Safe Routes to School
To facilitate implementation of our Safe Routes to School goals, an innovative demonstration project was implemented in the fall of 2009.
Students with a vocational goal of teaching physical education in schools were charged with teaching 4th grade students the importance and skills needed to be safer pedestrians and cyclists. These future professionals attended a two-day workshop with 8 hours of technical training provided by Philip Pugliese and David Rathbone, both certified cycling instructors. They were given guidance in forming lesson plans to take into our targeted pilot schools: Brown Academy, Battle Academy, Normal Park Upper School, Big Ridge Elementary and Thrasher Elementary.
This task was infused into the curriculum of HHP 396: Practicum in Health & Physical Education. Dr. Jamie Harvey was instrumental in the successful deployment of this effort in cooperation with the Hamilton County Board of Education. The result of this program was very positive with 14 students working for four weeks to meet with each 4th grade class at the pilot schools.
This is not the first time that such an effort was attempted. Challenges were prohibitive and access to the local schools was limited because (a) Required time for teachers to attend training programs outside of the workday, (b) Required standards within the classroom leaves very little time to add in additional instructional content, (c) Personnel entering the school need to have a background check, fingerprinting and insurance. Partnering with the UTC Health and Human Performance class has allowed us to overcome these obstacles.
Using future physical education instructors has an added dimension for the long-term exposure for our youth. These future professionals have gained knowledge in the importance of bike and pedestrian safety. This gives this effort the added bonus of being a train-the-trainer.
Students with a vocational goal of teaching physical education in schools were charged with teaching 4th grade students the importance and skills needed to be safer pedestrians and cyclists. These future professionals attended a two-day workshop with 8 hours of technical training provided by Philip Pugliese and David Rathbone, both certified cycling instructors. They were given guidance in forming lesson plans to take into our targeted pilot schools: Brown Academy, Battle Academy, Normal Park Upper School, Big Ridge Elementary and Thrasher Elementary.
This task was infused into the curriculum of HHP 396: Practicum in Health & Physical Education. Dr. Jamie Harvey was instrumental in the successful deployment of this effort in cooperation with the Hamilton County Board of Education. The result of this program was very positive with 14 students working for four weeks to meet with each 4th grade class at the pilot schools.
This is not the first time that such an effort was attempted. Challenges were prohibitive and access to the local schools was limited because (a) Required time for teachers to attend training programs outside of the workday, (b) Required standards within the classroom leaves very little time to add in additional instructional content, (c) Personnel entering the school need to have a background check, fingerprinting and insurance. Partnering with the UTC Health and Human Performance class has allowed us to overcome these obstacles.
Using future physical education instructors has an added dimension for the long-term exposure for our youth. These future professionals have gained knowledge in the importance of bike and pedestrian safety. This gives this effort the added bonus of being a train-the-trainer.
ALTN Project Links
- Tennessee River Walk Data Collection
- Mobile Bicycle Fleet
- Bike Share Project
- Emerging Leaders Program
- Bicycle Safety Workshops for Seniors
- Pro Walk / Pro Bike 2010
- Community Presentations
Contact
For more information on ALTN projects or to request a presentation or schedule the mobile bicycle fleet for your worksite or group:
- E-mail: info@activelivingtn.org
- Phone: (423) 643-6887
- Mailing: 200 River St. Chattanooga, TN 37405