Weighing phys. ed. options in N. Merrick

Elementary school children in North Merrick thinking of spending recess strolling the schoolyard with friends may have to think again.

Phys. ed. teachers from the three North Merrick schools made a presentation to the Board of Education at a June 8 meeting detailing creative ways to revamp the district’s curriculum to meet New York state physical education mandates. In 2007, the state sent a letter to superintendents reminding them that students in kindergarten through third grade are required by state law to receive daily phys-ed classes totaling 120 minutes each week, and students in grades four through six must reach 120 minutes in at least three instructional weekly periods.

Recess — a time often used by students to run around, swing on swing sets, scour the schoolyard for classmates during manhunt or hide and seek, or any number of games invented on the spot — doesn’t count toward meeting the state’s phys. ed. mandates.

Now, in an attempt to meet the mandates, some board members have suggested turning recess into a structured instructional period led by a phys. ed. teacher.

“This is why no one gets along,” said Linda Fuller, a board trustee and kindergarten teacher in the Long Beach School District, at the meeting. “Recess was always a good chance for unstructured play,” she said, calling it a time when children learn social nuances that can’t be taught during instructional periods.

“But a mandate’s a mandate,” she said.

In an attempt to comply with state mandates, the district has already implemented a 20-minute daily program for kindergarten, first- and second-grade students.

“The amount of stuff we can get done in 20 minutes is great,” said John McDaid, a district phys. ed. teacher. Phys. ed. teachers from every school agreed that students retain skills at a higher rate and show improved attention with the new program.

“Forty minutes is a long time for a little kid,” said Karen Nolan, physical education teacher from Camp Avenue school, explaining that students are less exhausted by the end of class and have an easier time focusing on an entire lesson.

But by the end of the week, students have only accumulated 100 minutes of physical education — 20 minutes short of state requirements. In the higher grades, students are maxing out at 80 minutes.

“We have an [obesity] epidemic on our hands,” said Nolan, who was part of the district’s curriculum advisory committee that met monthly to develop the new program. “Obesity is in its prime; that’s where this whole push comes from.”

“I certainly think recess is an untapped resource,” Board Trustee Alyse Middendorf said, adding that federal money may be available because childhood obesity is part of the President Obama's agenda and is also a pet project of U.S. Rep. Carloyn McCarthy.

The district is still years away from converting recess into an instructional phys-ed period, said Deputy Superintendent Beth Friedman. Other options being pursued include in-class physical activities and health and nutrition education lessons.

There are five physical education teachers and one teacher’s assistant in the district now. To meet mandates, teachers estimate they would need an additional two to three full-time positions, saying current schedules wouldn't allow them to pick up recess periods. They said they could also need additional facilities.

Friedman said the district is aware of economic concerns and said there are no current plans to hire new staff or build new facilities at this time.

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