Today's High School Students - Fit or Fat?

Fit or fat?

So, let me ask you - are students in Greater Toronto Area high schools in good shape or plump, a nice way of saying overweight?

It was just about this time three years ago, when the Ontario Government launched a program called "Raise the Bar". A Guelph high school teacher, Steve Friesen, was appointed Director of the program that would try stimulate more involvement in physical education.

Things have been very quiet since. The hype is gone, or so it seems.

Back in my day, if you participated in "intramurals", you were considered a geek or somebody really odd. All the so called athletes were on school varsity teams. That was the macho thing and, apparently, still is in many places.

Students were told they weren't good enough, when cut from a team. Get that several times, and it's easy to find an alternative to physical education.

While many teenagers are focusing more on grades, needing the part time job to make ends meet, some also don't have the extra dollars to spend on equipment nor the time to invest in a full and committed sports schedule. Others, well, just aren't interested.

Some high school phys-ed teachers also leave me with the impression that the varsity team is what it's all about. Guess it's their way of feeling like they're in the NBA, NHL, CFL or whatever.

According to Friesen, stats show between 15 and 20 per cent of students in schools play on varsity teams. And the rest?

I asked the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations for some data and, well, they don't have up-to-date numbers on how many students are actually playing school sports. It's true. They haven't had it for years. Michael Suraci, the assistant executive director, seems like a nice guy - but new to the job. He admitted to guessing at about 300,000 students across Ontario play varsity sports. But, that was a guess. I asked him - does a kid playing football, basketball and baseball count as one or three? According to OFSAA, it's three. So much for numbers.

Friesen believes there continues to be a huge concern on the small numbers of high school students keeping in shape. Why isn't there a push to play more intramurals - like over at Toronto's Victoria Park Secondary. More than half of that school is going the intramural way. Many still play varsity sports, and that's fine. But, why can't the numbers increase at other schools?

The Ontario Government took a step getting physed back in elementary schools - even for 20 minutes a day. Now, they need to get it back in high school, or even offer credits for students in intramural sports. If not, experts claim health care budgets, in future years, will rise significantly.

Time to get teenagers active.

And, I don't mean using fingers to text-message or even the addiction to what is offered by the gaming industry.

Is physical education a priority or not?

Comments

[Kenneth Robson]

Hip hip horray.
You got it.
Physical education should be just as important to a student in a high school classroom these days as history, math or some of those ridiculous options.
Message to Premier McGuinty - do it now or you'll have a crisis in the years to come.

[Joseph]

There is a value to inter-school sports, but not at the expense of keeping facilities open for others who don't want to play at the varsity level.
Why is it so hard to understand that a gym and field are are in schools for a reason - to use them.

[Michelle]

Many young people in today's society just don't see any value in putting their health first.
They're too busy with other things.

[Mr. Spencer]

I would assume there will be many teachers who probably will have a few things to say to Mr. Friesen pushing intramurals over inter-school sports.

[K.L.]

I was one of those who got cut from my high school team and I believe the emphasis was moreso on winning than allowing me a chance to learn and improve.
I never went back and instead chose the weight room and playing volleyball and basketball at lunch time in the gym.
My teacher goofed.

[Sportsgy]

It's easy to spot that most teenagers lack the enthusiasm to keep fit.

[steve friesen]

Pertaining to Michelle's comment - I have spoken directly to hundreds of teachers and have done workshops for over 2500 teachers elementary and secondary across the province over the last 3 + years.

As a teacher - I am in school for the benefit of EVERY student - not just the specially skilled ones. The majority of teachers are excited to learn more about intramurals and how they can reach as many kids as possible.

School teams are important - but not important enough to exclude the other 80% from being involved.

[Telia Shire]

Blame it on trying to fit 5 years into 4, something had to give and it was the Arts and P.E. Right now students only need to take one Phys Ed class to graduate. It's not right but it is what it is. If you want students to value their health and physical fitness make it a priority. As a high school Guidance counsellor I encourage all my students to take P.E. every year but when it comes down to it they need academic courses to get into university and applied classes to get into college. Phys Ed is Open level and doesn't help anyone get into post-secondary school no matter how well they do.

[Donaldson]

Great topic. I'm very surprised that there hasn't been more feedback on this subject.
Either people don't have much interest in this topic, simply don't care or they're far too busy stuffing their stomachs with hamburgers and greasy fries with poutine.

[Time for Big Mac]

School kids are way over weight and other than the elite athletes are too busy playing video games.

[Jimbo]

What a real shame when our society can't see how important physical exercise is and, especially with young people, to make physical education essential in schools.
I wonder if there are other schools like the one you mentioned who seems to realize that giving kids an opportunity to exercise, play sports and have fun can do a great deal more than whether some hotshot kid hits 30 points in a basketball game or score six goals.

[Gregory]

Physical eduication is not a priority in the eyes of the Ontario Government.
Mr. McGuinty would rather spend valuable dollars on his Cabinet retreats than get serious about the health and well-being of the people he serves and who will, or will not, vote for him.

[Murray]

Far too many obese kids and it's thanks to the Ontario Government and Boards of Eduications for not making physical education a part of the mandatory curriculum.
Pay now or pay the health problems later.

