Posted at: 10/23/2008 11:50:45 AM
By: Robin De Wind
New sports added to high school curriculum
Volleyball, basketball, soccer are all sports you learn in gym class but some schools are now adding sports to the curriculum that can be enjoyed for life.
Seniors Gabby Goff and Emily Hinn are learning how to repair their mountain bikes in gym class of all places. “We learn how to fix breaks and put on back tires. I did learn some stuff,” Goff said.
Penfield is one of a handful of schools in the area offering alternative, individual sports as part of the physical education curriculum.
Pyshical education teacher Marybeth Walker said, “In this generation it’s important to give kids tools they can have for the rest of their life. They can go and play crab soccer yes, but team sports don't fit 80-percent of the student population.”
Surprisingly, not all kids know how to ride a bike properly. A federal grant is now providing funding to schools for sport related activities like mountain biking, kayaking and even camping.
“We learn soccer and everybody knows football and baseball but you need people to do it with. The bike I can go out and bike by yourself, said Hinn”
“They say back when I was in college I played sports but right now I don't know how to exercise. Since I can't play those sports, it gives them a way to exercise by themselves when they get older, said Walker”
Off-road cycling has become more popular. One in five adults says it's their preferred form of exercise. The problem is places to ride. Most parks don’t allow public paths.
Walker said, “We educate kids, we need resources but they seek out community resources. We're not finding trails within our community. We are trying to change that.”
Penfield will be offering mountain biking to kids in junior high school this spring. The school says small changes that may pay off for kids in the long run. “Those team sports we can go to a rec center and play basketball but that's not for everybody. Give them the tools so they can exercise for the rest of their lives, said Walker”
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