ERIC ED455043: Northwest Education, Volume 6, 2000-2001.

202 Pages·2001·6.8 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
RC 023 018
ED 455 043
Sherman, Lee, Ed.
AUTHOR
Northwest Education, Volume 6, 2000-2001.
TITLE
Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, OR.
INSTITUTION
Department of Education, Washington, DC.
SPONS AGENCY
2001-00-00
PUB DATE
198p.; Published quarterly. Photographs and a few colored
NOTE
pages may not reproduce adequately. For volume 5, see ED 441
654. For descriptions of individual articles, see RC 514
306-311, RC 514 342-348, RC 514 573-578, and RC 514 632-640.
RJ96006501; ED-01-00-0013
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Northwest Education; v6 n1-4 Fall-Sum 2000-2001
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*Charter Schools; *Educational Change; *Educational
DESCRIPTORS
Facilities Design; *Educational Practices; Elementary
Secondary Education; *Physical Education; School Buildings;
School Size; *Small Schools
*United States (Northwest)
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This document contains the four issues of Northwest
Education published from fall 2000 through summer 2001. Issue themes are:
(1)
"Think Small: Making
"New Moves: PE Reinvents Itself" (Fall 2000);
(2)
"The Wild Blue Yonder: Charter
Education More Personal" (Winter 2000);
(3)
"Designs for Learning:
Schools Fly into the Unknown" (Spring 2001); and (4)
School Architecture" (Summer 2001). Each issue contains a lead article
summarizing current research and issues related to the theme, followed by
articles describing theme-related practices and outstanding schools and
educators in the Northwest. Issues also include information on related
resources, book reviews, commentary by practitioners, and letters from
readers.
(SV)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
Northwest Education, 2000-2001.
Lee Sherman, Editor
Volume 6
Numbers 1-4
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
U This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
U Minor changes have been made to improve
reproduction quality
Points of view or opinions stated in this
document do not necessarily represent official
OERI position or policy.
2
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NORTHWEST REGIONAL
EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY
PE Reinvents Itself
tr;
\ew V oyes
PE Reinvents Itself
U C ATI() t
VOLUME
NUMBER 1
6
FALL 2000
ARTICLES
The Death of Dodge Ball
As health advocates, including the surgeon
general, issue warnings about a growing
epidemic of obesity among American kids, PE is
changing its focus from sports to lifetime fitness.
Gym Class Renaissance
14
Seattle is a leader in promoting the "new" PE,
which is steering kids toward nontraditional
activities (such as yoga, rock climbing, and golf)
that they can enjoy for a lifetime.
29
Leveling the
Playing Field
NEW NI® \IIS
For kids with disabilities, PE can be adapted
to match their abilities and meet their needs,
either in a special class or in the mainstream
ON THE COVER
A climbing wall at Mountain View Middle Schoo
PE program.
in Beaverton, Oregon, challenges students
on both the physical and cognitive levels.
25
PHOTOGRAPH BY RICK RAPPAPORT
Dance Like a Caterpillar
OPENING SPREAD:
Movement is essential to the physical and
Students at Seattle's Roosevelt High get
cognitive development of preschoolers, says
pumped for the day in a morning class
the American Academy of Pediatrics.
that includes cardio kick-boxing.
PHOTOGRAPH BY SUZIE BOSS
36
Saving PE:
The Oregon Story
Health and physical education advocates
successfully mobilized a grassroots effort
to include PE in the state's new standards
for mastery.
Raising the Bar
Professor Terry Wood of Oregon State University
expresses cautious optimism about the future of
physical education in the U.S.
