Working things out

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

Because of budget cuts, physical education classes in the Clark County School District are getting crowded — very crowded. Teachers say the size of PE classes is ballooning, with some as large as 80 or more students.

As Emily Richmond reported this month in the Las Vegas Sun, the schools have been increasing class sizes to reduce the need for more teachers. For example, by upping class sizes in grades 1-3, the district will eliminate the need for 540 teachers. And it’s easier to put more students in PE, where the size of the room doesn’t define the size of the class.

“Our classroom is the field, and as long as the field can accommodate all the students we’re given, we’ll keep getting more,” middle school PE teacher Hoai-My Winder said.

But the increasing class size comes at a cost. With any increase in class size, students feel the effect — less attention from the teacher and more distractions. In PE, the overwhelming class sizes can also lead to a dangerous lack of supervision.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s recommendations for PE class sizes range from 25 in elementary school to 35 in high school. Brian Sigler, the PE teacher at Twitchell Elementary School, says he typically has classes of 60 students, although one reached 80, which even with an aide is difficult to manage.

Increasing the size of a PE class may seem like a harmless decision, but it’s more than just rolling balls out in the gym. Teachers are trying to not only give students exercise, but also to teach them about sports and how to keep their bodies healthy, which is important. And as the nation fights increasing childhood obesity, health advocates say PE is vital.

State Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, noted a UNLV study last year that found less than half of kindergartners were at healthy weights and more than a quarter were considered obese.

“The numbers keep getting worse,” Wiener said. “If we don’t have healthy kids, we can’t have healthy learners.”

As it is, students in Clark County don’t get enough activity. We have noted before how schools have squeezed recess from the schedule. Now, PE — despite its benefits — is being trimmed as well. Elementary students have PE twice a week for 50 minutes a session. In middle school, PE is only required in two of the three years.

Some PE teachers say the subject isn’t a priority because it’s not tied to performance standards. It’s too bad it’s not a priority. The School District should be placing a greater emphasis on PE and increasing requirements. Now is not the time to be retreating when it comes to making our children fit.