ADVOCATING for

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Bev MartinChair, Advocacy Committee

Jeff JacobsChair, Professional Outreach

Member, Legislative Committee

Supervision/Coordination And Professional Preparation Meeting

PaTTAN, HarrisburgOctober 15, 2015

Never Say, “Never”Never Say, “Never”

There are three things in life I said I would never do:

1.) sell insurance

2.) sell real estate

3.) be involved in advocacy

We want more PE!We want more PE!

We want more PE!We want more PE!

We want more PE!We want more PE!

I thought advocacy I thought advocacy

was being a radical!was being a radical!

Give me more Give me more

Health and Physical Health and Physical

Education or give Education or give

me death!me death!

I thought I thought

advocacy had advocacy had

to do with to do with

being a rebel being a rebel

or or

revolutionary!revolutionary!

What Is Advocacy?What Is Advocacy?

Advocacy is simply ……Advocacy is simply ……

•educating otherseducating others

•conveying an opinion conveying an opinion

“ “Whenever you do a thing, act as Whenever you do a thing, act as

if the whole world were if the whole world were

watching.”watching.”

~Thomas Jefferson ~Thomas Jefferson

We are All AdvocatesWe are All Advocates

• Whether we realize it or not, each of us is Whether we realize it or not, each of us is

an advocate for the profession in some an advocate for the profession in some

way.way.

• We are advocating each and every day We are advocating each and every day

when we teach our classes, represent our when we teach our classes, represent our

departments, talk with parents, etc.departments, talk with parents, etc.

Part of Advocating is Educating Part of Advocating is Educating

Yourself Yourself

• on the issues.on the issues.

• on your state’s Health and on your state’s Health and Physical Education requirements.Physical Education requirements.

• laws, rules, guidelines, legislation, laws, rules, guidelines, legislation, etc.etc.

Note: When Budgets are tight!Note: When Budgets are tight!

Today’s ObjectiveToday’s Objective

We would like to familiarize you with some of this information so whatever we do or say as Health and Physical Educators, we can all speak and advocate with one voice.

House Resolution 112House Resolution 112Introduced by Representative Harry Readshaw on February 24, 2015Status: In the House Education Committee 

•PDE does not permit waivers from requirements of the PA Academic Standards in Health, Safety and Physical Education

•Schools are violating Chapter 4 by allowing participation in interscholastic sports, band or ROTC to count as part of the planned instruction in PE 

•Urges that all instruction and assessment in health and physical education in grades 7-12 be provided by teachers certified in health and physical education 

•Urges PDE to prohibit participation in physical activity to count for planned instruction in physical education

House Resolution 243House Resolution 243 Introduced April 15, 2013Introduced April 15, 2013 Amended May 13, Amended May 13,

20132013

Directing the Joint State Government Commission Directing the Joint State Government Commission

to study the issue of childhood obesity, to establish to study the issue of childhood obesity, to establish

an advisory committee to conduct a comprehensive an advisory committee to conduct a comprehensive

study of childhood obesity, to propose strategies for study of childhood obesity, to propose strategies for

healthier eating and physical activity for children healthier eating and physical activity for children

and to report to the House of Representatives with and to report to the House of Representatives with

its findings, recommendations and legislation.its findings, recommendations and legislation.

Sponsor: Representative Seth Grove – 196Sponsor: Representative Seth Grove – 196thth District – York County District – York County

Co-Sponsor: Representative Harry A. Readshaw – 36Co-Sponsor: Representative Harry A. Readshaw – 36thth District – Allegheny District – Allegheny

CountyCounty

House Bill 885House Bill 885Introduced by Representative Tim Briggs on April 6, 2015. Status: In the House Education Committee •School entities shall develop, expand or improve policies for:- active commuting to school- joint use agreements to use school facilities for physical activities •Physical Activity- 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every school day- 20 minutes of recess per day for elementary and middle school levels- 20 minute physical activity break per day for the secondary level- duration of physical activity must be sufficient to result in health benefit- physical activity cannot be withheld for disciplinary reasons- physical activity cannot substitute for physical education- sedentary time must not exceed two hours 

•Physical Education- physical education for every student every year- 150 minutes per week for the elementary level- 225 minutes per week for the middle and secondary levels- at least 50% of PE time must be moderate to vigorous- PE curriculum must address the PA Academic Standards- student/teacher ratio must be comparable with other classes- needs of all students must be met- PE taught by highly qualified PE teachers- safe and adequate space/facilities 

•Assessment- specific level of fitness cannot be used as a grading tool- develop a plan to assess the quality of the physical activity and physical education programs

How can you advocate?How can you advocate?

• Educate yourself on the issues and your state’s Educate yourself on the issues and your state’s health and physical education requirements.health and physical education requirements.

• Look for opportunities to get involved.Look for opportunities to get involved.

• Never turn down an opportunity.Never turn down an opportunity.

• Do not get discouraged. Change takes time.Do not get discouraged. Change takes time.

What do we do to What do we do to advocate?advocate?

• Educate ourselvesEducate ourselves

• Involved with professional organizationsInvolved with professional organizations

• Participate in “SPEAK Out Days”Participate in “SPEAK Out Days”

• We write articlesWe write articles

Recommended VideosRecommended Videos

• “ “No Excuses”No Excuses”

• “ “5 More Years”5 More Years”

• “ “Fed-up!”Fed-up!”

Thank you for attending!Thank you for attending!

Please feel free to contact us at anytime at Please feel free to contact us at anytime at bevjogs@gmail.com or or jjacobs@methacton.org..

This presentation is available on Jeff’s Professional This presentation is available on Jeff’s Professional Website. Website. www.tinyurl.com/JeffJacobsHPE..