DEPARTMENTS
Dialogue
42
ention dodge ball and
omparied to this, dissecting
most people grimace
pig fetuses was kind of furl'
or groan
t's been 30 years since I took
my last pairolul whap' in that
n the Northwest suburb
dreaded gale Yet I
where I grew up, we called it
still
oarii
feel the stingto my skin and
Afferent name
"pksok ball
to my pride Just abut every-
E's renaissance, however,
same object to smack your
is threatened by money woes
opponent mercilessly with a
one else, it seems, despises]
dodge ball, too A few months
hard rubber bat! Before each
and back -to- basics trends
across the nation Lumped
PE class, I would say a silent
ago when I prop_o_sad doing
in with other so- called "frills"
prayer "Anything but prison
a magazine on PE, my col-
such as art and music, PE is
ball, please, please., anyalt g
leagues all made sour fakes_
a handy target when the pub-
but that
"Yuck, I hated PEI" was a
When my prayer
lic calls for higher academic
pretty standard reskoise,
went unanswered and the
lodge ball has not died But
standards and lower costs
team captains started choos-
Ironically, trimming this layer
there are signs that the main-
ing up sides, my prayer
of "fat" out of school
pro-
stay of the old phy,s ed is ail-
changed as my insides
ing Sure, you can still find
grams can add flab to young
churned "Please
let me
bodies The impel of inactiv-
this relic in gyms from Nome
be the last one Omen And
ity on human health is well-
to Yellowstone But lots of
don't let it hurt too much
,its who got hit
knumi Around the North-
schools are repining the
e slow,
pummeling with activities that
the fat, the unathletic, the ap-
west, phyLs ed teachers and
health advocates are figl,ag
athetic) had to go to "prison"
kids of the 1959s and 196@s
hard to keep PEthe "new"
never imagined Students are
and stand around while more
sealing rook walls Juggling
PE with its emphasis on life-
kids got walloped Always a
long fitnessuii the Ruirikku-
oolorful scarves Balancing
scrawny child, I didn't have
or teetering--ok unicycles In
lum To gat an inside look at
a chance against the brawny
some of the Northweslis best
Salmon, Idaho, they're skiing
I would cringe and
players
efforts to save PEand to
down an artificial mountain
cower behind some other hap-
behind the sohool In Corval-
leave dodge ball in the past
less student when the power-
with white lipstick and big
lis, Oregon, they're toning
ful throwers were winding up,
hairdosread art
up on rowing machines and
murder in their ewes_
Lee Shaman
treadmills In Seattle, they're
playing games of 000paiialtarii
shermanl@awitiel@rg
instead of oomp.e.titiok
fooused on beating their per-
sonal best instead of cream-
ing their meg Who could
11)
have Rrieskelad back in dodge
ball's glory claws that the new
millennium would bring Fris-
bee golf, inline skating and
interpretive dam to the
sohoolhouseP
OF
Alb
DODG
A GENERATION OF
BAL
HIGH-TECH COUCH POTATOES
MEETS A NEW KIND OF PE
By LEE SHERMAN
sp
PHOTO BY SUZIE BOSS
I:
: .1' II
Student Requirements:
.1
NORTHWEST STATES
o
PE is mandated through
Health Enhancement at the
ATA GLANCE
Here's an updated
I I
state level. Credit is given;
look at PE in the Northwest as first reported in
II
seventh- and eighth-
o
Shape of the Nation, a survey on state physical
graders receive one-half
,1
I
education requirements conducted in 1997 by
0
$
unit each year, and ninth
the National Association for Sport and Physical
o II
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through 12th receive one
o
" 1/
Education:
unit over a two-year pe-
/
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00$
o
riod. At the middle and
II
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011
II
,
ALASKA
IDAHOThe state has
high school levels, 112
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1.
minutes are required; at
Who Teaches PE: At the
0. I
developed a comprehen-
.
0
"!,
the elementary level, there
elementary level most sive PE curriculum.
!'
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0
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p
large schools employ is no time requirement.
Who Teaches PE: At the
" I
I
1.
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.
1
physical education special-
Grades are given, and are
elementary and middle
ists, which means that
included in the GPA at
levels PE is taught by certi-
o
o
most districts. One unit is
most elementary students
fied health and PE special-
II.
I.
:
:
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in the state receive some
ists. In high school PE is required for graduation. No
II.
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/
PE instruction each week
taught by certified PE spe- substitutions are allowed.
from a certified teacher
cialists. Six hours every
I
0
OREGONAll programs
with a PE endorsement.
five years are required to
K-12 must provide instruc-
Many of the smallest
meet continuing education
'
.
I
tion in physical education
schools, however, do not
I
certification.
through common curricu-
1
employ specialists. The
Student Requirements:
1.1
'
001
I
.
1
same is true of the middle
lum goals. The 1999 Ore-
PE is mandated by the
1.11
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I I I
and high school levels,
gon Legislature passed a
state in grades 1-8. Credit
I.
where the larger schools bill to include physical edu-
is given for courses taken
" I
have one or more certified cation in the Certificate of
as electives in high school,
00,01
0$.
I
I I
0
1
teachers with PE endorse- Initial Mastery standards.
and grades are included
ments, while the smaller
The standards and bench-
in the GPA. One credit of
I/
schools do not. Teachers marks currently being
health is required for grad-
'1
I
$
1
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1
o
must complete six semes-
uation. No substitutions
developed will be imple-
I.
II
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ter hours every five years mented in the 2001-2002
are allowed.
I
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I
to meet continuing educa-
school year.
.
o
,
tion requirements, but
MONTANAThe state is
Who Teaches PE: At the
1'1
'
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I
NO
there is no requirement
moving toward a more
elementary level, more
I
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I
$
that these credits be from
than half of the schools
health-oriented approach,
'I
I.
I
their area of endorsement/
I
termed Health Enhance- have physical education
.1
0
1
specialization.
specialists. Classroom
ment.
I
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Student Requirements:
teachers are responsible
Who Teaches PE: PE is
I'
I
I
.1
I I
.
