More physical education coming for K-8 schools this year

Students across the province are now back in class for another school year, and many kindergarten to Grade 8 students will be spending more time in the gym.

An action plan for anglophone schools from the Department of Education released in April lists "embedding 30 minutes of physical education for K-8 daily in addition to outdoor education opportunities" as one of 11 recommendations to improve education.

It's not a new initiative, but Erika Jutras, spokesperson for the the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, said "after consultations, it was determined many schools were not achieving this target." Jutras said the department will be working to help schools reach this goal.  

Ross Campbell spent many years teaching gym class and is now the subject co-ordinator for physical education and outdoor education for the Anglophone West School District. He's a self-described champion for phys. ed. and was consulted on the report.

"It's about creating a well-rounded individual who is capable, competent and confident in physical movement and physical skill in order to work, in order to play, in order to live that happy lifestyle going forward," Campbell said.

Many schools are already implementing the change, he said, and the Department of Education confirms all kindergarten to Grade 8 schools will be including 30 minutes of daily physical activity within three years.

"More phys. ed. will be great for students because it allows them that outlet to get out and actually physically do something," Campbell said. "But it also allows them to learn skills to apply in other environments." 

A Department of Education survey of anglophone schools in 2023-2024 found 76.5 per cent of K-8 schools, 137 of 179, were not offering 30 minutes of phys. ed. each day.

Campbell said the discussion among educators leading up to the new target was about how to improve school culture, mental fitness and enhance learning, which all suffered as a result of the pandemic.

The impact on students during that time was something John MacDonald saw first-hand. He was a physical education teacher and coach for 23 years at Fredericton High School, before retiring in June 2023.

"Too many kids had been inactive for a long period of time — I'm going to say about a year and a half for some of them," he said.

"They really didn't like phys. ed., didn't want to change and didn't want to participate."

MacDonald said one look at New Brunswick's overstretched health-care system and obesity levels shows there's a problem. It's a sentiment the action plan touched on as well.

It cited a 2012 report by the chief medical officer of health on obesity rates, showing more than 60 percent of adults aged 18 and older, and 24 per cent of children and youth aged 12-17, were overweight or obese in New Brunswick.