Students Underachieve in Physical Education - Assignment Example

under-achieve in Physical Education Physical education is essential to the well-being of a human being. It does not matter whether this person is an adult of more than eighty years or a youngster just about to get his first taste of life. Physical education has to be learned and like all other subjects it requires a lot of strictness in discipline, command over one’s bad habits and curtailing of the same, diet control and last but not the least, a clear conscience which is aimed at controlling one’s body weight and becoming the very best in terms of fitness and beauty when the person compares his or her own self with the other members of the society. The fears are aplenty with regards to these children. One such fear is that less and less time will be allotted to their physical activity and even recess which will in turn refuel their obesity and other epidemics concerned with the physical and mental side of the body. A number of critics have also raised hue and cry to the already underway American campaign by the name of ‘No Child Left Behind’ and have replaced the same as ‘No Child Let Outside’. A number of students enrolled in several different schools and colleges of the world go through a lot of mental and physical agony. This anxiety is due to the physical education that is put on their young shoulders by their teachers, physical instructors and fitness experts. However it is for their own good to realize that a physically fit individual contributes in a much better and positive fashion than a weak and lazy soul. Also the need of the hour is to draw a line as to where the students must not be forced into and how much of physical education is good for them, both in terms of mental stress and physical pain. Webb (1999) is of the belief that under-achieving in this area does not come as a surprise since physical education requires a lot of discipline and only those people, both young ones and adults alike, who adhere to diet control and intake of balanced diets as well as work out on a regular basis are able to win over their weaknesses. The National Association for Sports and Physical Education of late has come with a solution in the form of offering booklets and leaflets which in essence play their due role at describing the physical education practices that have been sought in the best interests of these very children. These booklets and leaflets have for that matter comprised of instructions regarding the curriculum design, learning experience, fitness activities, fitness testing, assessment, participation levels, formation of groups, competition and a number of other avenues have also been touched upon. Evidence has suggested that around the world physical education has proved to be a bane for the ones who are not fit enough, are usually overweight or those who love to eat just for the mere sake of the same. This has further supplanted for the fact that physical education can have qualms and worries in the mind of the unfit students and they fret day in day out just in realization of the reality that they have to live another day to experience the torture. Having said that, it surely is a torturous exercise for these students, while on the other hand, the fit and usually ‘normal’ students are always up for the challenge and ready to work out, gain more and more physical education and in the end give the society its due share courtesy their own fitness regimes and clean habits. [Evans, 1999] Physical education has encompassed of all the relevant foods, habits and exercises that have entailed on the part of a normal human being. This education teaches him/her the necessary details as to how a person must keep him/herself fit as well as maintain a balanced diet. It also comprises of the relevant exercises, strenuous work out regimes and fitness drills. Not only that, but physical education forces a person to become more regular in different activities of the day and commit his or her own self whole heartedly towards a cause, program or effort for that matter. With several bits of research pouring in, it was only time that there was some work that had to be done in this sector as well. A number of different physical instructors and researchers have combined to put into practice the theories and stories related with this form of education. In the West, this is not a new phenomenon. However, in the developing countries, physical education is one such subject that is not something people quite know of, but surely there are efforts and endeavors to make them realize that it is for their own good. [Collier, 2001] More than that, these people are being taught that it is for the young ones especially who must be disciplined about attaining and practicing physical education and the related concepts in their day to day lives so as to have a youthful and spots lifestyle rather than wasting time on having a smoky atmosphere and indulging in unhealthy pastimes and habits. The basic reason as to why students are generally lagging behind in this form of education and training is that they usually do not care about their future, their responsibilities towards the society, their loved ones and more than anything else, towards their own selves. The students have to be taught the positive points that can generally be taken care of from this form of training and preparation. Another reason as to why these students do not pay heed is lying on the shoulders of their parents and other guardians who never teach them to practice the same in their young, playful lives. It is for the students’ own good that they attain it and thus become a healthy part of the society. Their contributions would be hailed in a much better manner when they are physically fit and mentally strong. The responsibility thus lies more on the part of the parents who have got a huge role to play in this shortcoming. The issues related with under-achieving students could be aplenty. These could range from the ordinary to most significant. It could comprise of their bad grades in other subjects and thus a lack of interest in the physical fitness subjects. [Piletic, 1998] It could also mean a complete lack of ignorance on the part of the parents to teach the young ones about the positive points of physical education and thinking that other forms of academic education account for more importance. This could be so very untrue especially in the case that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. However schools and colleges must bear the brunt of the responsibility in this scenario. They have to develop the relevant strategies in order to curb this problem. In the world of present times, so many of the children are falling short on attaining the physical education standards. This is a profound tragedy. It is indeed very true to state that education plays the very basic tool for self-defense in the current times. The feeling of powerlessness that goes with being illiterate comes through loud and clear in any discussion that is held with the common man. The strategies that can be incorporated in the wake of the under-achieving students in physical education have entailed of the different methodologies with which the same can be improved. These strategies have looked at pinpointing the grey areas and then working upon the weak points in order to make them the very strengths within the under-achievers. However this demands a lot of dedication and hard work not only on the part of the students but also on the parents’ and teachers’ part. First and foremost is the need to sort out whether a child under study is ready and willing to learn the different and finer points of physical education. If he or she is, then it is all good otherwise there has to be a question answer session with this student to find out what is forcing him/her from giving his/her best shot at achieving fitness levels at par with the other colleagues and students in the school or college for that matter. After the same have been found out, these areas can be looked into a much more detailed perspective and thus ways could be determined as to how the same can be plugged in the most effective manner possible. One strategy that aims to build the fitness levels at par with the other students in the under-achieving one is that he or she should be given confidence and shown the positive side of things. This student needs to be appraised of what is there in store for his or her own body after he/she achieves a certain level of fitness, courtesy through the determination and courage and more than anything else, a clear sense of vision and willingness to attain physical education in the first place. Positive energy and attitude can be developed through enthusiasm and confidence and this could in turn lead them into learning more and more about physical education and thus getting themselves acquainted with the norms and routines of physical exercises, work out techniques and fitness methods. Also the child starts understanding that the physical education opens up his/her mind enough to make him/her understand what life is all about and how maturity is attained at quite a young age. A healthy mind leads to a health body but the opposite could be true if physical education forms the backbone for rational thinking and clean thoughts. Another strategy that speaks volumes of the ways to overhaul the physical education within under-achieving students is composed of dietary mechanisms. This means that balanced diets within children and teenagers should be encouraged which comprises of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and other minerals. The proper usage of meat and vegetables also is important and thus the same can be accounted for as the part of a balanced diet. Burning of calories is essential and thus it is important on the part of an under-achiever to burn the calories on a daily level so as to become fitter by the day. [Karp, 1995] All said and done, in the end it is up to the person in question as to how much he or she is committed to the cause of becoming fit and physically active within the society and the circle in which he or she usually sits in. Sources WEBB, Ida M (1999) The Challenge of Change in Physical Education Falmer Press EVANS, John (1999) Politics, Policy and Practice in Physical Education E & FN Spon COLLIER, Connie S (2001) Achieving Competency and Proficiency in Physical Education JOPERD – The Journal of Physical Education, Research & Dance Vol. 72 PILETIC, Cindy K (1998) Transition: Are We Doing It? JOPERD – The Journal of Physical Education, Research & Dance Vol. 69 KARP, Karen (1995) Graduate Education: Adapting to Current Realities Issues in Science and Technology Vol. 12 Word Count: 1,764 Read More