PE Resolution #2: to promote a
movement towards increasing physical education at the elementary school level
to ensure full implementation of the new MCPS Physical Education Curriculum.
Approved April 26, 2005
Whereas, the proposed Physical Education
(PE) curriculum provides a standards-based approach and if appropriately
implemented will provide instruction in important areas not previously covered
that reflect the strengths of the discipline including exercise physiology,
biomechanical principles, motor learning principles and overall health and
nutrition, with the ultimate goal of establishing a strong foundation of
physical activity in the formative years to develop a lifelong practice in
fitness, sport, dance and movement education.
Whereas, most elementary school students in
Montgomery County only receive 30 minutes of PE a week;
Whereas, the U.S. Surgeon General, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Association for
Sport and Physical Education recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of daily
physical activity and PE taught by certified instructors for every elementary
and secondary school student;
Whereas, to provide students with the
recommended amount of PE established by both national organizations and public
health experts, MCPS elementary school students must experience an increase in
PE instructional minutes;
Whereas, to fully implement the new PE
curriculum, elementary students must be provided with additional instructional
time in physical education to allow satisfactory understanding of the academic
concepts being taught and to ensure that the academic nature of the new lessons
will not reduce the amount of time that children are physically active during
PE classes;
Whereas, a growing body of evidence suggests
that providing students with more PE and physical activity opportunities help
reduce the cost schools incur due to reduced absenteeism and improved student
health, and reduced staff time spent addressing academic performance.
Furthermore, improvement in test scores and overall academic achievement can be
linked to increased time in PE;
Whereas, MCCPTA recognizes that increased PE in
elementary schools will impact overall class scheduling and funding issues;
Whereas, MCCPTA is willing to work with MCPS
and the BOE to develop an approach to increasing PE in schools that recognizes
the cost constraints and impact on the school day;
Whereas, the MCCPTA’s
position regarding the importance of PE instruction in the education of every
child is aligned with that of both the National PTA and the Maryland PTA, be it
now therefore
RESOLVED that the Montgomery County
Council of Parent Teacher Associations recognizes the importance of regular
physical education programs as an integral part of children’s education and
requests the Board of Education to examine opportunities to increase physical
education in elementary school to ensure successful and full implementation of
the new physical education curriculum.