Edutopia - June/July 2008 - (Page 45) BY RICHARD RAPAPORT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BART NAGEL The warm-ups in C.J. Healy’s freshman physical-education class at San Rafael High School are decidedly old-school PE. “OK, get ready for jumping jacks,” she calls out to thirty adolescents in shorts and school T-shirts, many looking out of sorts and, to be honest, out of shape. With its fading championship banners, the gym of the deco-style, 1,000-student high school, twenty miles north of San Francisco, seems familiar even to a reporter whose last encounter with calisthenics came during the early 1960s New Frontier fitness craze. The recorded soundtrack, a hopeful energy booster, is far more old school than new, with Bruce Springsteen segueing into the Kinks. “Great,” Healy says, encouraging her still-unenthusiastic class as the warmup of jumping jacks and lunges ends. “Let’s go to the Adventure Room.” Clearly, magic words. Suddenly, the kids perk up; their interest level takes a multi-generational jump forward to an exercise regime that is as new PE as the jumping jacks are old. The room was once the wrestling venue, but instead of much-abused mats, it now holds a highly sophisticated facility that aims to achieve the optimal balance between old-style physical rigor and New Age interpersonal cooperation. Named after Bill Monti, the creator of the course and the school’s former PE head, the Adventure Room contains an extensive rock climbing wall and a wide range of intricate rope and wire climbing and rappelling elements. TAKEAWAY SYNOPSIS Physical education class has been jazzed up. Duck, duck, goose and push-ups are being replaced with new sports that build self-esteem, develop problem-solving skills, and teach cooperation. TO DO • Encourage team-building sports. • Get students to become lifetime movers. • Emphasize exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. • Don’t use games where kids get eliminated.
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Edutopia - June/July 2008 Edutopia - June/July 2008 Contents UpFront Feedback Dispatches Sage Advice Ask Ellen Head of Class Cool Schools Design Young Minds, Fast Times Wii Love Learning No More Pencils, No More Books Tech Without Support All the Right Moves Room to Learn Heart & Soul Pop Quiz: Jeff Corwin Edutopia - June/July 2008 Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Edutopia - June/July 2008 (Page Cover1) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Edutopia - June/July 2008 (Page Cover2) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Contents (Page 1) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - UpFront (Page 5) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - UpFront (Page 6) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Feedback (Page 7) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Feedback (Page 8) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Feedback (Page 9) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Dispatches (Page 10) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Dispatches (Page 11) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Sage Advice (Page 12) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Sage Advice (Page 13) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Ask Ellen (Page 14) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Ask Ellen (Page 15) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Ask Ellen (Page 16) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 17) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 18) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 19) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 20) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 21) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 22) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page Bind-In1) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page Bind-In2) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Head of Class (Page 23) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Cool Schools (Page 24) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Cool Schools (Page 25) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Cool Schools (Page 26) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Cool Schools (Page 27) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Design (Page 28) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Design (Page 29) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Design (Page 30) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Design (Page 31) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Young Minds, Fast Times (Page 32) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Young Minds, Fast Times (Page 33) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Young Minds, Fast Times (Page 34) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Young Minds, Fast Times (Page 35) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Young Minds, Fast Times (Page 36) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Wii Love Learning (Page 37) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - No More Pencils, No More Books (Page 38) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - No More Pencils, No More Books (Page 39) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - No More Pencils, No More Books (Page 40) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - No More Pencils, No More Books (Page 41) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Tech Without Support (Page 42) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Tech Without Support (Page 43) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 44) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 45) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 46) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 47) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 48) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 49) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 50) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 51) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 52) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - All the Right Moves (Page 53) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Room to Learn (Page 54) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Room to Learn (Page 55) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Heart & Soul (Page 56) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Heart & Soul (Page 57) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Heart & Soul (Page 58) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Heart & Soul (Page 59) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Pop Quiz: Jeff Corwin (Page 60) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Pop Quiz: Jeff Corwin (Page Cover3) Edutopia - June/July 2008 - Pop Quiz: Jeff Corwin (Page Cover4)
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