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Accountability in Physical Education How should U.S. public schools be held accountable for keeping its students physically fit?

Objectives We anticipate that our seminar will provide sufficient information and dialogue to complement and progress your prior knowledge of Accountability within Physical Education, through: 1.Ana’s discussion about the Educational Philosophy Continuum— where do you stand? 2.Christa’s information about current standards of accountability for U.S. Physical Education. 3.Karen and Amanda’s exploration of the benefits and challenges of increasing PE’s accountability. At the end of our presentation, each group will be given a separate discussion question to converse about for a few minutes. We will then reconvene to present interesting points that have come up during small group conversation and apply ourselves to an examination of “The Big Question” as a class.

Philosophy of Education: Where do you stand?

Where do you stand? Perennialism – Focuses on education as universal truths conveyed through the classic thoughts and works that have lasted through the centuries and have recurred in each generation. Essentialism – Focuses on education as certain basic or essential knowledge, skills, and understandings that students should master. Progressivism – Focus of education should be students, rather than content, and all that is taught should be relevant and meaningful. Social Reconstructivism – Asserts that society needs to change (or be “reconstructed”), and schools are the ideal instrument to foster such changes. Existentialism – Education is determined by the students and guided by the teachers. This view emphasizes that people are responsible for defining themselves.

Educational Philosophy Continuum P ERENNIALISIM ; Curriculum determined by society. E SSENTIALISM ; Curriculum determined by society and teachers. S OCIAL R ECONSTRUCTIVISM ; Curriculum determined democratically by teachers and students. E XISTENTIALISM ; Curriculum determined by students. P ROGRESSIVISM ; Curriculum jointly determined by teachers and students.

Survey Results

Accountability in Physical Education Current standards of accountability within U.S. public schools.

Components of Physical Education Opportunity to learn – Students are required to take a P.E program for a certain amount of time each week with adequate facilities and equipment. Meaningful Content – Content that will have a lasting impression on the students in regards to social, mental, and physical development. Appropriate Instruction – Includes all students and gives them instruction in the classroom and encouragement for further activity outside the classroom. Student and Program Assessment – Students will be assessed on their physical development and how well they have met the standards for the classes. ey-points-of-QPE.cfm ey-points-of-QPE.cfm

National Standards Standard 1: – Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities. Standard 2: – Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities. Standard 3: – Participates regularly in physical activity. Standard 4: – Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. Standard 5: – Exhibits responsible, personal, and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings. Standard 6: – Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction. s.cfm s.cfm

TEKS Elementary: K-5 – Students have mastered basic skills such as throwing, kicking etc. and are able to use these skills in game-like activities. – Awareness of physical safety. Middle School: 6-8 – Students are still developing physical fitness skills but emphasis has changed to the enjoyment and challenges of exercise both inside and outside of the school environment. – Knowledge of physical fitness benefits. High School: 9-12 – Students are involved in team sports and work more with the concept of incorporating physical activity into their daily lifestyle. – Sense of community and team work in regards to physical fitness. –

Division of Physical Education Programs Amount of time spent in actual physical activity. Elementary- 135 minutes per week. Middle School- 225 minutes per week. High school requires 1 credit for graduation. As of 2010, school districts are required to have at least 50% of their physical education programs involve actual physical activity. The other 50% is used to learn about fundamental concepts and applications of physical education. Students are only assessed on Physical fitness.

Looking to the Future The benefits and challenges of increasing accountability standards.

Obesity Rates of Children Today:

Pre-Assessment Results: 7/14 – 50% of class said parents should be responsible. 4/14 – said government / schools are responsible. 2/14 – combination.

Spark Notes Being held accountable for physical education is also making our schools accountable for academic education. Exercise not only gets our blood pumping, but also prevents our mind from “physically shriveling.” Exercise helps release vital chemicals in our brain that help us make the connections needed in order to learn. (Pages 3-9 in Spark)

Accountability in Physical Education: The Benefits Helps prevent disease in children. Promotes lifetime Wellness. Helps fight obesity. Helps promote Learning. Physical activity participation makes Economic Sense. Educates the Whole Child.

Something to Think About

Accountability in Physical Education: The Challenges It’s not a priority. – 6% of US Public High Schools require daily Physical Education (Spark). – 2012 Press Release from the US Dept. of Education. – Texas SBOE Summary of Actions ( ). Limited Resources. – Texas Fitness Now. Privacy. – HIPAA. – Texas Medical Privacy Act (2001). What’s the goal? – How much is too much? Who should have the most authority? – Home? Local government? State gov.? National gov.?

Discussion Questions Group 1: Examine the HIPAA and Texas Medical Act handout in your seminar folder. What privacy issues can you foresee arising with an increase of accountability at the national and state levels? Could there be a way to increase accountability without an invasion? Group 3: How might an increase in Physical Education accountability help our current economy? What resources, if any, would be necessary to increase accountability in Physical Education? Monetary, instructional, temporal etc.? Explain. Group 4: Each educational philosophy is associated with a different purpose for education. Which philosophy best supports physical education accountability? Compare and contrast to justify your answer.

The “Big Question” Should U.S public schools create a standardized Physical Education test? If so, what should the consequences be for students who fail to pass this assessment? – Should they not be allowed to progress to the next grade level/graduate? – Should they be enrolled in a “special needs” program?