The Education Wars: "Frills"

It's a hell of a note when P.E. teachers are considered such frill expenses schools must raise funds from the public and businesses to keep P.E. programs afloat.:

Sun Valley Elementary School kids only get one half-hour of physical education time in an entire school week. So when they’re excused to go spend time with Burr, they’re antsy to be outdoors and exercise and Burr ensures they’ll do more than just play sports. He brings in instruments he created himself to help with hand-eye coordination or balance.

“He teaches skills of different types of sports and he has rules and plenty of materials,” Van Deusen said. “It’s not just recess and the kids are not just running around the track. … It’s more skill-specific. They’re learning PE skills in an organized way.”

This school is one where it is almost always teach to the test.
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