 Favorites |
 Google |
 Digg |
 Del.icio.us |
 Twitter |
 Facebook |
>> More...
NFL Network Program Promotes Physical Education Class in Schools
Several professional football players from the Baltimore Ravens recently visited a Maryland middle school to encourage students to exercise more as part of the NFL's Keep Gym in School initiative, the Baltimore Sun reports. The program, which began in 2008, advocates for physical education classes in schools and has thus far provided 3,000 students with improved fields and facilities, provided training and lesson plans to 300 physical education teachers, and shared their message stressing the importance of physical activity to 60,000 students. For example, Corkran Middle School in Anne Arundel County, Md., is one of four schools nationwide to receive a $50,000 grant from the network to make improvements to its physical education program. The school has used the funding to make improvements to its outdoor tennis and basketball courts and to install a rock climbing wall. The school also purchased new fitness and training equipment. Asserting that "physical education enhances and supports core subjects," Anne Arundel County Superintendant Kevin Maxwell notes that, although other budget cuts have been made, "physical education classes have not been cut at any of the county's 121 schools” (Fuller, Baltimore Sun, 9/30/09).