President's Address
One of the underlying themes of this weekend's conference is Physical Activity and the many benefits that accrue from regular participation.
I realise that the majority of people in this room understand completely that in order to be able to benefit from Physical Activity, one must, first of all, have developed fundamental motor skills at an early age.
I'm sure everyone here would also agree that the ideal situation and perhaps now, the only situation, where one can develop fundamental motor skills is through a well structured Physical Education programme.
. .......Which brings me directly to another underlying theme of this conference......................which is the need for specialist led Primary School Physical Education.
We would and do maintain that Primary School Physical Education is the cornerstone of any physical education system.
Is everyone at large convinced of this?
It would appear NOT and yet their is ample evidence available to convince them. All one need do is open the World Health Organisation website and click on ACTIVE LIVING and one will find substantiated evidence of the benefits of an active lifestyle.
I quote " Appropriate Regular Moderate Physical Activity is a simple , enjoyable, cost-effective and accessible multipurpose Medicine for ALL.
It continues...................While the burden of non-communicable diseases is silently growing world-wide, there is now a vast body of knowledge , experience and scientific evidence which show that appropriate regular physical activity, in its broadest sense, provides people of all ages , male and female, with substantial physical, social and mental health gains and general well-being. It reduces the risk of premature mortality in general and to a large extent protects against the development of major non-communicable diseases.
It concludes....................Sport for all and physical activity should be promoted, throughout the lifespan, as a means to preserve the precious human potential from any waste due to INACTIVITY.
It should also be used as an approach to generate social capital that would allow each citizen, men or women, whether young, adult or ageing , to lead a socially and economically productive life. Numerous projects undertaken in different parts of the world showed, for instance, how SPORT FOR ALL projects has helped youth Avoid risky behaviour, Gain self- esteem, Develop social responsibility, fair-play and a sense of discipline , improve the quality of the environment and participate in community development actions"
AT the WORLD SUMMIT on Physical Education held in Berlin last November there were many papers outlining the multifaceted benefits that accrue from QUALITY PHYSICAL EDUCATION and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Dr. Margaret Talbot will address this subject in more detail tomorrow morning but I would like now to refer briefly to two contributions :-
Dr. Wolf- Dietrich Brettschneider from Germany addressed the PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES and SOCIAL BENEFITS of SPORT INVOLVEMENT and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY and the Implications for PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
In many parts of the world, he states, the weekly hours for Physical Education and school sports are being cut. Obviously the arguments currently being put forward for school Physical Education and extracurricular physical activities are no longer convincing.
On the contrary, he points out that. ...................Findings of current international research show positive psychological outcomes and social benefits from involvement in physical activities in young people.
THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE IS IN THE AREA OF SELF-ESTEEM AND ADOLESCENT SELF-CONCEPT WITH ALL ITS FACETS. ...........................I believe these findings to be high;y significant in the light of the recent frightening trend of suicide among young males.....................
There is also evidence, he tells us, for a positive relationship between physical activity and cognitive enhancement. Evidence also exists concerning a negative relationship between physical activity and a variety of psychosomatic symptoms, which seems to indicate that those young people who are active in sports are more resistant to stress.
The consequences of these findings for School Physical Education are , he says obvious :-
- They emphasise the importance of school Physical Education for reducing social inequalities. School is the only social institution that reaches ALL young people, especially the physically inactive, those of low socio-economic status, and boys and girls with disabilities.
- Schoolteachers who teach Physical Education are experts in education to and through physical activity. It is this expertise that plays a key role in empowering young people with the physical capacities and motor skills necessary to experience the variety of cultural forms of movement on the one hand, and in promoting individual and social development on the other.
- There is a range of different agencies and organisations that have a vital role to play in promoting health enhancing physical activities for young people. ALL OF THESE should recognise the need for better coordination of effort. They should focus on establishing cooperative and interprofessional strategies in order to enhance the development of young people through physical activity.
- Such an integrated support system would help young people to acquire and apply those physical competencies necessary to experience a wide range of play, games and sports and help provide them with the psychological and social benefits of such activity. In this context, he states, SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION IS INDISPENSABLE.
The second paper I would like to refer to is by Dr. Bruce Kidd from Toronto. He addresses the ECONOMIC CASE for School Physical Education which may be more meaningful to the Minister for Finance and the business Community.
