A lot has changed in our educational system since the enactment of No Child Left Behind. We have all seen or heard the news stories of schools shutting down their music, arts, and physical education departments in order for students to spend more time preparing for their tests. According to John Ratey's lastest book, Spark, some schools, however, have taken a different approach. Instead of reducing PE time like a majority of schools (only 6% of US high schools currently have daily PE), they not only have increased PE time, but they have taken a different approach to it as well.
Consider the example of the Naperville, Illinois School District: In 1990, they revised the PE program to measure an individual student’s physical effort using heart rate monitors instead of traditional athletic benchmarks of mile times and number of chin-ups. The emphasis on daily individual fitness rather than athletic achievements has led to some dramatic results. In 2002, only 3% of Naperville’s freshman class was overweight or obese compared to the national average of 30%.
Consider the example of the Naperville, Illinois School District: In 1990, they revised the PE program to measure an individual student’s physical effort using heart rate monitors instead of traditional athletic benchmarks of mile times and number of chin-ups. The emphasis on daily individual fitness rather than athletic achievements has led to some dramatic results. In 2002, only 3% of Naperville’s freshman class was overweight or obese compared to the national average of 30%.
However, the most outstanding results weren’t measured in pounds, but rather in test scores. In 1999, the Naperville students took the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This is a test administered to students all over the world to measure knowledge in math and science. This exam is often referenced by those who state that America is falling behind Asian countries in these two subjects. While that may be true for much of the country (ranking 18th in science and 19th in math), it doesn’t apply to Naperville, whose students finished 1st in science and 6th in math worldwide.
How did these students do it? At Naperville, students have PE every day for the entire year. They do more cardio fitness than most other schools by running mile once a week and participating in small group sports like 3-on-3 basketball or 4-on-4 soccer. Students are then graded upon their ability to maintain heart rates in a targeted range (according to their age, height and weight) each day. In order to keep students interested, the schools offer 18 different activities so students can find something in which they both excel and enjoy – and most importantly, will continue to do throughout their lives.
So where is the connection between exercise and getting smarter? When we exercise for as little as 30 minutes at moderate intensity, our bodies release their own form of “Miracle-Gro”. These are actually enzymes that target the growth and connection of new brain cells. Similar to a garden hose applicator for plant food, these natural growth chemicals can’t get on the plants until the hose is turned on. When we exercise, we pump more blood and allow the body's “Miracle-Gro” to be showered on our brain cells. For a period of two hours after we work out, we are able learn and develop new skills more easily and retain the information for a longer period of time. This is why Naperville's system involves scheduling students' most challenging academic courses immediately following PE.
The link between exercise and “Miracle-Gro for the brain” is just one of the many benefits that we can gain through regular physical activity. For more information, check out John Ratey’s latest book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain and http://www.pe4life.com/ to learn more about the benefits of exercise for yourself and your children.
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