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Forgotten by Some

Outstanding articles on the health of physical education in the Northwest as well as the entire country ["New Moves," Fall 2000]. I applaud the authors and your magazine for focusing on the importance of physical health and wellness in our ever-changing society. Quality physical education programs are out there, and when families are relocating to another school district, they need to research the physical education program just as much as they need to research the amount of technology there is in the district. We may be forgotten by some, but at some point in time you are going to wish you had remembered us sooner. Remember: seven days without exercise makes one weak.

Dave Steavpack
PE Instructor
Manitowoc Lincoln High School
Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Tremendous Teamwork

At the risk of being shot, dodge ball is one of the most sought-after games by all of my third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students. We use it sparingly and only as a reward for outstanding effort in class. If you find that appalling, then I encourage you to re-examine the game.

Our dodge ball requires tremendous teamwork, strategy, confidence, cooperation, and strength of body and mind. You must understand motion and your body, throw in a little math and physics, and the game just starts getting good. You won't see too many Nolan Ryans in our game but you will see quite a few Carlton Fisks, Johnny Benches, and an occasional Ken Griffey Jr. We have one player we call the Swamp Fox of Revolutionary War fame and a team that puts the ballet to shame. We require degrees in science and math if you hope to win, and you better not think you can rest, even if you're out because death in our dodge ball is only a throw away from reincarnation. A single dodge ball game can last the entire period and can leave every student laughing, sweating, and with a target heart rate that you can be proud of. I'm sure there is a winning team but most of the time the class is too busy complimenting a teammate or an opponent on a fantastic play or laughing at themselves for something silly they did.

I was the kid your article describes, hiding in the corner, always pushed aside by the jocks and praying for gym class to be over. I became a PE teacher, not to hide but to encourage and support and bring life and vitality back to our youth.

We love dodge ball at Lake Spokane and we're darn proud of it. We'll be glad to stack up our academics, fitness, and our love for friendship, fellowship, and fun with any school on the block.

Bill Bender
Elementary PE Specialist
Lake Spokane Elementary
Nine Mile Falls, Washington

Cheering for Peers

I absolutely agree with the article ("The Death of Dodge Ball," Fall 2000). I had set up my company to focus on the problems of obesity in children and to prevent my child from becoming attached to TV and computer and forgetting about outdoor activity. I take my climbing wall to elementary schools in the Midwest to enhance physical activity in the PE class and encourage outdoor activities such as our portable climbing wall. When I have gone to the schools, the children are excited to climb, but also cheer their peers in accomplishing their climb. Our wall being so different from the status, children from kindergarten on up can climb and everyone can be successful. I think that is what your dodge ball forgot to do. Give children self-esteem and a team building activity. That is why I am adamant about getting our wall to as many physical education classes as possible and other school events. I hope there will be action taken with the new president to encourage physical activity and fund it in the public school.

David Jensen
President
Hang Tough, LLC
Platteville, Wisconsin

Old Jocks

Great articles ["New Moves," Fall 2000]. Maybe for your 30th class reunion you can line up all those old jocks (they are the bald, overweight, beer drinkers that you do not recognize now) and throw red rubber balls at their bald heads to repay them for your childhood scares. Too bad so many people had to experience the old PE. Maybe your children and grandchildren will have fonder memories. The new PE is so exciting and benefits every child. I appreciate your publication taking the time to print this story. We have a nation to re-educate about the new PE. Thanks for your effort.

Phil Lawler
PE teacher
Naperville School District 203
Naperville, Illinois

100 Percent

What an excellent article ["The Death of Dodgeball," Fall 2000]. I wasn't even searching for this subject [on the Web], but it certainly hooked me right away. I agree 100 percent with the article and the issues discussed.

Ben Murphy
Future PE/Health Teacher
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, Oregon

Negative Trend

This is a very solid article ["The Death of Dodgeball," Fall 2000]. It details a very serious negative trend that is currently being accepted by the field of education. Hopefully, PE professionals will continue to strive to create positive environments for our fitness and physical education classes. I applaud the metaphoric overtones contained in the article. Bravo!

John Dunlop
Elementary PE Teacher
Portage Public Schools
Portage, Michigan

Beyond Her Years

I was so impressed with Alisha Moreland's writing [Voices: "Shined By the City," Winter 1999], and her ability to look at the whole educational picture, not just the negative elements. Apparently, she is beyond her years as far as having insight and wisdom about our youth. Making emotional connections and building relationships with high-risk students is essential when trying to provide guidance and instruction. As Alisha mentioned, not just going through the motions, but following up with whatever support the child needs or asks for. Alisha has vision and determination — what a wonderful role model for other children trying "to figure it out." I applaud her for "staying the course" and not allowing outside influences to interfere with her goals and convictions!

Jackie Portwood
Discipline Assistant
Irvington Grade School
Portland, Oregon

Correction

I just wanted to let you know that although not required by law, many districts, at least in the King County area, use certified PE Specialists to teach elementary PE. ["NW Schools at a Glance," Fall 2000] Specialist time is the classroom teacher's planning time. I work in the Issaquah School District and we hire certified PE specialists whenever possible. This year we did have to hire a person who did not have PE certification because there were no qualified PE specialists available due to the teacher shortage. We are required to take 15 credit hours or 150 clock hours every five years for re-certification and it does not matter if you have a master's degree or not. There are no yearly requirements. I just had to apply for my recertification this past June and even though I have my master's degree. I was still required to have 15 credits/ 150 clock hours.

Gina Ayco Jackson
PE Specialist
Apollo Elementary School
Issaquah, Washington

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