The Importance of Physical Education and Health :: Teaching Philosophy Teacher Education Essays

The Importance of Physical Education and Health In studying Physical Education and Health, I have learned that there are a significant number of benefits of physical activity. Physical activity reduces the risk of premature mortality, and of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes. Physical activity also improves mental health, and is important for the health of muscles, bones, and joints. As a teacher I will try to implement activities that will hold the students interest while benefiting them physically as well. I will also introduce the students to new activities, and sports instead of always using the conventional sports such as basketball, football, and other activities that students are already familiar with. If I have a student that has special needs I will deal with them case by case. I will make sure that those students will be involved in the activities, and interact with the other students. By doing this, the special needs students will not feel out of place, and it will give the other students a chance to interact with those that have different abilities. I will make the students feel comfortable in my class, so that they will have a positive experience with physical education. Hopefully by doing this, they will want to participate more in class, and maybe even be more apt to get involved in physical activities out as class. For example, if a student feels secure in his/her abilities to perform an activity they may join a team where they can further enhance their abilities. Hopefully my program will show a person that is already physically educated new ways to be physically active. Also I would want to introduce the benefits and ways of staying physically active their entire life. I want to be a coach and by being involved in a physical activity that is not mandatory, I will be helping students see that physical activity happens outside of the classroom too. I would also like to help start new programs in and out of school that would give children and adults the opportunities to be physically active. The adults in return, may see the purpose and benefits of being physically active that, hopefully, my students will learn from my classes.

Religion and Prayer in Public Schools Essay -- Exploratory Essays Rese

Religion in Public Schools    The practice of religion has been a major factor in American culture for centuries. The religion clause of the First Amendment, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," was developed to preserve the freedom of religion (Haynes 2). The religion clause was designed to protect religion from the control of the government, but, consequently, it restricts the expression of religion in public institutions such as public schools. This highly debated issue of religion in public schools is supported by the belief that religion is critical to the formation of a healthy society but is disputed on the basis that the church and the state must remain separate to protect the freedom of religion. Controversies arise over the interpretation of the exact limits of religion in regards to public schools. The religion clause of the First Amendment is often misinterpreted to mean that absolutely no religious expressions or activities can take pl ace in public schools. Richard W. Riley, U.S. Secretary of Education, published a statement in 1995 detailing the principles of the extent to which religious expression and activity are permitted in public schools. He stated that the First Amendment con tains two equally important obligations of public school officials in their dealings with religion. The first is that schools may not forbid students from expressing their own religious beliefs. Schools may not discriminate against religious expressions performed privately by students, but instead they must offer the same right to be involved with religious activities as they would offer to other activities. At the same t... ... regarding the role of religion in public schools will continue to arise as long as people have differences of values and beliefs.    Works Cited Brandt, Ron. "On Finding Common Ground with Religious Conservatives: A Conversation with Charles Haynes." Educational Leadership 53.7 (1996): 73. Gaddy, Barbara, and T. William Marzano. School Wars: Re2solving Our Conflicts Over Religion and Values. San Francisco: Jassey-Bass, 1996. 169, 182, 187. Haynes, Charles C.. "Finding Common Ground: Teaching about religion the right way is important." Gannett News Service 30 June 1997, sec. 3:2. Riley, Richard W. United States Department of Education. Religious Expression in Public Schools (1995). Online. Internet. 8 Oct. 1997. Available http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/08-1995/religion.html. Tekano, Mark. "Separation Anxiety." A. Magazine. 31 May 1995: 2.