Chapter 4 The Physical Education Environment

1. Chapter 4The Physical Education Environment • This chapter pertains to improving the physical education environment AND strategies for organizing the physical education department

2. Facilities • Need for specific facilities is directly linked to curriculum. • You can expand your facilities by using alternative sites: 1) Converting other facilities on-site • Are there empty buildings? Storage sites? • Many wood shops are being converted into physical education sites

3. Community resources 2) Using community resources – swimming pools, tennis courts, climbing walls, golf courses, bowling alleys • If students learn a skill, they will return to the business as a paying customer – miniature golf, swimming.

4. Use portable facilities • Bowling lanes and balls • In Los Angeles they have a portable swimming pool

5. If you can’t add facilities • Clean up what you have • Use the bulletin boards • Ask for a coat of paint • Apply for a PEP grant

6. Equipment & Supplies • Equipment = costs more than $200 • Supplies = cost less that $200 • The curriculum will dictate what type of equipment and supplies you need • Make sure the equipment is appropriate for middle school-size children

7. Equipment & Supplies • To get more equipment: • Share materials with other schools • Partner with community recreation programs and local businesses • Rent through in-line skating businesses – PTA will often underwrite this • Don’t forget the free materials – USTA and the Young American Bowling Association

8. Creating a Safe Environment • In today’s society you have to make sure you protect yourself from law suits • Most law suits are from negligence

9. Negligence Has four parts and all must be present to prove negligence: • Duty – the teacher has a responsibility to ensure the safety of the participants • Breach – the teacher violated this responsibility by commission or omission.

10. Negligence - continued • Injury –an injury must have occurred while under the care of the teacher. • The injury must be a result of the teacher violating the responsibility for safety of the student.

11. Students can be the reason for the injury, but you must: • Provide adequate supervision • Anticipate foreseeable risks and warn students of any inherent risks • Make sure the activity is suitable for the students • Ensure the activity takes place in a safe learning environment.

12. Adequate Supervision • Failure to provide adequate supervision is the most common reason for negligence suits. • Adequate supervision includes including: • The ratio of teachers to students • The teacher’s training • The physical distance between the teacher and the students • The establishment and implementation of safety rules

13. Supervision Principles • Always be in the immediate vicinity • If you must leave the site, have an appropriate replacement – not a student teacher, custodian, aid • Obtain and maintain training for emergency situations

14. Supervision Principles - continued • Create written supervision procedures that designate responsible teacher – locker room, bus duty • Develop written procedures on what to do in an emergency • Have access to a phone and post emergency numbers

15. Document • Any injuries and what you did • Current levels of training from Red Cross or Heart Association • Documentation and certifications are strong defenses against law suits

16. Selection and Conduct of Activities • Select those that tie to state and national standards. • If you just select things you like and a child is injured . . . • Daily written lesson plans and safety requirements noted will also help

17. Safety Issues • Maintain the facility and equipment • Establish, teach and reinforce safety rules. • If something has an inherent risk, students must be made aware of it • Week ends: school should work to minimize vandalism

18. Organizing the Program • Things runs smoother when everyone is on the same page. • Students need consistency.

19. The Physical Education Department • Chair should be facilitator not commander. • There needs to be a vision of where the program needs to go. • Share responsibilities – create a schedule • Only hire qualified people

20. The P.E. Dept. - continued • Create a student handbook • Include safety requirements – example no loop ear rings. • May have a behavior contract that both the student and the parent sign (see page 50)

21. To get students to dress out • Have attractive clothing for activity • One school placed “Health Center” on the back of uniforms 2) Everyone dresses every day – no exceptions • Loaner clothing Treat refusing to dress out as an act of defiance and deal with it like any other act of defiance.

22. Misc. • Encourage, but do not require, showering • There should be privacy for students • Medical excuses: • Parent okay for 1-3 days, then need the school nurse or a doctor. • Students still dress-out and do what they can do. May need to have written work.