Fitness in schools is a must, Karen Dalton says

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Fitness in schools is a must, Karen Dalton says

19.11.09

Sydney Uni Flames basketball coach Karen Dalton has no doubt the controversial Crawford Report on sport in Australia got one thing right - physical education needs to be improved in schools, writes Mike Hurst for The Daily Telegraph.

Apart from being an Olympic competitor and an Olympic team coach, Dalton has been a specialist teacher in personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) at high school for 18 years.

She confirms there has been a big slide in the level of fitness and co-ordination among pupils entering high school over her time in the job.

"We had girls coming into high school who couldn't catch a ball, couldn't swim," Dalton told The Daily Telegraph.

"If you get to 13 and sport and fitness is not already part of your lifestyle it's very hard to change someone."

To those who decried funding of sport, suggesting the money would be better spent on health and medical facilities, Dalton rolled her eyes in exasperation as she declared: "I'm sorry, but how are hospitals going to cope with the epidemic of obesity in the population our society is breeding at the moment. Type II diabetes is on the increase and these are lifestyle diseases."

Dalton believes the key to much-needed change must occur at the primary school level where more specialised PE teachers should be given more time to work with children on their gross motor skills and fine motor skills as well in the process of learning to play games and gaining fitness in the process.

But she has been around sport from grassroots to Olympic elites long enough to have satisfied herself that role models like successful international sportsmen and women are important as inspirational role models who can spark in youth the desire to be successful.

Eric Hollingsworth, head coach for Athletics Australia, agreed with Dalton, adding: "There's no doubt that the 20 years or so of the de-emphasis on sport in schools has certainly left its mark on the quality of kids coming out who are baseline good athletes.

"Playing sport is part of preventative health. If you make healthy people first, you don't make hospital bills later."

Photo courtesy of Rob Sheeley

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Gary Newton, 21-11-09 09:25:

I have a daughter who has played Basketball since she was 5 now nearly 17 she has all the skills but her fitness lets her down is about education of healthy eating exercise and playing sport Mr Vos is right we need to get more kids playing sport the cost of rego is going through the roof not to mention boots and other apparel Here in Tasmania we have 1 community development officer she has to cover the whole state once we had 3 not so many years ago Come on Government come on BBall Australia get it right it might be our last chance.

Robyn Murray, 20-11-09 16:33:

Grassroots Basketball: Everyone knows if you show someone young how to do something right the first time and they practice it over and over again eventually they will learn. Let's send the experts into the schools and get the little ones shown the right way, from the beginning instead of trying to change bad habits later on.

Brett Robinson, 20-11-09 09:23:

As a teacher, I know of many schools that consider P.E as a fill-in. P.E teachers struggle to get the commitment in time and money from their schools. Unfortunately for many kids, school is the only place they participate in any form of sport. Many students struggle to understand the importance of sport in a healthy lifestyle, despite the education provided to them. Rather than ear-bashing people over who's right or wrong, we need to work together to help solve this important issue.

Rick Vos, 19-11-09 17:24:

It only proves we waste taxes on P.E in school. Even at a primary school level it has been left to late. Our country would be healthier if parents of preschool and beyond were given Tax deductions on sports club fee's and equipment. Schools should partner with local competitions and leave sport to the experts, that can provide sustained long term development, rather than the short term nothingness of school sports & P.E.

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