Today I’m scrolling through posts of #physed teachers and #healthed teachers who have descended upon the Washington DC area to advocate for our profession. I’m amazed at the people who have taken time to go. I learned of this experience a few years ago and I’d love to go some year. Sadly, I have not had the opportunity to attend yet. I’m grateful for SHAPE America and how they have created this opportunity. Our collective voices can be heard, loud and clear, over the course of a few days in March. This unity has helped legislators add Physical Education and Health Education to a well rounded education!
Sadly, I’m at a point that I’ve gotten a bit frustrated again with our profession. I make sure to surround myself with amazing teachers who constantly push myself to become better. I can feel the difference in my teaching and my life when I’m not around those types of people. I’m frustrated because of how much “fighting” I feel that I have to do. I’m not sure of another subject that has to fight for equal funding, representation, professional development, classroom space, etc. When I was in college, I was taught that I’d need to be an advocate for my profession but I never expected that it would be harder today than it was when I started. It’s funny how I continue to push myself to be a better teacher that I spend more time now having to justify my quality practices than I see non-quality teachers having to justify their practices. I still read online how Physical Education teachers are playing dodgeball, grading by participation, grading by fitness scores, choosing captains to pick teams, or only working on a handful of skills with their students. I get a little discouraged because we cannot seem to get our profession in order. Our society still views physical education teachers as Mr. Woodcocks. I sometimes feel defeated in our endeavour to change our culture. Am I doing enough?
I just found a post by Daniel Hill (@superdanpe) on Twitter (currently at Speak Out Day) and his post displayed this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sadly, I’m at a point that I’ve gotten a bit frustrated again with our profession. I make sure to surround myself with amazing teachers who constantly push myself to become better. I can feel the difference in my teaching and my life when I’m not around those types of people. I’m frustrated because of how much “fighting” I feel that I have to do. I’m not sure of another subject that has to fight for equal funding, representation, professional development, classroom space, etc. When I was in college, I was taught that I’d need to be an advocate for my profession but I never expected that it would be harder today than it was when I started. It’s funny how I continue to push myself to be a better teacher that I spend more time now having to justify my quality practices than I see non-quality teachers having to justify their practices. I still read online how Physical Education teachers are playing dodgeball, grading by participation, grading by fitness scores, choosing captains to pick teams, or only working on a handful of skills with their students. I get a little discouraged because we cannot seem to get our profession in order. Our society still views physical education teachers as Mr. Woodcocks. I sometimes feel defeated in our endeavour to change our culture. Am I doing enough?
I just found a post by Daniel Hill (@superdanpe) on Twitter (currently at Speak Out Day) and his post displayed this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Honored to be in our nations capital to advocate for #MoreTitleIV @SHAPE_America #SpeakOutDay #SHAPEAdvocacy Our students deserve it! @kyahperd @senatemajldr @RepAndyBarr @RepJohnYarmuth @RandPaul @RepHalRogers pic.twitter.com/PuPbTxuxp8
— Daniel (@superdanpe) March 5, 2019
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We are at a point where we, the Physical Education Community, needs to step up. We need to stand for the greater good. It’s easy being a teacher from a different subject when all eyes are on them for their test scores and they can easily “defend” their practices. No one tends to challenge a math teacher or a language arts teacher for the importance they have in the educational setting. It’s not easy for us who are teaching. It’s not easy for those of us who have to justify why we need equipment in order to provide quality Physical Education. It’s not easy for us that have to prove that we need high quality professional development for our profession instead of attending the professional development with our classroom counterparts. We need to stand together and continue our fight for quality physical education. We need to continue to make strides to show what quality physical education means to the educational setting. As we stand, in this time of challenge and controversy, could be the catalyst for change in the next generation. Sadly, I might not know the full effects of my (our our) efforts in my lifetime.
I’m very proud of my colleagues who have taken this trip to Washington DC to lobby for more Title IV funds and to support Physical Education & Health Education as apart of ESSA. They are taking a stand at a difficult time with one of the hardest topics to discuss, funding. They are going to approach legislators and talk to them about funding our profession. They are making a difference in their own lives as an educator and their sacrifices are helping me in mine. Thank you!
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We are at a point where we, the Physical Education Community, needs to step up. We need to stand for the greater good. It’s easy being a teacher from a different subject when all eyes are on them for their test scores and they can easily “defend” their practices. No one tends to challenge a math teacher or a language arts teacher for the importance they have in the educational setting. It’s not easy for us who are teaching. It’s not easy for those of us who have to justify why we need equipment in order to provide quality Physical Education. It’s not easy for us that have to prove that we need high quality professional development for our profession instead of attending the professional development with our classroom counterparts. We need to stand together and continue our fight for quality physical education. We need to continue to make strides to show what quality physical education means to the educational setting. As we stand, in this time of challenge and controversy, could be the catalyst for change in the next generation. Sadly, I might not know the full effects of my (our our) efforts in my lifetime.
I’m very proud of my colleagues who have taken this trip to Washington DC to lobby for more Title IV funds and to support Physical Education & Health Education as apart of ESSA. They are taking a stand at a difficult time with one of the hardest topics to discuss, funding. They are going to approach legislators and talk to them about funding our profession. They are making a difference in their own lives as an educator and their sacrifices are helping me in mine. Thank you!