[James Hitchen]

I don't think that placing the blame on gym teachers is the answer. After all they are the ones coaching kids and trying to instill a love for sport and activity. The fact that kids don't want to play inter-murals is a problem but should the coaches who spend every day after school coaching also have to recruit kids from the hall to play at lunch? No! Physical education should be a requirement all four years of high school thus ensuring at least some physical activity for all. I bet that the kids taking four or even five phys-ed courses are the kids playing at lunch. The students that are studying or running to McDonalds are the ones that miss out. If they had to take gym then everyone would be active!!!

[Larry Gill]

How about the teachers running to Starbucks.

[James Hitchen]

I'm sorry is this a link about fitness levels of youth or the spending habits of teachers? Can't a teacher grab a coffee @ lunch? Do you have a break at work?
Although I will say this, teachers should make an effort to make healthy choices in front of their students. I understand that this is not a requirement but it is something that SHOULD happen.

[Larry Gill]

Yes, I have a break at work, but I am not a physed teacher.
I agree that teachers should be good role models and there is nothing wrong with a coffee.
But those high-caloried latte drinks with whipped cream in front of class doesn't look that good.

[Chris Albrecht]

Students aren't going to go grab a latte with 5 pounds of stuff in it because they their teacher sipping one, they drink them because celebrities are associated with that kind of stuff, teachers aren't going to have that much of an impact on something like that, for the most part. The P.E. teachers are the ones you always see actually living by their words and what they teach kids, eating healthy, getting exercise etc. I'd say P.E. teachers are doing a fantastic job inspiring and impacting students at school already with the limited classes/class time they are given with them.

Sometimes as a student, athlete or not, you just want to GET OUT of school at every possible chance you have, so when lunch comes around, not only is it one of your only times to eat food all day (most schools don't allow or have limits on what you can eat, if anything, in class) so you naturally, especially once you or your friends can drive, want to get out and go have a good time out at lunch with friends. Not playing sports in the gym at lunch and having to try and squeeze time to eat in somewhere. It's just natural for students now not to want to play sports at lunch every so often. As far as athletes are concerned, especially if you have a good shot at a championship, you'd want save most of your energy for practice so you don't die. Good points all around though.

[Jason]

I almost wanted to throw up when I read this comment from Chris Albrecht.
He must be President of the Teachers Fan Club of the World.
No one is perfect, buddy. Lots of great teachers, but many physed teachers I know still smoke and drink booze and don't teach eating healthy.
And tell me why is it natural for students to not want to play sports at lunch time? Could it be because the doors are locked or no supervision or no inspiration or their school lacks any form of enthusiasm for sports.
Lets speak the truth Mr. Albrecht.

[Chris Albrecht]

Chris Albrecht

Lack of enthusiasm for sports is definitely not it. How long have you been out of school Jason? Times have changed I bet. Obviously I cannot speak for all schools, but I'd say most schools have the MOST enthusiasm about sports rather than anything else going on in their school, besides big fundraisers like Relay 4 Life or something. I just came out of my 5th year in HS so memories are still fresh in my mind. Of course some phys-ed teachers smoke and drink, it's called having a life. Do they do that infront of their students? No. That's the point. Do they try and push good habits and healthy lifestyles into young peoples minds? Yes. Is that not their job? You said it yourself, nobody is perfect, I'm not exactly sure what your argument is apart from the fact that it seems you're just a very bitter person?

You mentioned doors being locked, yes, this sometimes happens and usually the basketball people suffer, and I agree, gyms should never be locked during lunch and I also agree that the school should try and have at least 1 teacher supervising whatever is going on at lunch time. Then you mentioned lack of inspiration, which I'm confused about because first you ragged on me for sticking up for P.E. teachers (saying they inspire kids) then you go ahead and rant saying there's no inspiration to play intramurals.

Like I said before, the school, teachers, volunteers all do a good job at trying to get kids active, but it's still ultimately down the the individual student as to whether or not they want to participate in activities during their spare time at lunch. Simple as that. Put yourself into the mind of a 16/17 year old, who from my experience, showed up the most to intramurals besides seniour students.

During lunch time I'm sure 99% of them would like to go off-campus and eat out with their friends at lunch if they had the chance, and not be stuck inside school ALL day. It all comes down to what a teenage student at that age wants to do during his/her SPARE TIME at lunch, go out and eat, or go run around in the gym for an hour. I think forcing students to take P.E. at least until grade 11 or 12 is the answer, not trying to resurrect a lost cause that is intramurals.

The only intramurals I ever saw get any attention were the Floor hockey tournaments and dodgeball tournaments, and as far as I knew, those were the only intramurals available? Both of which took quite a lot of work from both students and staff, which is probably what attracted students to it in the first place. As opposed to having some loosely-run activity that isn't all that fun anyway.

The point of intramurals is to try and get a different portion of the student body out and at play, and not just the athletes on sports teams already just going out teaming up with eachother and not letting everyone else have as much fun, which is sadly what happens. Indoor soccer or kickball or something would be a fantastic activity for everyone to enjoy at lunch, but the problem is half the soccer team would show up and wipe the floor. It should be a loosely-competitive environment, and it usually never ends up that way, which naturally pushes certain groups of people away. It's hard to say what the right thing to do is..

[Jim Maley]

I am a high school teacher in the states at an inner-city school in Chicago. We use intramural basketball as a way to help kids stay in shape, but more importantly as a a way to keep our kids off the streets. We have a really good program right now that has been very good for school climate and culture. I actually started writing a blog about it recently as a tongue and cheek report of what goes on in the league. The kids absolutely love it, in particular, they love the humor in it. I have found that it has made my job during the school a lot easier, especially with the troublesome kids.

It can be found at kbahoops.blogspot.com