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Toronto Maple Leafs Join Education Minister To Launch Minimum of
20 Minutes Of Daily Physical Activity For All Elementary Students
TORONTO, Oct. 6 /CNW/ - Ontario's elementary students will be dancing,
jumping, walking, and leaping their way to improved fitness and student
achievement this year, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy said today.
"This school year, every elementary student will take part in a minimum
of 20 minutes of daily physical activity as part of our overall Healthy
Schools Program," said Kennedy.
"The plan also includes the return of specialist physical education
teachers, the removal of junk food from vending machines and the opening up of
our schools for community use after-hours."
After years of cuts to essential programs, the education system is being
reinvigorated. For the first time, at least 20 minutes of daily physical
activity will become a mandatory component of the elementary curriculum. Daily
physical activity will support existing physical education classes that
typically take place twice or three times a week for 30 to 40 minutes for
elementary students. Daily physical activity is part of the government's
Healthy Schools Program, which to date includes:
- $39 million this year, increasing to $146 million by 2008-09, to hire
2,000 new elementary specialist teachers in key areas such as physical
education, literacy and numeracy, music and the arts. Six hundred
specialist teachers are in place this school year
- Directing school boards to remove all junk food from vending machines
in elementary schools and replace it with healthier food and beverage
choices. The guidelines provided to school boards are based on expert
research and recommendations provided by the Dietitians of Canada and
give clear guidance about which foods are appropriate, nutritious
choices for children
- All of Ontario's 72 district school boards have signed agreements to
reduce or eliminate user fees, opening up schools to non-profit
community groups for use after hours and year-round. This is part of a
$20 million investment annually and new agreements will be signed for
each school year
- $10.7 million for training, resources and implementation of daily
physical activity.
Education Minister Gerard Kennedy was joined by Minister of Health
Promotion Jim Watson, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Joseph
Cordiano, Toronto Maple Leaf Centre Matt Stajan and Left Winger Chad Kilger
and Paralympian Jeff Adams.
"Participating in sports and doing daily physical activity is an
important part of growing up healthy and doing well in school," said Stajan.
"Research shows that students who engage in daily physical activity
demonstrate improved academic performance," said Kennedy. "Our schools need to
be in the business of helping students reach their full intellectual,
emotional and physical potential."
A study quoted in the Canadian Journal of Public Health says academic
performance is maintained or even enhanced by an increase in a student's level
of physical activity. In addition, a Saskatchewan study showed that regular
participation in physical education and physical activity improves self-
esteem, which is related to better academic achievement.
"Between 1981 and 1996, the number of obese children in Canada between
the ages of seven and 13 tripled," said Watson. "Healthy Schools is part of an
overall approach to help Ontarians stay healthy, which includes Active 2010,
the government's Sport and Physical Activity Strategy."
"There is clear evidence the heart healthy habits we develop in
childhood, are likely to follow us into adulthood," said Rocco Rossi, Chief
Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Encouraging physical activity
among today's youth, as well as maintaining a healthy diet, can help keep this
population safe from cardiovascular disease in the future."
Disponible en français.
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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MAKING ONTARIO SCHOOLS HEALTHIER PLACES TO LEARN
Every Student Deserves The Opportunity To Enjoy Regular Physical
Activity, Appreciate A Healthy Lifestyle And Have Access To A Full Range Of
Extracurricular Activities.
After years of cuts to essential and enriched programs, the education
system is being reinvigorated. For the first time, a minimum of 20 minutes of
daily physical activity will become a mandatory component of the elementary
curriculum.
A minimum of 20 minutes of daily physical activity is an important part
of the Ontario government's plan to make publicly funded schools healthier
places to learn and improve student achievement. This step in the Healthy
Schools Program will ensure that all elementary students, including those with
special needs, have a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained moderate to vigorous
physical activity each school day during instructional time. The 20 minutes
will be phased-in over the course of the school year starting this fall.
Healthy Schools Program
Daily physical activity is one component of the government's
comprehensive Healthy Schools Program. To date, the program includes:
- Investing $39 million this year, increasing to $146 million by
2008-09, to hire 2,000 new elementary specialist teachers in key areas
such as literacy and numeracy, music, the arts and physical education.
