P.E. teachers get creative on getting physical
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer
It's not your father's P.E. class and it might not have even looked much like your own physical education experience, as teachers across the state tossed around new ways to promote physical activity in schools yesterday.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Yoga, lacrosse, training with stability balls, dances and using pedometers were just a few of the ways to motivate students from kindergarten through 12th grade that were demonstrated at a conference on physical education.
From left: Winfred Onishi of Waiakea Elementary, Luana Keohokapu of Helemano Elementary and Joseph Aguiar of Hawaii Baptist Academy tried their hand at cup stacking yesterday at a physical education conference at Punahou School.
About 425 physical education teachers from public and private schools gathered at Punahou School for a conference sponsored by the Hawai'i Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The theme was "Balance = Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies."
Winfred Onishi teaches P.E. at Waiakea Elementary School in Hilo. He meets with a total of 750 students, who have a 45-minute physical education class once every six school days.
"My biggest focus is making movement fun so they want to do it," Onishi said. He was trying out cup stacking — done by quickly moving a dozen plastic cups that come in a set — in a series of exercises and games that increase coordination.
Conference co-coordinator Julienne Maeda said an increased emphasis on academic standards in traditional subjects sometimes pushes out P.E. In Hawai'i public schools, there is no requirement for P.E. at the elementary level and one year is currently required in middle school and another year in high school.
She said that places Hawai'i as somewhat average in P.E. emphasis nationwide. Only two states — Illinois and New Jersey — require daily P.E. even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. surgeon general have called for such a requirement.
Maeda is an assistant professor of kinesiology and leisure science at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Rather than striving for that balance in schools, Maeda said, "we forget and actually take away things that are good for the body and the brain."
Shawn Coleman, a P.E. teacher at Wilson Elementary School, said the school created a fitness area for students in grades 3 to 6 that includes a balance beam, sit-up bench and chin-up bars. The gear attracts 70 to 100 kids each morning before school.
The school also runs a 10-minute aerobics video on closed-circuit TV each morning that teachers can show.
Shelley Fey, Punahou P.E. Department chairwoman, also served as co-coordinator of the conference. She said her school integrates P.E. into every grade level, ranging from two times every six days for grades K-2; three times every six days for grades 3 to 8; and five semesters' worth in high school.
Toni Nishida Chock, science and P.E. teacher at Maryknoll School, was impressed with the strength-training possibilities with balls and balancing gear. "It's great for everyone, not just an athlete," she said.
At Moanalua High School, the P.E. team uses body fat analysis and pedometers to help students gauge their fitness levels throughout the year. Teacher Joshua Suapaia said counting steps helps the students see how active they are in various sports, from softball and soccer to running track. Seeing those steps add up motivates them to keep moving, he said.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
