“Kevin Riordan: Middle schoolers skate through gym class - Philadelphia Daily News” plus 1 more |
| Kevin Riordan: Middle schoolers skate through gym class - Philadelphia Daily News Posted: 01 Jun 2010 10:36 AM PDT Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. At Kingsway Regional Middle School, students can skateboard their way toward an "A" in gym class. "Our main goal," physical education teacher Bill Ewe says, "is to get kids excited about physical fitness. Not to just throw a basketball at them." The optional, two-week skateboarding unit - described as the first such curriculum in New Jersey - got rolling before the state's education budget cuts hit, and so far "the kids love it," principal Troy A. Walton adds. I'm standing in the gleaming gymnasium of the middle school, a handsome edifice on Kings Highway in Woolwich Township. About 30 seventh-grade boys and girls in red T-shirts sit on the floor and get into their gear. "I skateboard a lot at my house, so I know the basics," says Matthew Reed, 13, of Swedesboro. "At first, I thought they would have really bad boards, but it turns out these are really nice." A Colorado-based vendor called Skate Pass provided 35 "kits" - boards; helmets; and wrist, elbow, and knee protectors - at $100 each. Classes are held on the gym floor; we're talking basic, earthbound skateboarding, no ramps, rails, or aerial maneuvers such as the Frontside Indy 360. "The first lesson is how to fall," Ewe says. "We're teaching them safety and the equipment they should be using." It's been quite a while since my last gym class, but the squeaks of the sneaks and rubbery communal reek in the room bring it all back. The only thing missing is being picked last for, say, some dumb shirts vs. skins scrimmage. Choosing sides and similar Darwinian rituals, I'm happy to report, are no longer the rule in gym class. These days it's about cooperation and creativity - with an eye toward motivating all kids, not just naturally athletic youngsters, to get active and live healthy. "A lot of kids already participate in football, baseball, basketball, and soccer outside of school," says Walton, himself a former P.E. teacher. "We're looking to gain the interest of kids who may not be so interested in traditional sports." Ewe, now in his 13th year teaching P.E. (the last five at Kingsway), says this day's lesson will include an advanced lane where the kids can start doing some moves. "We're advancing from just getting comfortable to be able to turn, do some carves, some front-side grabs, and backside grabs." A father of two skateboard enthusiasts, he looks utterly at home on his board. He's got a coach's commanding voice, too. "We're going to give you guys a little bit more responsibility today," Ewe tells his students, groups of whom begin to roll across the gym. The scene is orderly - the kids make it look easy, if not effortless - and then, inevitably, a skateboard goes flying. Then another. "If you put too much weight on it," Ewe advises a young lady with braces on her teeth, "that board is going to kick and go." Some students carve among the cones, while others seem cool with the back-and-forth. "I am not good at sports, and I thought it was going to be really hard," says Ally Link, 12, of South Harrison. "But it's fun." Jennifer Denight, a 13-year-old from Woolwich, says she is "keeping my balance a little bit better" since the unit began. And Diana Maybrook, 12, of East Greenwich, calls the class "something different that you wouldn't expect." Via e-mail, Eva Mullen, cofounder of Skate Pass, says Kingsway "is our first and only school district" in New Jersey. "Usually, once we get our first-in-state, other districts eventually follow." Given the reality of public-education funding in New Jersey, Kingsway could be the first and last. Superintendent Ave Altersitz says reaction from parents and the community has been "very positive" but notes that voters defeated the district's proposed budget and forced $1.2 million in cuts. The Skate Pass kits were paid for in the current budget; otherwise skateboarding "would have been gone," Altersitz says. "There's no doubt." Walton acknowledges that keeping up with equipment maintenance will be difficult. "We have innovative teachers with innovative ideas we may not be able to fund in the future," he says. Dodgeball, anyone? Contact Kevin Riordan at 856-779-3845 or kriordan@phillynews.com Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Witnesses to the Richmond, California, gang rape describe the horrific ... - Examiner Posted: 01 Jun 2010 10:51 AM PDT Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. Two witnesses to the horrific gang rape of a 16-year-old girl outside of her homecoming dance are describing what happened for the first time. Salvador Rodriquez, 21, says he was the only one who tried to help the girl outside the Richmond High dance on October 24. "Nope, I did not rape her," Rodriguez told ABC-7 reporter Cecelia Vega in an exclusive interview. "I did not beat her. I did not rob her. I did not rape her. I was trying to help her. That's all I want people to know." Rodriquez told ABC7 that he was skateboarding in the area where the girl was raped and saw that a group had formed in a poorly lit courtyard outside the school. "They were kicking her in her head and they were beating her up, robbing her and ripping her clothes off; it's something you can't get out your mind," he said. Rodriguez added that after the attack was over, he tried to comfort the girl and covered her in his t-shirt. Another witness, a 16-year-old boy who spoke anonymously. told ABC7: "She was pretty quiet; I thought she was like dead for a minute but then I saw her moving around, I was like, 'Oh,'" He says he never called police because he did not have a cell phone, and he was scared. He said he watched for 15-20 minutes and wanted to help her out but didn't. Rodriguez said he knew at least one of the attackers and tried to prevent the group from taking pictures of the girl on cell phones. Rodriguez said he wishes he could have done more, but now he fears being labeled as a snitch. He is friends with one of the suspects in custody. "People say, 'Why didn't I call the cops,' but at the same time, I live in Richmond, a neighborhood like this, snitching is something you don't do, you know, I mean I have to walk down the streets now in fear of my life," Rodriquez told ABC7 News. Click here for information on how you can help the victim. Other related stories: Decision to call 911 on Richmond, California, gang rape was made by group (video) Community in Richmond, California, continues to rally in support of gang rape victim (video) 911 caller in Richmond, California, gang rape says she can't believe no one called sooner (video) Interview with Richmond, California, Police gang rape investigator (raw video) Did lack of parental involvement play a part in the gang rape of girl in Richmond, California? Friend of Richmond, California, gang rape victim blasts school district (video) Police in Richmond, California, say gang rape suspects 'crumbled' under interrogation (video) Can bystanders be charged in Richmond, California, gang rape? Experts disagree. (video) Witnesses describe horrific gang rape of 15-year-old girl in Richmond, Calfornia Click here for a previous article on a statement that was issued by the girl's family at a public meeting on Saturday, October 31. Click here for a previous article based on an earlier CNN interview with the woman who reported the rape to police. Click here for a CNN interview with Coach Carter and his plans to return to Richmond High. Click here to go to a slideshow with photos related to the case.
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