Time for PE
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Anonymous
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This article just came out about BASIS not providing the required PE time under the Healthy Schools Act: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/the-law-requires-gym-class-for-all-students-but-this-charter-school-is-refusing/2016/08/25/172f9266-696f-11e6-99bf-f0cf3a6449a6_story.html?postshare=2121472136424491&tid=ss_tw
Not picking on BASIS because I don't think most schools, charters or DCPS, are meeting these requirements. Seriously doubt that our elementary is providing 150 minutes of PE time as required. Is any school in compliance? What are the consequences? |
Anonymous
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BASIS parent.
I recall that in 2013 BASIS' head of school telling us that they got some sort of waiver from OSSE related to PE, and not requiring it for students past 6th grade. My younger kid is in 7th and wanted to take PE too -- the PE teacher is actually great and did really creative stuff with them given the physical constraints of the site. As the article states - there are no consequences to the healthy school acts. It's totally unenforceable. |
Anonymous
| Our DCPS ES is not in compliance because the school does not have the gym space or the number of PE teachers required to meet those minutes. Our kids get less than half of what is required. |
Anonymous
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Doesn't Deal just offer PE for one part of the year alternating with an art?
I think DCI does the same thing. |
Anonymous
| It's ridiculous to expect kids to sit still for hours upon hours. As an adult, I have to move around throughout the day to be productive. With continued emphasis on academics, arts, recess, PE have all been slashed. The irony is that these "extras" are shown to improve academic performance as the article notes. |
Anonymous
Yes, though they have PE every day for that half of the year. |
Anonymous
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For many schools in the city, I imagine space is a big issue. My kid's elementary school has one multipurpose room that has two lunch periods every day. In good weather the kids get recess, but in bad weather "indoor recess" involves playing board games, read aloud, etc.
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Anonymous
| It is ridiculous for any school to think that kids should just sit for six hours with no physical activity and stay focused. Take them for a walk, at least. |
Anonymous
| Even though many schools appear not to be complying with the Healthy Schools Act, BASIS seems to be taking it a step further. According to this article, they don't have any recess and on top of that there is no PE. |
Anonymous
| My children go to school with the reporter and he and I both know our DCPS elementary school comes nowhere close to this PE requirement. They have PE for 45 minutes once a week. |
Anonymous
| What is the point of this law if no school complies? While I can see that some schools may struggle because of lack of space, it can't be that difficult for all schools. At least make a gesture for 2 PE periods a week even if you can't meet the 2.5 hour requirement. Schools can also get creative with incorporating movement throughout the school day. It's a cop out to say that it's impossible to achieve. Kids need exercise and down time. These are kids after all. |
Anonymous
| Does recess count toward the requirement? My ES has PE twice a week for 45 minutes, so still doesn't come close |
Anonymous
| Recess should not count since about half the kids just hang out and talk -- at least in grades above 3rd. |
Anonymous
No. Recess for elementary students is a separate HSA requirement from PE instruction. Healthy schools act put a lot of requirements on schools but provided no resources to implement them. |
Anonymous
Money - they'd have to hire more PE teachers. |