Gym Class vs. Physical Education

Gym Class, is a term that I and many physical educators cringe when we hear that name. That name gives the "roll out the ball" mentality, where only those who were coordinated and athletic survived and where many self esteems and identities were built up only to be torn down by peers and teachers alike. Physical Education for years never received the respect and is still being fought in be kept in many school districts throughout the country. There is one difference between gym class and PE which is: Assessment.

Assessment. One simple word that has so many meanings and understandings of it. I believe that assessment is an integral part of the curriculum and that from your use of assessments you can have an understanding of your students abilities and needs. Assessment drives your curriculum, drives your grading and also holds your PE program accountable. For years physical education was based on "effort", which is such a subjective term that making sure students were not only physically active but were given the tools to be active for their lifetime. Assessments in physical education is not only based on physical activity, but cognitive and affective assessments are just as important. Health body, mind and spirit is what I believe PE assessment is about and although it has received some resistance from communities, it should and will continue to be part of the new PE.