1
for teaching PE in other
The state has no require-
built into this component.
I
schools. In middle schools,
ments for elementary PE.
At the elementary, middle,
,
0
1
At all levels, time allocation
'I
classroom teachers and
or junior high levels, class-
II
.
1 I
for PE is a district decision.
certified health and PE
room teachers or certified
.
.
Most districts give grades
,
o o
specialists teach PE. In
health and PE teachers
!!
and include them in the high schools, certified
teach PE. At the high
I
I
1
I
GPA. One credit of health/
health and PE specialists
school level, only certified
I:'
II
I
$
1 1
PE is needed for gradua-
are required to teach PE.
PE specialists teach PE.
III
II
SI
I
tion. Substitutions are ac-
Teachers must earn six
However, there are rare
.
$
cepted, but this is a local instances when schools
.1
university credits or 60 in-
:11
$
1
1
'
decision.
"misassign" other teachers
service credits every five
" 11
I
I I I
I
I
to teach physical education.
years at meet continuing
I
I:*
education requirements.
ing a crisis in children's health.
called the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness and
5
1.
1
Sports in response to a study showing poor muscle
"Recent studies have shown that the vast majority of
America's children and youth are not physically fit,"
strength among U.S. students.
Is
Is
.
s
the U.S. Department of Defense notes on its Web site.
But, like so many initiatives in education, the PE pen-
1
"And more tragically, they are not getting enough phys-
dulum has swung back again. Despite continuing calls
1
'I
11.8' .
ical education to understand how and why to keep
from Congress and others for keeping and/or beefing
'
I 1
5.5
themselves fit for life."
up PE, physical education programs have dwindled or
'1
'1
.1
1
1
To address this growing concern for the long-term
died over the last 10 to 15 years. Today, not one state
'a
I
1.
1
1
health and well-being of Americans, PE is undergoing
.1
mandates daily PE. Only one-fourth of high school stu-
1
1
. .
a radical transformation. In schools where PE has man-
dents take gym every day, according to the landmark
1
:s,
I
aged to hang on, enlightened teachers are introducing
1996 report of the Office of the Surgeon General, Phys-
kids to activities they can take with them through the
ical Activity and Health. Between 1991 and 1995
1.
years. Instead of dodging a hard rubber ball, kids are
alone, the number of kids taking daily PE plunged
1
.
di
mastering cool moves on inline skates and cross-coun-
steeply, from 42 percent to 25 percent. Fewer than half
I
1
try skis. Instead of doing a million jumping jacks, they're
of U.S. middle schools and just over a quarter of high
.
1
1
1 1
learning to maneuver mountain bikes, balance unicycles,
schools require at least three years of PE. In fact, most
.
. .
bounce on pogo sticks, juggle plastic bowling pins
high school students take only one year of PE between
11
1 1
ninth and 12th grades, the National Association for
even manipulate wheelchairs with ease. They're paddling
11
1 1
white-water kayaks. Dancing to Latin music. Fishing
Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) found in a 1997
/1
for rainbow trout. Climbing vertical rock walls. Doing
I
state-by-state survey.
S.
"I think we're paying a tremendous price for the
stuff you might see on the cover of Outdoor magazine
or in the pages of Sunday's lifestyle section.
rollback in physical education," Surgeon General David
"We need to find ways to attract students to the joys
Satcher told the convention of the American Alliance for
1 1 1
1
O
"1
1
a
of movement," Professor R. Scott Kretchmar of Penn-
Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in
sylvania State University recently told Education Week.
March. "One of the greatest contributions you can make
x.11
"We need to make it as powerful as the draw of com-
to an adult's health is to get them started as a child on
.1
.O
;
puters and television."
a lifetime of physical activity."
1
There is a loud lament among journalists, policy-
'1
OBESITY CRISIS
.
s
makers, health advocates, and physical educators over
o
I I
Advocacy for physical education is hardly new. Way
what Professor Charles Kuntzelman of the University of
'1
Michigan calls the "substantial erosion" of PE pro-
back in the mid-1700s, no less an American icon than
' 11
/ .1
/
I
Benjamin Franklin was calling for schools to "have
grams. McCallum drives the point home in his April
I
provisions for running, leaping, wrestling, and swim-
Sports Illustrated article, "Gym Class Struggle."
ming," writer Jack McCallum reports in Sports Illus-
"The saddest thing about the decline in physical ed-
ucation," he writes, "is that we now know so much
trated. But it wasn't until the next century that officials
began linking physical education with public health
about the benefits of physical fitness and the perils of a
concerns. And yet another hundred years rolled by be-
sedentary lifestyle. Principals and school-board mem-
fore physical education became a national priority.
bers who themselves may be in fitness programs are
often the ones who slash budgets and resources for
That's when President Eisenhower created what is now
NEW MOVES
methodology classes each
6
gym class; they do so even as they are inundated with re-
ON YOUR MARK,
afternoon and practice
ports about the obesity crisis in our Twinkie-eating, TV-
those new skills in their
GET SET, GO!
