TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – At The Gregory School, PE class looks a little different.
Elementary and middle school students are learning to ride bikes as school leaders say it’s a life skill every kid needs.
Riding a bike improves memory and focus, but the National Sporting Goods Association says the number of kids riding bikes has decreased by nearly half since the 1990s. The Gregory School is working to turn that around.
Building confidence through cycling
“Especially today with phones and social media, kids aren’t outside as much,” said Angela Earnhart, The Gregory School Director of Athletics. “A lot of times we see students who haven’t moved before, haven’t grown up moving.”
Fifth-grade student Sam Chapman, who was already a confident bike rider, said he wasn’t sure what to expect from the program.
“I didn’t know what it would be like or where we were going or if we were going into the desert or if it would be narrow,” Chapman said.
The program helps students overcome fears and build confidence. One student (anonymous for privacy purposes) initially opted out of the bike unit due to concerns about falling. He was able to overcome his fears.
“He was one of the kiddos on a bike today,” said James Foreman, The Gregory School Head of School. “He knows about taking healthy risks now because he has an example to draw from.”
Life skills and character development
The school wants every PE student to have the life skill of riding a bike. The program culminates with a PE “final” that includes a bike ride to Trader Joe’s, about a 10-mile ride. Students can then buy a snack before the ride back.
“The character development that you see in the bike lesson is everything,” Foreman said. “Freedom, responsibility, independence, safety, and the community piece is the shared experience for our kiddos.”
Chapman was among the more than 30 students taking the PE “final.”
“It’s a helpful skill, and it’s a lot of fun to bike,” Chapman said. “I like changing the gears – sometimes I play with the gears to go faster or slower to go up hills and down hills.”
All bikes at The Gregory School were donated. Parent volunteers and other PE teachers accompany students on rides, and older students help repair the bikes.
The program has been ongoing for 15 years, teaching hundreds of students to ride.
Isabela Lisco is a Report for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
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