Chapter 4The Physical Education Environment

This chapter pertains to improving the physical education environment AND strategies for organizing the physical education department

Facilities

Need for specific facilities is directly linked to curriculum.

You can expand your facilities by using alternative sites:1) Converting other facilities on-siteAre there empty buildings? Storage sites? Many wood shops are being converted into

physical education sites

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.

3) Use portable facilities Bowling lanes and balls In Los Angeles they have a portable

swimming pool

If you can’t add facilities

Clean up what you haveUse the bulletin boardsAsk for a coat of paintApply for a PEP grant

Equipment & Supplies

Equipment = costs more than $200Supplies = cost less that $200The curriculum will dictate what type of

equipment and supplies you needMake sure the equipment is appropriate

for middle school-size children

Equipment & Supplies

To get more equipment:Share materials with other schoolsPartner with community recreation

programs and local businessesRent through in-line skating businesses –

PTA will often underwrite thisDon’t forget the free materials – USTA and

the Young American Bowling Association

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

Negligence

Has four parts and all must be present to prove negligence:

1) Duty – the teacher has a responsibility to ensure the safety of the participants

2) Breach – the teacher violated this responsibility by commission or omission.

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.

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.

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

Supervision Principles

Always be in the immediate vicinityIf you must leave the site, have an

appropriate replacement – not a student teacher, custodian, aid

Obtain and maintain training for emergency situations

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

Document

Any injuries and what you didCurrent levels of training from Red Cross

or Heart AssociationDocumentation and certifications are

strong defenses against law suits

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

Safety Issues

Maintain the facility and equipmentEstablish, teach and reinforce safety

rules.If something has an inherent risk,

students must be made aware of itWeek ends: school should work to

minimize vandalism

Organizing the Program

Things runs smoother when everyone is on the same page.

Students need consistency.

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

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)

To get students to dress out

1) Have attractive clothing for activity One school placed “Health Center” on the

back of uniforms

2) Everyone dresses every day – no exceptions

3) Loaner clothing

Treat refusing to dress out as an act of defiance and deal with it like any other act of defiance.

Misc.

Encourage, but do not require, showering

There should be privacy for studentsMedical 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.