Former Olympian, ex-football player fight proposed phys ed change

Dayton school board takes comments under advisement.

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By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer Updated 12:53 PM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

DAYTON — Physical education teachers and college professors, plus a former Olympian and a retired NFL player lined up Monday evening, Nov. 16, to fight for the physical education requirement in Dayton’s high schools.

The Dayton school board, considering a policy change, listened for two-and-a-half hours as proponents and opponents debated a 2007 state law that allows school districts to waive the P.E. requirement in high schools for students who participate in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading for at least two full seasons.

“The education part is what we need to really think about when we talk about physical education,” said retired Dayton educator Lucinda Williams Adams, who earned gold in the 4 x 100 meter relay at the 1960 Olympics.

Adams argued that P.E. teaches lifetime lessons about fitness and health that are critical in fighting chronic disease and the national epidemic of childhood obesity.

Echoed former NFL player James “Butch” Caldwell, a 1972 Roth High grad: “At 55, I’m able to resort to everything I learned (in high school physical education) in order to take care of myself today.”

Parent Donna LaChance, who has four children in Dayton schools, including three at Stivers School for the Arts, argued that a waiver would simply be an option for qualifying students who would rather spend time on electives and courses that could enhance their student record.

“We know there’s a concern about waiving P.E. at a time when childhood obesity is on the rise, but let us not forget that childhood obesity has been on the rise while children have been enrolled in P.E. classes,” she said.

LaChance and other Stivers parents said the waiver also might encourage more participation in sports, cheerleading and marching band and help reduce overcrowded gym classes.

P.E. teacher Tom Milord said allowing the waiver would dilute the talent pool in his classes, like taking away talented writers in a creative writing class.

“Some think that skilled athletes should be able to get a free pass in physical education,” he said. “If this policy moves forward, you are taking away our best models in physical education.”

Kevin Lorson and George DeMarco Jr., P.E. professors at Wright State University and the University of Dayton, respectively, said the district should look at ways to bolster its P.E. curriculum.

Board President Jeffrey Mims Jr. said school board members and administrators would take the comments under advisement.

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