NCLB and Physical Education

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that a number of issues have emerged since the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) first reauthorized President Lyndon Johnson's Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. One of the primary events to take place with the reauthorization was the fact that physical education (PE) was not included among the core requirements. The writer discusses that not including physical education as a core requirement allows school districts and schools the opportunity to cut PE from its offerings essentially leaving students with no requirement to take PE courses at all. The writer maintains that since the act was meant to assist every student in achieving certain goals and it states that every student be afforded the equal opportunity for an education, it makes sense that in order to achieve these lofty goals that all children be given every tool to assist them in becoming better educated.

From the Paper:

"Creating such innovative programs is now the bane of teachers everywhere. Not only do these teachers and instructors have to create innovative ways to teach materials to all students so that 'no child will be left behind', they must also worry about test scores and the disciplining aspect of children who can no longer left off steam in physical education classes.
"If students are confined to classrooms the entire day their bodies will respond to teaching in a certain manner, and such a manner is mostly negative. This is especially true in the younger age groups who may be more inclined to be less disciplined than their older counterparts. Many experts say that the traditional method of merging both physical and mental aspects of learning is slowly being done away with."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cook, G. "Killing PE is Killing our Kids the Slow Way". The Education Digest. 71.2 (2005): 25 - 32
• Hadaway, N.L. "The Press for Achievement and the Promise of Preschool Literacy Experiences". The New England Reading Association Journal. 41.2 (2005): 11 - 17
• Lewis, A.C. "Who Graduates", The Education Digest, 70.6 (2005): 68 - 70
• "NCLB Hits Minorities", The Education Digest. 69.9 (2004): 52-53
• New York Department of Health (2005) Annual Report, http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/obesity/strategic_plan.htm, accessed December 1, 2007

More papers on NCLB and Physical Education:

• Research Paper # 58044 : "Citizenship and Physical Education"
• Case Study # 92483 : "Education in Indiana"
• Argumentative Essay # 94276 : "No Child Left Behind in Rural Areas"

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