Health-Based Physical Education in Urban High Schools: The Path Program

Possibilities and Pitfalls of a Public Health Agenda for Physical Education

“…Trost (2004) suggests physical education programs have not changed and continue to include a continuous diet of team sports, whereas Cone (2004) suggests there has been a significant shift from a focus on motor skills and sports to fitness activities and individualized curricula. Fardy et al (2004) agree with Trost, given their experience implementing the PATH program. Like Fardy et al, McKenzie and Kahan (2004) believe physical education teachers have been too focused on motor skills and fitness and have not shifted sufficiently to offering activities that promote regular physical activity during and after school.…”

“…In contrast, Fardy, Azzollini, and Herman (2004) considered physical education programs in urban schools, specifically New York City schools, and concluded that the impact of physical education on promoting physical activity has been minimal with "little focus on public health issues. " Fox, Cooper, and McKenna (2004) and Trost (2004) were more measured in their critique of physical education's goals, describing the potential for the subject as quite good yet recognizing significant constraints to achieving that potential, including unreasonable expectations for the profession.…”

“…There is still a gap, however, between our expectations for children and youth in physical education and evidence that children and youth reach these expectations. Some of the authors have highlighted these distinctions (see Fardy et al, 2004 andTrost, 2004).…”

“…Several authors advocated the revision of physical education teacher education (PETE) programs to more adequately prepare physical education majors to teach a health-based, physical activity based curriculum (Fardy et al, 2004;McKenzie & Kahan, 2004;Tappe & Burgeson, 2004;Trost, 2004). The degree to which physical education should focus on the public health agenda as distinct from an educational agenda will influence how much time and the number of experiences and courses that would be devoted to the list of items presented by Fardy and his colleagues.…”

“…There was general agreement (Fardy et al, 2004;Fox et al, 2004;McKenzie & Kahan, 2004;Trost, 2004) on the need for more epidemiological content knowledge related to physical activity and health and the determinants of physical activity for children and youth. I found McKenzie and Kahan's views more in tune with my own than the content proposed by Fardy and his colleagues.…”