M.O.E. offers training for P.E. teachers
It’s not considered one of the core subjects in the curriculum, but Physical Education classes are essential to the holistic development of children. The problem in Belize—particularly at the primary school level—is that P.E. is more times than not simply considered a free period and the students are allowed to run around as they please. But a seminar organized by the Ministry of Education hopes to better equip P.E. teachers with tried and true methods to stop the madness by teaching the pedagogy of sports education as it relates to the different sporting disciplines. According to Sports Coordinator for Belize District Primary schools, Ray Menzies, thirty-six teachers became the students during the two week seminar, which ends tomorrow.
Ray Menzies, Sports Coordinator, Primary Schools, Belize District
“The two week seminar is mainly to educate the primary school teachers in the different disciplines that they have to administer in their PE lessons to their classes.”
Duane Moody
“What were those five disciplines sir?”
Ray Menzies
“The five disciplines were basketball which they got Monday; they did basketball theory in the morning and practical in the afternoon. The Tuesday they had volleyball, Wednesday they had softball, Thursday they had football and Friday they had track and field.”
Rhondine Panton, Teacher, Wesley Upper School
“I’m learning the basic techniques for the major disciplines; basketball, volleyball, track and field, football, softball.”
Duane Moody
“And in what is this going to benefit you when you go back into the classroom? Because many a times people are saying the kids, you just have them running around the place and not have anything constructive to do. In what way is this helping you guys?”
Rhondine Panton
“It is really helpful because, personally, I don’t know—before coming to this workshop I really didn’t know anything about the four disciplines; the rules or the basics of the game. So it will be really helpful what I have learned so far.”
Duane Moody
“And you think the kids will be receptive to it?”
Rhondine Panton
“Yes, they will and we’ll have more constructive P.E.”
Dennis Codd, Youth Cadet Service Corp
“It’s teaching me discipline and most of all it’s teaching me how to get along with our kids because the kids at our place are kids at risk—I don’t want to call them bad boys but they are kids at risk. It teach me a lot how to talk to them, how to get along with them and like… bring them to me or me to them.”
It is expected that the teacher’s trained in the seminar will create a ripple effect to positively impact P.E. by coaching other teachers at their schools.
