, romp, and play daily
3. Never pass up an opportunity to go for a joyride
4. Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy
5. Thrive on attention and let people touch you
6. On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass
7. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body
8. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout.  Run right back and make friends.
9. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.  Stop when you've had enough.
10. Be loyal

Scout is 10 months old now.  These are lessons that Scout teaches/reinforces with us often.  We love her and are grateful she's in our lives, enriching them everyday.  She's right by my feet as I type this note, probably dreaming about her next run on the trail...  

 

Questions:  Does anyone have a "Dog as exercise machine story" you'd like to share?  Besides critters, has there been any other influencers that have gotten you off the couch and into a consistent movement regimen?

 

We'd like to hear from YOU.