PROMOTION OF SPORTS TOWARDS WELL-ROUNDED PUPILS
LEAH C. CALO
Within schools, physical education is an essential component of quality education. Not only do physical education programs promote physical activity, such programs also corelate to improved academic performance and well-roundedness under certain conditions. Sports can also, under the right conditions, provide healthy alternatives t deviant behavior such as drug abuse, violence and crime.
The real benefits of sports involvement appear among children and youth who have experienced appropriate forms of leadership. For example, research shows that martial arts taught with the philosophy of respect, patience, responsibility and honor were related to decrease delinquency, when compared to martial arts taught with a focus on free sparring and self-defense.
Efforts should be concentrated towards leadership training, the process of training both professionals and volunteers who are likely to lead such programs. Coaches and physical educators have the potential to provide strong leadership if they fully activate this aspect of their work with children and young people.
Positive social interaction between peers also links strongly with sporting and educational outcomes and as such, peer educators and leaders also require quality training and support. There is growing interest among the relevant Sport and Development actors in the relationship between sport and attitudes towards school among children and young people. A number of studies show that once sports are introduced, pupil attendance increases. But the distinction between recreational and competitive youth sport and physical activity must be drawn to understand the extent to which sport acts as a magnet or a repellent to school.
Evidence among those at risk of being excluded from school shows that an increase in the availability of sports activity would make the prospect of attending school more appealing. In this sense, sports activities in schools act as a gateway (if presented in appropriate ways) to drawing children and young people towards attending school increasing their academic performance and attain a well-rounded and wholistic character.
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The author is Teacher III at V. De Castro Elementary School, Santa Rita District