Six hundred specialist teachers are in place this school year
- Directing school boards to remove all junk food from vending machines
in elementary schools and replace it with healthier food and beverage
choices. The guidelines provided to school boards are based on expert
research and recommendations provided by the Dietitians of Canada and
give clear guidance about which foods are appropriate, nutritious
choices for children
- Providing $20 million to school boards to help them open up schools to
non-profit community groups to use after hours and year-round
- Providing $10.7 million in one-time funding for the training and
resources to implement 20 minutes of daily physical activity
- Enacting Sabrina's Law requiring every school board to establish and
maintain an anaphylactic policy as of January 1, 2006
- Investing $650,000 to give all high school students the opportunity to
learn the life-saving skills of CPR
- Working with education partners to examine ways that swimming survival
programs may be incorporated into the daily physical activity
requirement.
Cost to the Health Care System
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In 2000/2001, obesity cost Canada's healthcare system an estimated
$4.3 billion: $1.6 billion in direct costs, such as hospital care, drugs
and physician services and $2.7 billion in indirect costs, such as lost
earnings due to illnesses and premature deaths associated with obesity
(Katzmarzyk et al, 2004).
- From the 2004 Chief Medical Officer of Health Report, Healthy Weights,
Healthy Lives, Dr. Sheela Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health and
Assistant Deputy Minister
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What's Daily Physical Activity?
As part of each instructional day, students will participate in sustained
moderate to vigorous movement for a minimum of 20 minutes. This may include
active games, dance, aquatics, sports, fitness, play, walking and other
recreational activities.
Each daily physical activity session will be a minimum of 20 minutes in
length. Initially, daily physical activity may occur in short sessions (a
minimum of 10 minutes each) over the course of the school day. Daily physical
activity will support existing physical education classes that typically take
place twice or three times a week for 30 to 40 minutes for elementary
students.
Daily physical activity should be moderate to vigorous, vary in type of
activities, take into account the age and ability of students and should,
where possible, include resources available from the local community.
Resources for Teachers and Schools
The government will provide teachers, principals, schools and boards with
a variety of resources in support of daily physical activity. The Ontario
Physical Health Education Association (Ophea) has developed guides with input
from a wide variety of educators and physical activity experts. These guides
will be further refined with input from teachers, principals and the broader
public.
Funding will be provided for teacher training. In addition, funding will
be made available to school boards to supplement schools' existing physical
education equipment (e.g., skipping ropes, balls, bean bags, hoops and mats).
Community and Parent Involvement
Daily physical activity will provide new opportunities for community
partnerships and parental engagement. Schools are encouraged to diversify the
activities by engaging community organizations to promote special physical
activities for students. Examples may include guest speakers and presenters
who can help provide students with a variety of unique activities including
dance and recreational activities. Schools may also choose to host parent
sessions and provide ideas for daily physical activity at home.
Dovercourt Junior Public School in Toronto is one of the 17 pilot sites
for Ophea's Living School initiative. The school involves parents and the
community in their efforts to increase access to and opportunities for active
healthy living.
MAKING OUR SCHOOLS HEALTHIER PLACES TO LEARN
The well-being of Ontario's children depends on a healthy, active
lifestyle. Daily physical activity is one step towards making schools
healthier places for student to learn.
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"As front-line school leaders, principals see the impact of poor
nutrition and physical inactivity every day. Encouraging children to take
part in exercise on a daily basis will, we believe, lead to less
absenteeism due to illness, a more productive school setting, more active
participation in school and better learning results."
Ian McFarlane, President, Ontario Principals' Council
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On average, Ontarians age two and up spend almost 21 hours a week
watching television. Most full time elementary students, during a regular
school week, spend no less than 25 hours a week in school. A study quoted in
the Canadian Journal of Public Health says academic performance is maintained
or even enhanced by an increase in a student's level of physical activity. In
addition, a Saskatchewan study showed that regular participation in physical
education and physical activity improves self-esteem, which is related to
better academic achievement.
As part of the government's comprehensive plan to make schools healthier
places to learn, school boards are phasing-in daily physical activity.
Teachers will have access to a variety of resources created in partnership
with the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association. Schools are also
encouraged to partner with community groups to help their students become more
active.
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Daily physical activity is not only important for our students' health,
but it's also a key factor in student achievement and reducing
behavioural issues.
Elio Antunes, Executive Director, Ontario Physical and Health Education
Association
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Disponible en français
www.edu.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Amanda Alvaro, Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632; Wilma Davis, Communications Branch, (416) 325-6730; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514; TTY: 1-800-263-2892
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