PICTURED: Samuel Scherek teaches physical education in an overcrowded gymnasium in the early 1960s. Unfortunately, facilities at many New York City schools remain outdated and undersized.

Sam Scherek knows a thing or two about holding a phys ed class in a small room and keeping kids from bouncing off the walls - literally. When he taught physical education in New York City schools in the 1960s, Scherek vowed someday he would find a better way to help his colleagues cope with outdated school buildings.

"The problem in those schools where the elementary teacher is responsible for physical education is that every building has different facilities," he said. "It's really tough to try to come up with a curriculum for your kids when you might not have access to a gymnasium."

Today, Scherek chairs the health, physical education and therapeutic recreation department at Kingsborough Community College, where he is a member of the Professional Staff Congress. Scherek also serves on the health, physical education, family and consumer sciences committee for New York State United Teachers.

Thanks to a grant from the New York City Board of Education, Scherek's department will be able to help elementary teachers through two new courses. Tuition will be provided for United Federation of Teachers members who qualify. Both courses will apply for salary increments.

Registration begins in February. Classes will start sometime this spring. For information and approval forms, write Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11235, or call (718) 368-5696.

The two new courses, PEC 82, Part I and II, must be taken in sequence. Part I is a three-credit course that provides an overview of curriculum and instruction in physical education and an introduction to the new state standards and how they can be implemented in different settings.

Part II is a one-credit seminar that consists of bi-monthly meetings at Kingsborough Community College and on-site supervision at the respective teachers' schools.

"Each teacher will develop a portfolio based on their facilities, and what is available to them," Scherek said.

A 2000 survey of NYSUT leaders found concerns expressed in 118 of 386 districts that kids are not getting the weekly state minimum requirement of 120 minutes of physical education.

Physical inactivity is a serious national problem, according to a 1996 report of the U.S. surgeon general, which suggested childhood and adolescence are pivotal times for preventing sedentary behavior in adulthood.

- Betsy Sandberg

NYSUT.org. Copyright New York State United Teachers. 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York, 12110-2455. 518.213.6000. http://www.nysut.org. For questions about this web site, contact the webmaster at bthomas@nysutmail.org.