Native American students are
generally in poor physical condition. This poor
conditioning effects the classroom performance of
our children. Children in good condition can handle
the academic demands made on them. The major goal
in Indian Country is to have every child pass every
school year the minimum standards established by
the President's Council on Physical Fitness. Our
administrators, teachers, and other staff also need
to maintain a high level of fitness. Anyone who
works with young people needs to be able to keep
up with them. Schools have the responsibility to
encourage our staffs to .Even
if schools have to extend the school day, physical
fitness should be part of the school's organizational
climate. Ideally the principal and teachers should
lead the students in daily exercises and aerobic
activities. Running has always been an important
part of Native American heritage. Schools can establish
a running program in which staff and students run
before school starts. Schools can create and encourage
students and staff to run a mile every day before
school. Running together will create a bonding effect
on staff and students. They will become part of
the same team- creating a school family much quicker
than other methods. T-shirts can be given out at
each 50 mile interval. The first would say the 50
Mile Club, the next, the 100 Mile Club. Schools
with swimming pools should utilize them daily with
the staff and students- before school starts, .
This physical activity will produce a high level
of physical fitness, improve the cardiovascular
health of staff and students, , and will enable
students to focus and concentrate on academics for
the rest of the day. Without physical fitness, there
will be no mental fitness: they go hand in hand.
All staff participating in fitness activities should
get a doctor's release to do so. We can't afford
to lose a single staff member either.
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