Remarks and observations by Ginger Hemsworth All-Ohio Rep:
“I got there a few minutes early and was one of the first people in. I got a great seat in the second row on the aisle and it was easy to make eye contact with Holly, the coordinator. It is good to raise you hand right away and keep it up even when others are talking because they were always organizing the next person. The Governor was very good with his presentation of his six principals and there was great dialogue regarding the way people connected with them. I did not ask to speak at that point; I waited until the second part where the Governor encouraged new ideas and suggestions. I was thrilled that I got to speak on behalf of O.A.H.P.E.R.D and I think I got several of our issues across with a positive spin. Governor Strickland had said he did not want any questions or anyone talking about existing issues and what to do to change them. I tried to talk about educating the “whole child” and how it was important for our schools to teach students to learn how to be healthy and active. I told him that research had proven that quality health and P.E. programs sent students into the classroom better prepared to learn. I then stated that I thought we could do that by quality, daily P.E., through a plan for licensed health educators in the elementary schools to provide the most current information by age-appropriate lesson plans, and by completing the continuum with high school P.E. and health education that truly prepares the students for a lifetime of being healthy and active. I then said that there can be NO high school P.E. substitution policies because P.E. is about physical EDUCATION and not physical ACTIVITY. I ended by saying that quality P.E. and Health will energize our current students to be tomorrow’s productive workforce. Cecilia was the person that organized our message and it was very well done. I did my best to try to convey that message. Thanks Cecilia!!
The next part was group activity and I was the spokesman for my group. We came up with the following three ideas:
- Individual Learning Plans starting in Elementary school
- Create mentoring in the academics, language barriers with students and parents, and motivational experiences starting in the elementary by collaborating with other schools, higher education, community/business partnerships, and parents.
- Teaching students how to create and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
We combined two ideas to make up our middle one so that left a space for me to add number three and everyone in my group supported meJ. The Governor thanked me and said he support us and jokingly said we need a longer day!!! Senator Cates came over and said he agreed and supported what I said about our P.E. and Health needs as did many educators around me. There were lots of people around me saying they agree there should not be substitution for P.E. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Governor, the educators’ ideas and especially the many students that stated their concerns and ideas. I was very proud of them!”
