P.E.

Physical Education (PE) instructors around the USA have started teaching classes such as skateboarding, in-line skating, yoga, and even rock climbing. Experts call these sports “the new PE.” These individual sports are designed to help fight childhood obesity by getting kids involved in fun physical activities. Obesity is the condition of being dangerously overweight. Another goal of these extraordinary activities is to support lifelong fitness habits.

From 1980 to 2012, the percentage of children aged 6-11 years old who were obese more than doubled. During the same time period, the percentage of young people aged 12-19 years old who were obese increased four times. Thetime students spent in PE class, however, decreased. Many schools dropped gym classes to save money or to provide students with more classroom time. Only 8 percent of elementary schools offered gym class to students every day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Because students had less PE time, teachers searched for ways to keep kids moving. “Skateboarding is a great activity that keeps kids involved in physical movement and gives them new skills and interests,” says West Middle School’s after-school program coordinator, Lindsey Johnson.

Skateboarding Lessons

Some people say skateboarding not only offers health and fitness benefits but also teaches life lessons that could help kids with their schoolwork. Students who are learning to skateboard often spend hours practicing a new trick before they get it right. “Skateboarding teaches kids to believe that if they stick with something, they will finally succeed,” says education expert Richard Sagor of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. The skateboarding teacher at West Middle School, Eric Klassen, agrees. “A baby will attempt to walk 600 to 900 times before he or she is successful,” Klassen says. “We tell students that they shouldn’t say ‘I can’t do it’ unless they’ve tried 600 to 900 times.” Klassen’s students have taken his advice. “It took me 600 times to learn one new trick,” said student Martin Carrera.

Individual Sports on the Rise

In the 2000s, team sports dropped in popularity, while individual sports, such as skateboarding, were on the rise. This trend might have affected the kinds of activities PE teachers offer in gym class. Learning individual sports gives all students an opportunity to exercise, whether they make it onto a school team or not.