Wednesday, July 22, 2009

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P.E. teachers are taking a swim course By DAHALIA SMITH ~ NG Sports Reporter ~ dahalia@nasguard.com: Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture's Senior Education Officer Dawn Knowles is staying true to her word about adding the discipline of swimming into the New Providence Public Schools Sports Association (NPPSSA) curriculum for the 2009/2010 school year. It was just one month ago at the 2nd NPPSSA Awards Banquet, when she was honored for her contribution to primary schools sports. While delivering the keynote address, she promised the 300 primary school student athletes in attendance that they will be introduced to new disciplines, swimming and bowling, in the new school year. To this end, 25 public primary school Physical Education (P.E.) teachers are attending a course to earn certification as swimming instructors. The course is ongoing at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Aquatics Center, and is scheduled to conclude today. The course is being spearheaded by the ministry's certified lifeguard and swimming instructors, Jane Saunders, John Mackey and Raymond Farquharson. Saunders has high expectations. "At the end of the clinic, all of the teachers will know how to swim. This is priority because there is no way they can teach the students if they are not familiar with the strokes. During our theory sessions we go through the strokes, take them apart and put them back together. In the afternoons we go into the pool, do practical work and try to perfect the strokes. So far, teaching the course has been challenging as some of the educators are set in their ways. At the end of the day everyone knows what the goals is, to give each child within the school system an opportunity to learn how to swim. By the end of this week, all of the P.E. teachers will be wiser to what we are trying to do here at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Aquatics Center," Saunders explained. According to the World Health Organization statistics, The Bahamas currently has the fourth highest drowning rate per capita in the world. It is with this in mind that NPPSSA Vice President Nikkita Taylor fully endorses the course. "We are surrounded by water so swimming is tool that all children need. The high school teachers are also expected to take part in the course this summer. So far, the course is going well. Some of our teachers did not attend because they are already certified as a similar program was started last year. We look forward to teaching swimming this school year and the children are also excited," said Taylor. Taylor added that a day will be designated for each school to take a class to the aquatics center or the South Beach Pools and then some time during the year a NPPSSA swimming competition will be held similar to that of already established NPPSSA basketball tournaments. "So far the children are very excited about starting the sport in the new year. We are also very grateful to Ms. Knowles for equipping us with the tools needed to certify the P.E. teachers," said Taylor. Friday, July 3, 2009