Because what the world really needs most is more skateboarders at the mall, a physical education teacher at Kingsway Middle School outside Philadelphia has begun a skateboarding class for credit for sixth-graders. Dude.
“The kids had a blast,” Ewe said about a system that emphasizes balance, agility, coordination, self-esteem and perseverance over trying to become the next pro. “A 42-minute class period was gone like that.”
And so in the not-too-distant future, skateboarding will take over the world. You’ll skate to work. Skate on dates. There will be skate-by shootings, and a skate-thru window at Burger King.
The standardized curriculum comes from a Boulder, Colo.-based company called Skate Pass which has been approved in 500 schools in 31 states and Canada, Germany, Singapore, and the Dominican Republic. More than 1 million students have had the opportunity to skate in gym as part of the program, said Eric Klassen, a founder and longtime skater.
Klassen said skateboarding has gained broader acceptance in schools as teachers look for new and innovative ways for students to get fit. “There’s a global recognition for kids to get healthier,” he said.
Skate Pass began in Colorado schools and expanded to the national level in 2006. “We had to prove that everyone could do it, and that it was safe,” Klassen said.
The program costs schools approximately $3,000, depending on options, and includes 20 complete boards, full pads, helmets, a curriculum and instructional DVDs. The whole point seems to be that are are raising a nation of fatsos, and anything we can do to trick our kids into exercising is a good thing. Between this and Nintendo Wii, America just might make it.
“What we have now is a whole generation of teachers that have grown up skateboarding and been around it enough not to be afraid of it,” he said. “They understand it.”
I would give anything to see one of my old elementary school teachers conducting this class. Mrs. Patterson + skateboard + hay truck equals lifetime of amusing memories.
***
Skateboarding added to gym classes [ESPN]
