He's not being cruel. He's merely stating a truth he has learned as a pediatric exercise physiologist. Unlike many critics, however, Faigenbaum is doing something to fight obesity. The program officially began in January. Class periods are sequential, each lasting 10 weeks and held in one-hour sessions twice each week.
Kids learn news skills and make friends.
While Faigenbaum and his staff are thinking of building self-esteem and confidence and documenting their techniques and findings, the 40 students running around in the Murphy School Community Center's gymnasium are simply having fun. Like the children they are motivating, most of the project leaders live in Dorchester. The students' commitment to Project JUMP is evident, Faigenbaum said. Not only did they show up for Project JUMP during semester break in January, but they were also well prepared with lesson plans and noncompetitive activities. Project JUMP is funded by a Public Service Grant from UMass Boston and a grant from the Massachusetts Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports.