By Dave Steavpack on Thursday, May 17, 2001 - 09:18 pm: Edit

How much should we focus on hand/eye coordination at the secondary level? I am a firm believer in lifetime fitness and using heart rate monitors as assessment tools, as well as an aide to students to get the most out of their individual programs in the high school physical education class. But, I also feel we are missing the boat when we do not focus on hand/eye coordination activties(i.e., badminton, pickleball, table tennis, etc.). Am I expecting too much with these thoughts. Can I have all this and expect students too be lifetime wellness enthusiasts as well?

By Isobel Kleinman on Friday, May 18, 2001 - 10:24 pm: Edit

If we bore students to death, how can we expect that they will be lifetime wellness enthusiasts? Yes, I agree with you. We would be missing the boat if we didn't give them the tools for physical fun, whether that means teaching activities that require eye-hand coordination or those that require grace and balance. Each will have his or her own favorite method of staying fit and in shape when they leave us, unless of course, we are so single minded that we never teach them anything but monitoring their heart, their strength and their fat composition.

By anna other on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 08:51 pm: Edit

I would agree totally with the two last contributors. If we do not continue to develop the skills that students need to participate in exercise (albeit sport or aerobics or whatever) we are failing in our role as PE educators. PE should not solely be about Health anymore than it should be solely about sport or dance. Furthermore, it is possible to push students to become so preoccupied with their weight and heart rate monitoring etc.. that there over-anxiety becomes anything but healthy. Plus, there are those students whose long-term enjoyment of exercise and lifestyle WILL include sports activity and what is so wrong with that. A little of everything goes a long way!