Motivating youths presents challenge to educators

Pupils need better access to physical education and fitness programs.
Every adult knows how important fitness is, whether or not they do anything about it. The clientele at Lady of America Fitness Center, for instance, ranges in age from 25 to over 80.
But what do kids think about exercise?
Here's a startling bit of information: At The Rayen School, there are 348 girls, and about 40 of them participate in organized athletics. The rest are required to attend only two semesters of physical education during high school. There is no intramural sports program.
Holly Seinmetz, physical education teacher and coach of girls basketball and volleyball, would like to see the girls move a little more.
"They aren't getting any exercise at home -- they're watching TV," she said. "And at school, going to the gym or the weight room isn't a popular social thing, the way it is with adults. I'd like to see phys ed grouped along with health education and made a yearlong program in grades 9-12. I'd also like to see elementary and middle students have gym more than once a week for 40 minutes. I think that would give our kids more options for exercising every day. I'd like to be able to offer golf or tennis or skating, because the kids would enjoy that and keep fit at the same time."
For girls who don't like sports or exercise, Seinmetz recommends the walking track. "We have a nice track given to us by the Northside Coalition, and we don't take enough advantage of it."
Food: Seinmetz worries about the typical unbalanced diet of a teen-ager. "They eat popcorn, basically, and french fries, with those high-sugar drinks. With no exercise and a poor diet, I can see their future. They're all right in their 20s, and maybe in their 30s, but when they hit their 40s it'll be, 'Uh-oh, gotta hit that weight room now.' "
Ron Berdis, physical education teacher and football coach at Chaney High School, also cringes at pupils' diets.
"There's a major need to educate young people on the nutrition end of health awareness and fitness," he said. "I see the kids in the cafeteria, and none of them eat a well-balanced breakfast or lunch. They're throwing most of their lunch away and filling up on pop and french fries."
Team athletes at Chaney get year-round conditioning and weight training, but the average pupil has no incentive to exercise. "I'd say the vast majority are somewhat overweight and physically unfit. Numbers in the athletic programs are dwindling, not just in our school but all over the area. Less kids are becoming involved in sports, and they don't get exposed to a year-round fitness program."
Hectic schedule: In the Chaney pupils' defense, though, Berdis says many of them don't have time for sports and exercise. "It seems like most kids here are working after school. Either they need money for a car, they're saving for college, or they have babies to support."
There's a real need, Berdis feels, to provide more fitness opportunities, not just for pupils but for the community.
"We need to have more intramural activities, and it would be an excellent idea to offer elective phys ed opportunities," he said. "Tennis or golf or swimming would be great, if we had the facilities. We need to keep our doors open to the community, as well. People could come in and walk the halls in bad weather, for instance. Some schools open their fitness centers to the public in the evenings. There needs to be more of an outreach there."