Maine Public interviews Nightingale about high school physical education
Christopher Nightingale, an assistant professor of physical education and athletic training at the University of Maine, spoke with Maine Public for a report about Oak Hill High School’s efforts to implement new, proficiency-based graduation requirements. The Wales, Maine school’s physical education department is being held up as a prime example of what this new kind of education should look like, according to the report. The school has started a class called FLiP, which stands for the Fitness for Life Program. Students take standard health classes, but also spend some PE time in the classroom, where they learn about nutrition, muscles and metabolism. By 10th grade, students design personal fitness plans based on their goals, the report states. Nightingale said it’s impressive to see so many students engaged in physical education, which is rare in high school. “It certainly seems like their program has figured out a way to address these things with the students and get them engaged,” Nightingale said. “That’s the goal of physical education, (to) develop what we call physically literate adults.”