Advocating for a 2 nd Physical Education Credit in Secondary Schools Jeannie Larocque, RN, BScN...

Advocating for a 2nd Physical Education Credit in Secondary Schools

Jeannie Larocque, RN, BScNPublic Health NurseNiagara Region Public Health Department905-688-3817

Angela Gueldenstubbe, BAHealth PromoterNiagara Region Public Health Department905-688-3762 ext. 7298

Reality PE:The 60 Minute Edge

Outline of Presentation:

1. A look at the physical activity levels and obesity rates of secondary school students

2. The link between physical activity and academics/health

3. Healthy Living Niagara Secondary School Committee

4. Reality PE: The 60 Minute Edge – purpose and process

5. Viewing of the DVD

6. Roll Out

7. Signing of the Petition

8. Challenges, Next Steps, Q & A


Canada’s Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth – 2006

Less than half of Canada’s children meet the minimum daily physical activity requirements to support basic healthy growth and development. Grade D

New direct measure data indicates obesity in children continues to rise, most notably among adolescents aged 12-17. Grade F

Approximately one quarter of kids report physical and psychological health complaints – those with higher physical activity levels report less complaints. Grade C


Link between physical activity and academics/health:

“Regular physical activity and play are essential for physical, mental, psychological and social development from early childhood through adolescence. Involvement in sports can boost children’s health, improveacademic performance and help reduce crime.” UNICEF

“Coronary heart disease is responsible for a considerable amount of morbidity and mortality from chronic disease in industrialized countries. Physical activity is…an important risk factor for developing coronary heart disease.” (Janus Jongbloed Research Centre, University of Utrecht, Netherlands)


Currently we focus primarily on academic success to gain entry to post secondary education – this reduces the amount of students that participate in secondary level physical education classes.

Secondary school students often opt out of physical education classes after receiving the one mandatory credit.

According to Active Healthy Kids Canada, between 80 and 90% of parents characterize their children’s activity level’s as good.

Healthy Living NiagaraSecondary School Committee

We aim to facilitate the optimal health of Niagara school

communities. Our committee works to plan, implement

and evaluate school based initiatives that encourage

children, parents and school staff to adopt healthy

lifestyle choices.

Healthy Living Niagara is a partnership of 32 community

agencies.

Reality PE: The 60 Minute Edge

Purpose of the DVD:

The DVD and supporting material urges parents of grade 8 and 9

students to encourage their teenagers to take a physical education

credit more than once during their secondary school years and

show support for a second compulsory physical education credit.

“A second compulsory Physical Education credit for secondary

schools would result in a increase in adolescents being active.”

(Dwyer et. Al, 2006)

Healthy Living NiagaraSecondary School Committee

Goals and Objectives:

• To work together towards the optimal health of school communities

• To increase physical activity levels of adolescents• To address healthy weights

In 2005, the committee began work on a DVD to

demonstrate the positive impact of physical activity on a

teenagers education.


“Increasing physical activity during school could be accomplished

by…increasing the number of physical education classes,particularly in secondary school”. (Effectiveness of Physical Activity Enhancement and

Obesity Prevention Program in Children and Youth. PHRED, page 9, 2004.)

“Since most interventions increased activity because of

increased class time focused on activity, it would be prudent to

increase the frequency of physical activity classes as well as

increasing the number of physical education credits required in secondary school”. (Thomas et.al, page 20, 2004.)


Process for Developing Program Materials:

• Commitment from committee to focus on need for 2nd compulsory PE credit

• Request for Proposal developed to select production team

• Research to identify content for script including literature search, consultation from THCU, input from experts, and focus testing


Process for Developing Program Materials cont.

• Consent agreements through school boards for student participation

• Filming and editing

• Identification of supportive material

• Development of promotion strategy

• Identification of process evaluation mechanism

Reality PE: The 60 Minute Edge

Viewing of the DVD


Roll Out:

• Communication to Ministries and Regional Council

• Media Breakfast Launch

• Media coverage (TV, radio & newspaper)

• Website (www.healthylivingniagara.com)

• Distribution to 10,000 homes through ‘Niagara on the Move’ campaign


Roll Out cont.

• Distribution of kit to 225 school councils

• Presentation at school board forums and school councils

• Email signature

• Presentation at partner meetings


Parent Council Package Contents:

1. Letter about the DVD

2. Script to introduce the DVD

3. Flyer for more information about a 2nd credit

4. Petition for a second PHYS ED credit

5. Copy of the DVD


Challenges:

• Dissemination/reaching parents

• Signing of the Petition

• Ministry of Education

• Competition for time in the school day

• Differing opinions from School Boards

Next Steps / Q & A

“The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same

level of thinking with which we created them.”

~ Albert Einstein ~

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we

must do.”

~ Goethe ~

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

~ Lao Tzu ~

Advocating for a 2 nd Physical Education Credit in Secondary Schools Jeannie Larocque, RN, BScN...

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