I know USA Swimming has their Splash program with similar goals: swimfoundation.org/.../Page.aspx
Why isn't teaching kids to swim a requirement in school PE class? This should be a basic life skill. If the school doesn't have a pool, bus the kids somewhere where there is a pool.
I think being able to read is more in line with the responsibilities of our school system.
You're in school for 13 years, something like seven hours per day. Seems to me they have time to teach you to read and teach you to swim.
In California, hundred upon hundreds of teachers just got thier pink slips.
I think being able to read is more in line with the responsibilities of our school system.
However, I wish for a 50 meter pool at evey high school.
I did a quick look at some stats and about 4K people a year drown, give or take. Roughly 10-15% of those are aged 4 years an under so about 3.5K people a year drown once they enter school and above. It's definitely a problem, no doubt. I don't think it belongs in schools, especially given the relatively low number of pools at schools. I'd hazard a guess that if your HS has a pool, it's not in the inner city and probably most of the kids at that HS can already swim.
I'd propose we instead make all 3,7,10th graders take a semester course in eating right. With 1 million deaths a year from heart issues and diabetes, I bet we could get a bigger bang for the buck there. But, it might negatively impact gull's take-home pay.
McClymonds High School in West Oakland has a pool so does Castlemont High School in East Oakland, these pools are in the "inner-city" I operate these pools for the school district in the summer, I also have two other Oakland High Schools using my City pools that are adjacent to their sites in the winter. Our problem isn't access to facilities.
I think the issue has to be availibility. Here in Illinois, pools are closing due to age and not being replaced. There are not pools close enough to bus kids to. In the rural areas downstate, the closest pool could be 20 miles away or more.
Heck, the USA swim team is struggling with pool time, and has no 50 meter pool time at all.
I also agree with Anita, the teachers are struggling with the time to teach reading, writing and math, to add commute time for swimming is not going to happen. In fact, just regular PE time gets cut at times in the younger grades(HS it is mandantory).
I just looked online for local programs which do outreach to the schools for swimming lessons. I found that along with my kids' old school (which had a grant through the City of San Diego), the YMCA does offer two schools here lessons during the school day via busing.
The Y also offers underprivileged kids a chance to participate in resident camp during the summer, which includes swimming. My husband and I make an annual contribution to this effort. If this is important to you, as it sounds like it is to many participating in this thread, I encourage you to do the same.
"I sense a little sarcasm here"
Sorry, I meant a lot.
I am embroiled in the battle of what do we want our children to learn, and how do we want them to learn. I don't mean to be rude.
I share your concern for the needless deaths due to drowning, yet swimming is a perk. It is not the State or Federal Government's duty to teach swimming. Thier mandated pass/fail test might be a disaster.
Anywho, if 50 meter tanks were in abundance, the world would be a happier place.
yes, but Chicago, New York, St Louis, this lady was from Michigan, so possibly Detroit. I think California is more apt to have pools then other parts of the country.
I would hazard a guess that most schools in the US don't have pools on site. So, then you have to cart kids to a pool, good luck with that in a public system strapped for cash. What school system is going to hassle with that liability exposure?
There is a small expensie school that once a year does this here in CLT. It's a super huge undertaking and the pool is less than one mile from the campus.
I have to agree with tjburk on this, not the responsiblity of the school system.
