A New Hope: The last Jedi in physed

A New Hope: The Last Jedi's in PhysEd
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I have always liked Star Wars and the idea of the force. I believe that the light side and dark side exists everyday in our teaching. We can choose to teach towards the standards and positively impact student achievement or we can choose to roll out the equipment and play inappropriate activities. The path to the light side and dark side of Physical Education comes from your teaching experience and previous knowledge learned in local Jedi temple (University). Your path into the universe is led by a master from one of two sides; the Master Jedi, who uses the force and prepares you for future adventures and challenges while the Dark Sith Lord leads the apprentice to a fixed mindset. We have watched the growth of the dark side for many years in the physical education community with the introduction of fun based curriculum products and too much focus on MVPA. This has led to poor teaching practices and the growing replacement of quality programs with storm troopers in each classroom. A storm trooper is best described as an educator that plays games and activities, focusing on inappropriate tasks. They enjoy shooting Death Stars of negativity towards students with lower skill levels. Each year the Empire continues to grow with popular sites like PE Uberverse and questionable Facebook, Twitter and Youtube posts.

We are watching the empire of fixed minded educators control our universe. We are at the same point of Episode VII of Star Wars. The battle of ESSA is apocalyptic to the remaining Rebels and they need help. We are at the tipping point which could force the light side to disappear and the rule of the Sith Empire to continue for the next 25 years in physical education. The Last Jedi Masters are spread across our physical education universe and are trying to protect the rebellion. While these Jedi can protect the past and the knowledge of the profession, there are too many battles to sustain the push again the dark side without help.

Over the past few years, I have been on a quest to meet some of these Master Jedi’s in our physical education education universe and have noticed the same problem at each place I visit; we are losing some of our Master Jedi due to retirement and death. Our once powerful Jedi template called AAHPERD has become an organization called SHAPE America with less influence and has been affected by the dark sides lust of power. We need the next generation to step up and join the rebellion to push the movement of physical literacy forward. We need a rebellion that will change the momentum against the dark side and provide enlightenment for the next group of apprentices.

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” -Yoda

Master Yoda understood the powers of the force. Do you commit to the future of Physical Education or choose not to commit? Each one of us needs to make the decision to commit. We the Jedi on social media need to evolve into the Master Jedi to lead the profession into the future. We need to continue to grow, but also share our knowledge with apprentices to educate another generation. We have two major factions leading the rebellion SHAPE America and OPENPhysEd.org. Please consider join these two organizations and help bring friends to quality professional development locally. To reach all 250,000 physical and health educators in the United States, we must believe and have hope in the rebellion.

“Save the Rebellion. Save the dream.” – Saw Gerrera