He claims that. .................Daily, quality physical education can best be considered an indispensable investment in a productive, well-functioning society.
As research makes clear, he says,. .......Quality Physical Education contributes to healthy growth and development, continued attendance in school, and the habits of responsible citizenship, while preventing childhood obesity, a trend of growing concern.
Regular participation in sports and other forms of physical activity contribute to strong and supportive families and safe neighbourhoods. As such, the provision of such opportunities contribute to the development of healthy, confident, educated and productive citizens, and safe and supportive communities, essential requirements in the complex, rapid-paced, globalized world.
The negatives, he says, should be even more persuasive. The medical costs and lost productivity from unhealthy individuals, and the social costs of policing neighbourhoods and incarcerating and attempting to rehabilitate youth, let alone the anguish these circumstances cause, are growing rapidly in many countries.
It will be argued that THE BEST PLACE TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT IS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN STATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, where in most countries, the largest number of children attend and the infrastructure is largely in place to revitalise these important opportunities"
One might be forgiven for thinking that there is enough evidence here to convince even the most doubting.
But, unfortunately, this is not the case.. ...........................In a press release from the University of Manchester on 8th. March last we read that. ..........SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION IS IN A PERILOUS POSITION WORLD-WIDE AND ITS SUSTAINED FUTURE APPEARS UNCERTAIN
Decreasing curriculum time allocations: budgetary controls with inadequate financial, material and personnel resources ; low subject status and esteem; marginalised and undervalued by authorities typify the tenuous position of school physical education world - wide. Accordingly, there are concerns over the future of the subject in the school context. Such findings from an INTERNATIONAL research survey carried out at the University of Manchester mirror the results of National surveys in England that highlighted the deteriorating position of physical education in schools.
Is the situation here in Ireland comparable? Unhappily it is.
AT A TIME WHEN ALL RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE LIFESTYLES OF OUR SCHOOLCHILDREN IS BECOMING DANGEROUSLY SEDENTARY AND AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE OBESITY PROBLEMS IN OUR CLASSES AT A LEVEL PREVIOUSLY WELL DOCUMENTED IN AMERICAN SOCIETY....................PHYSICAL EDUCATION IS BEING MARGINALISED BY SCHOOL MANAGEMENT.
All surveys indicate a reduction in time allocation because of competition from other "Perceived more valuable" curriculum subjects. There are serious discrepancies between 'official aspirations' and actual implementation and practice.
At the risk of being flippant -------------- this bizarre situation reminds me of the words of a popular song sung by Randy Van Warmer. I won't try to sing it at the moment but the lyrics go......................YOU LEFT ME. ...............JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST.
SO.................... WHERE DOES THE ANSWER FOR THIS COUNTRY LIE ?
First of all, it must be said that there are positive developments
There are the NEW SYLLABI for Physical Education produced by the NCCA. ie THE Primary, Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and Leaving Certificate.
There is THE CODE OF ETHICS AND GOOD PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN IN SPORT produced by The Irish Sports Council. There is " A New Era For Sport " ---- A strategy document.............also from The Irish Sports Council .
There is the SCHOOLS SPORT PROJECT document from the NCTC.
There is The Youth Sport Project from Sligo VEC. ............ and there are initiatives from the Dept. of Health.
There is our own strategy document --- " Re- defining Physical Education"
And there is good research work being done in the field in the University of Limerick and in other Institutions.
All these are very positive initiatives and should be recognised as such. BUT ON THEIR OWN or even together they will achieve nothing unless there is coordination of effort in the field.
What must be done to achieve this ? What must be put in place if these well-structured initiatives are to achieve their objectives ?
There has to be a FRAMEWORK put in place within which these initiatives can be developed and implemented. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FRAMEWORK SHOULD TAKE THE SHAPE OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES.
THERE MUST BE PUT IN PLACE A NATIONAL POLICY ON PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND A NATIONAL POLICY ON SCHOOL SPORT.
IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE ENACTION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN THESE AREAS THAT ANYTHING WILL BE ACHIEVED.
In conclusion I would like to emphasise THAT. .............THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER........................................ NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you.
Michael A. Glynn, B.A., M. Sc.
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