Gym-exemption policy for PHS athletes revisited

Phys ed time was once used for study hall, but no more.

By: Jeff Milgram
   Meetings of the Princeton Regional Board of Education’s Program Committee rarely draw an audience.
   But it was standing room only Monday evening when the committee — which normally confines its activities to approving curriculum changes and new textbooks — discussed the issue of Princeton High School’s policy, which was in effect until the current academic year, of giving athletes exemptions from physical education classes.
   The policy, it seems, violated state Department of Education regulations. And for the board to adopt an education department alternative, known as Option II, the district would be required to write a curriculum for each sport and have coaches assess and grade team members.
   According to Superintendent Claire Sheff Kohn, who has spoken to education department officials, Princeton Regional is the only district, among the more than 600 in the state, that is grappling with the issue.
   Under the exemption policy, athletes were permitted to use their phys ed time for study hall instead of attending their twice-a-week gym classes. But one of the problems is that not all the athletes used the time to study or do homework, according to phys ed teacher Marc Anderson. Some, he said, played cards and socialized.
   Monday’s meeting drew members of PHS’s administration, phys ed teachers, coaches, athletes and members of the public. According to Mr. Anderson, the phys ed staff opposes the exemption policy.
   "We are unanimous in opposing going back to an exemption policy," he said.
   "We have an issue of rationality versus regulation," said Program Committee Chairman Jeffrey Spear. He said the new Option II state regulations are so difficult to meet that no school district wants to take that option.
   The only way the district could substitute study hall for gym classes for athletes would be to adopt Option II. "We can’t simply give them a study hall," Mr. Spear said.
   Dr. Kohn said Option II would make it more difficult for the district to attract new coaches.
   The coaches themselves said the task of assessing each athlete would leave little time for anything else. Soccer coach Wayne Sutliffe noted that there are 70 students on his team.
   In addition, the district would have to certify that each athlete met all phys ed requirements, not just those in the sport the athlete plays, Dr. Kohn said.
   "The kids will have to meet all the standards of phys ed," she said.
   Board member Walter Bliss defended the exemptions as good for academics. "I see the phys ed exemptions as one that promotes the academic success of our athletes," he said.
   But board member Michael Mostoller said there was no evidence that the exemption policy helped athletes academically.
   "What evidence do we have that an exemption policy benefits any of our student athletes?" he asked.
   Mr. Bliss said the problems in the exemption policy can be fixed.
   "The usefulness of the concept is self-evident," he said.
   Board member Joshua Leinsdorf also supported the exemption policy.
   Mr. Anderson said a 40-minute gym class helps the student blow off steam in a stressful school environment. He also said gym class is much more fun for students than it used to be. With an aerobic room, weight machines and stationary bicycles, gym classes stress fitness, Mr. Anderson said.
   "Our classes are so much better this year than they were in the past," Mr. Anderson said.
   He said another problem with the exemption policy is that the school loses track of athletes who drop out of their teams.
   "When you’ve got something that works, don’t mess with it," he said.
   The policy applied only to athletes, prompting teacher Sandi Rosenhouse to ask, "Do we exempt the Tower staff from English" or the debating club from civics?
   Parent Cathy Knight said the athletes need school time to study and do homework.
   "The athletes are really having a hard time," she said.
   Senior lacrosse player Robby Polakoff said he uses the free period to study, but he knows of some students who don’t.
   "It’s definitely a help to the people who need it," he said.
   State officials have raised some of their own objections to Option II. What happens when the coach is not a certified teacher, one education department official asked in an e-mail sent to Princeton phys ed instructors.