There are rare occasions, I must confess, when I drop my daughter off across the street at Heritage a few moments late and find the student body engaged in jumping jacks or some such calisthenic program. I had to smile to myself when I saw Shanghai High engaged in just such an activity near the beginning of our documentary.
I have long debated the merits and purpose of this kind of educational adjunct. I know that my day goes better if I am able to swim or run before work. It puts my mind in the right place (somehow, I don't know how). I think, of course, if all of our students got a good amount of exercise that this would improve our culture.
It's the regimented nature of the communal jumping jack which gives me pause. I wonder why it must be regimented. The radical anti-authoritarian inside of me chafes at this sort of quasi-militant display. My open-minded nature, however, wants to understand it and to try it if we think it will work.
Maybe fifteen minutes of tai chi would make us a better campus.
2 comments:
When I saw that section of the video, I immediately thought to myself that we have to do something like that at our school.
In reality, though, it would probably be of little to no benefit. Even though they were aware they were being filmed, many of the Chinese students participated very half-heartedly and I'm somewhat certain that if we were to do something like that in our school, the overwhelming majority would also participate very reluctantly.
I actually did try a little something like this when I was getting my elementary credential. Even with fourth graders, it went over like a lead balloon.
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