watching, video-game-playing younger generation."
student-teaching class-
Preparing to Teach PE
rooms each morning. This
Among the troubling findings reported by the surgeon
By Barbara Cusimano
allows them to fully inte-
general, the CDC, the journal Pediatrics, and other
grate theory with actual
sources are these:
practice. Our program also
standing teaching one
Across the nation, schools
puts student teachers into
week and a pink slip the
of education are fighting
As many as 25 percent of children and adolescents are
three school settings (ele-
next. Even though she
to survive. Education as
overweight or obese
mentary, middle, and high
moved to another district
a discipline is just not as
The percentage of youths who are overweight has
school) across the entire
further away from the uni-
highly valued as programs
school year from Septem-
versity, we continue to
in engineering or computer
more than doubled in the past 30 years
ber to June, beginning with
send our students to her
technology, for instance.
Nearly 40 percent of kids ages five to eight have con-
the opening of school. An-
because she models ex-
And since teaching is not
other unique aspect of our
ditions that significantly increase their risk of early
actly what we're trying
a highly respected profes-
program includes the use
to teach.
sion in the community,
heart disease
of a cohort model within
But there is a basis for
schools of education have
Some 70 percent of girls and 40 percent of boys ages
physical education content.
optimism. About the time
had to fight to promote
Students enter the program
Measure 5 passed, the uni-
their programs within their
six to 12 do not have enough muscle strength to do more
together and progress
versity moved to a fifth-
own universities and at the
than one pull-up
through courses and expe-
year professional teacher
same time try to draw in
Using facts like these to get people's attention, health
riences together. They pro-
preparation model. Prior to
prospective students.
vide invaluable support
that we had an undergrad-
Physical educators
advocates are fighting to keep or reinstate physical ed-
to one another as they
uate program in which stu-
are looking at a double
ucation in places where PE dollars are drying up and the
develop new skills.
edu-
dents earned a bachelor's
whammy: Not only is
About 20 students typi-
three Rs are crowding out other subjects. There's even
cation
degree while earning certi-
fighting for respect,
cally apply to our program
fication to teach K-12.
physical
education.
so is
a Web site where teachers can get ideas for defending
each year. We admit any-
Under the new program,
Here in Oregon, physical
PE in their own schools and communities (http://
where from half to three-
students first complete
education teachers have
fourths of those applicants.
their bachelor's degree and
watched their programs
pecentral.org/websites/defendingpe.html)
.
Our acceptance numbers
then apply to a one-year,
shrink or disappear under
In Oregon, advocates recently won a big victory when
are based on how well we
graduate-level program. At
the pressure of falling bud-
they convinced lawmakers to include phys ed in the
feel we can mentor the
the end of the year, they are
gets and rising academic
students and on the num-
certified to teach across all
standards driven by educa-
newly developed statewide standards for a Certificate of
levelsfrom pre-primary
ber of quality mentor teach-
tion reform. The standards
Initial Mastery (for details, see "Saving PE: The Oregon
through high schooland
ers available in the area
movement coincided with
Story" on Page 36). In Washington, D.C., Alaska's Sen-
surrounding Corvallis.
they hold a master's degree
the 1990 passage of Mea-
We have been very suc-
in teaching.
sure 5, a citizen's initiative
ator Ted Stevens has won wide co-sponsorship for his
cessful with our fifth-year
It's quite different from
limiting property taxes.
Physical Education for Progress (PEP) bill. Currently
program. Ninety to 95 per-
other education programs
These two events dove-
cent of our graduates are
around the country. Most
making its way through the labyrinth of congressional
tailed to hurt Oregon
hired each year, mostly in
teacher preparation pro-
schools. The impact was
decisionmaking, the bill would authorize grants of $400
Oregon but also in Idaho,
grams have students com-
felt in OSU's physical edu-
million over five years to schools and districts for equip-
Washington, Arizona,
plete their coursework
cation teacher preparation
before
Nevada, Colorado, and Cal-
placing them in a
program, as well. Some of
ment, curriculum development, and teacher training in
ifornia. We get calls from
full-time student teaching
our best mentor teachers
PE. "It's not just to keep the next generation from be-
administrators every year,
those who work with as-
experience. For our stu-
coming obese," Stevens told Andrew Mollison, a re-
especially from elementary
dents, coursework and
piring teachers in the field
schools, asking for appli-
lost their jobs. One of
practice are braided to-
porter for Cox Newspapers, in April. "The kids who
cants. We often have no
gether. They learn about
our mentor teachers re-
are causing all this violence and bullying are not getting
one to send to them.
teaching in their on-campus
ceived an award for out-
the organized physical activity where you let off steam
10
NW Education / Fall 2000