Comments on: Bronx Mom: A Reason for Crossing District Lines http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:41:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Maria http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8961 Maria Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:44:19 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8961 I think most schools do not give students adequate physical education at all, even when they have gyms and playgrounds, which is terrible. Some parents may not think that gyms or playgrounds are important, but they are. We have an obesity epidemic in our nation, and the problem starts in childhood. Lack of exercise at home and in the playground after school means these kids need to get it at school, like most of us did when we were growing up. This is a city, and many neighborhoods do not have a park or playground near their homes for children to play in. More children are staying home playing video games. If this lack of comprehension (by parents, students, school administrators and government) to how important physical education is to kids continues, America's health is going to be at much bigger risk. I think most schools do not give students adequate physical education at all, even when they have gyms and playgrounds, which is terrible. Some parents may not think that gyms or playgrounds are important, but they are. We have an obesity epidemic in our nation, and the problem starts in childhood. Lack of exercise at home and in the playground after school means these kids need to get it at school, like most of us did when we were growing up.

This is a city, and many neighborhoods do not have a park or playground near their homes for children to play in. More children are staying home playing video games. If this lack of comprehension (by parents, students, school administrators and government) to how important physical education is to kids continues, America’s health is going to be at much bigger risk.

]]> By: queensparent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8955 queensparent Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:18:26 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8955 My child's elementary school has a large gym and a large playground. They barely use it. The kids are mostly kept inside to watch movies during lunch. I have asked the principal about it over the years as I have very active children. I have been told by the principal that she believes activity at lunch makes the children wilder and even when they are allowed out they usually just sit on the ground while the aides talk. Gym is also frequently cancelled whenever there is a book fair (3 day event, set up, take down days), picture day or any other activity they can think of. And of course there is no gym when the gym teacher is absent. The low priority of physical education has very little to do with the facilities as I have heard of schools that have no facilities incorporating lots of movement. Schools that believe in physical education will find a way for the students to have it. My child’s elementary school has a large gym and a large playground. They barely use it. The kids are mostly kept inside to watch movies during lunch. I have asked the principal about it over the years as I have very active children. I have been told by the principal that she believes activity at lunch makes the children wilder and even when they are allowed out they usually just sit on the ground while the aides talk. Gym is also frequently cancelled whenever there is a book fair (3 day event, set up, take down days), picture day or any other activity they can think of. And of course there is no gym when the gym teacher is absent. The low priority of physical education has very little to do with the facilities as I have heard of schools that have no facilities incorporating lots of movement. Schools that believe in physical education will find a way for the students to have it.

]]> By: Parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8952 Parent Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:46:01 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8952 Actually gym instruction and daily activity is less a product of the district than the real estate and funding. My child goes to a good school in Manhattan that does not have a gym. Physical education is given in the cafeteria. Kids only get it once a week and all the supplies including balls are paid for by the PTA, because there isn't enough money in the budget to cover that stuff. Upper grades have recess in the street because the yards are too small to accomodate everyone. There are schools in Queens, even in low-income areas that have huge facilities because the real estate allows for that. There is also the issue of funding. Most schools, regardless of the community, do not have the funds to hire more than one gym teacher. Many don't have money to hire staff to allow for outdoor recess, so kids stay in for lunch. That's really a shame and I'm sure undermines their ability to learn in the afternoon. There are certainly vast differences between the schools mentioned in the post and better schools across the city, but physical education seems to be the great equalizer. It's lousy everywhere. As for funding, I don't think the district you live in determines how much the schools get. Funding is set by the city. Schools in the wealthiest areas in Manhattan, such as the UWS have low funding, but as we have seen from recent posts, parents raise money to keeps services reasonable. Actually gym instruction and daily activity is less a product of the district than the real estate and funding. My child goes to a good school in Manhattan that does not have a gym. Physical education is given in the cafeteria. Kids only get it once a week and all the supplies including balls are paid for by the PTA, because there isn’t enough money in the budget to cover that stuff. Upper grades have recess in the street because the yards are too small to accomodate everyone. There are schools in Queens, even in low-income areas that have huge facilities because the real estate allows for that. There is also the issue of funding. Most schools, regardless of the community, do not have the funds to hire more than one gym teacher. Many don’t have money to hire staff to allow for outdoor recess, so kids stay in for lunch. That’s really a shame and I’m sure undermines their ability to learn in the afternoon. There are certainly vast differences between the schools mentioned in the post and better schools across the city, but physical education seems to be the great equalizer. It’s lousy everywhere.

As for funding, I don’t think the district you live in determines how much the schools get. Funding is set by the city. Schools in the wealthiest areas in Manhattan, such as the UWS have low funding, but as we have seen from recent posts, parents raise money to keeps services reasonable.

]]> By: AriannaFan http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8951 AriannaFan Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:48:15 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/bronx-mom-a-reason-for-crossing-district-lines/#comment-8951 I too, a Bronx Mom (District 11), crossed district/borough lines to find a good fit for my daughter and myself. A good physical ed program did not rank on my list until now, as she enters kindergarten. She attended Prek 3 and Prek4 at a Upper west side catholic school. The curriculum was better than local, but they did not have a consistent physical ed program. Another reason I needed to crossover is because of my work hours. I paid TONS of money the past 2 years for this convenience, but academically, it was MORE than worth it. We are now in a charter school starting Fall 2009. I did not hear about CPE I and II until LONG after the application process and I've heard all good things. I too, a Bronx Mom (District 11), crossed district/borough lines to find a good fit for my daughter and myself. A good physical ed program did not rank on my list until now, as she enters kindergarten. She attended Prek 3 and Prek4 at a Upper west side catholic school. The curriculum was better than local, but they did not have a consistent physical ed program. Another reason I needed to crossover is because of my work hours. I paid TONS of money the past 2 years for this convenience, but academically, it was MORE than worth it. We are now in a charter school starting Fall 2009. I did not hear about CPE I and II until LONG after the application process and I’ve heard all good things.

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