It helps them learn to take turns and work in teams. Children also are taught anger management skills. Physical education helps children deal with frustration, she adds. Far from Melrose, in south Putnam County at Middleton-Burney Elementary School in Crescent City, physical education has a different focus. Coach Linda Francis teaches gymnastics as part of her students' health and fitness program.
Students learn tumbling routines, vaulting, mini-trampoline and balance beam.
Francis offers extra training in gymnastics two days a week for students who demonstrate skill and interest. She notes with pride that 13 of them can do back flips. Young members of the school's Gymnastics Club showed off their skills to the public in late April. All of Putnam's 10 elementary schools have health and physical education programs based on the state's Sunshine Standards, says Cynthia Asia, director of Elementary Education. Asia says the goal is to promote good health habits and schools teach healthy behavior, positive ways to handle anger and effective interpersonal skills.