More physical education coming for K-8 schools this year

Students across the province are now back in class for another school year, and many kindergarten to Grade 8 students will be spending more time in the gym.

An action plan for anglophone schools from the Department of Education released in April lists "embedding 30 minutes of physical education for K-8 daily in addition to outdoor education opportunities" as one of 11 recommendations to improve education.

It's not a new initiative, but Erika Jutras, spokesperson for the the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, said "after consultations, it was determined many schools were not achieving this target." Jutras said the department willbe working to helpschools reach this goal.

Ross Campbell spent many years teaching gym classand is now the subject co-ordinator for physical education and outdoor education for the Anglophone West School District. He's a self-described champion for phys. ed. and was consulted on the report.

"It's about creating a well-rounded individual who is capable, competent and confident in physical movement and physical skill in order to work, in order to play, in order to live that happy lifestyle going forward," Campbell said.

Many schools are already implementing the change, he said,and the Department of Education confirms all kindergarten to Grade 8 schools will be including 30 minutes of daily physical activity within three years.

"More phys. ed. will be great for students because it allows them that outlet to get out and actually physically do something," Campbellsaid. "But it also allows them to learn skills to apply in other environments."

New target ambitious

A Department of Education survey of anglophone schools in 2023-2024 found 76.5 per cent of K-8 schools, 137 of 179, were not offering 30 minutes of phys. ed.each day.

Campbell said the discussion among educators leading up to the new target was about how to improve school culture, mental fitness and enhance learning, which all suffered as a result of the pandemic.

The impact on students during that time was something John MacDonald saw first-hand. He was a physical educationteacher and coach for 23 years at Fredericton High School, before retiring in June2023.

"Too many kids had been inactive for a long period of time I'm going to say about a year and a half for some of them," he said.

"They really didn't like phys. ed., didn't want to change and didn't want to participate."

MacDonald said one look at New Brunswick'soverstretched health-care system and obesity levelsshowsthere's a problem. It's a sentiment the action plan touched on as well.

It cited a 2012 report by the chief medical officer of health on obesity rates, showing more than 60 percent of adults aged 18 and older, and 24 per cent of children and youth aged 12-17, were overweight or obese in New Brunswick.

Still, MacDonald said when he was teaching,his classes were not about becomingan elite athlete. He just wanted to see students try.

"Ifat the beginning of the semester you're running five minutes and I get you up to seven, and you're giving me your best, then that's great. You've improved. Thank you very much."

It's that understanding that Laurel Richmond, aregistered psychologistin Fredericton, saidis key to student engagement.

"There's been more recognition now for the need for more inclusive environments to allow students to participate, without the pressure of being the most physically fit or most competitive," she said.

Physical, mental fitness tied together

Richmond has big concerns that New Brunswickers are "losing sight of the importance of physical fitness" and are becoming too lenient with children who don't want to try new activities.

"We're seeing a big rise in experiential avoidance," she said. "Anxiety actually goes up when we avoid and this is what all the research is showing us, that the more we avoid, the more our world shrinks and the more anxiety actually increases."

Richmond stressedthat 30 minutes of daily activity should be seen as a baseline, not the ceiling. But she saidit's a positive step forwardand can help lay the groundwork for lifelong habits.

"By promoting regular movement throughout the day, children are more likely to develop a positive association with physical activity, which can reduce anxiety about engaging in these activities later in life, especially when mental health challenges arise."