P.E. 101: Making Physical Fitness a Priority for Teens

Teen Tulsa Talks Helps Bring “Wellness Program” to East Central High School

by Carrie Boron

September 12, 2006 | | Tulsa, Oklahoma

“You only have to take phys-ed once in four years to meet graduation requirements,” says Carolyn Tietjen, a student at East Central High School in Tulsa, Okla. “The girl’s locker room was under repair when my class was scheduled, so we just sat around and did homework until they cancelled the class.”

 

Students prioritizing action ideas during Teen Tulsa Talks discussions.

Tietjen hits her neighborhood gym daily, so missing her phys-ed class wasn’t such a big deal. For many other teens, however, a phys-ed class may be the only time they break a sweat.

While the rising rate of obesity in young people makes national headlines, East Central High School is working with students, like Tietjen, to create a school environment that encourages and supports healthy habits. This spring, as part of a new dialogue program, the freshman leaders gave Principal Tom O’Malley and his faculty some ideas about ways to improve the school. O’Malley listened and is now in the midst of developing the “East Central Wellness Program.”

“We chose to do the wellness program because students in study circles said they wanted more physical fitness opportunities and healthier cafeteria food,” says O’Malley. “We hope to improve the health of our kids through the program.”

Teen Tulsa Talks Paves the Way to Fitness

The wellness program was an outcome of “Teen Tulsa Talks”—a youth-focused dialogue program that gives teens a chance to talk about what’s important to them, and how their school and community can best serve their needs and interests. These dialogues for youth are an offshoot of a city-wide study circle program called “Tulsa Talks: A Community Dialogue for Public Education.”

Starting this fall, the local YWCA and St. John’s Medical Center, a nonprofit Catholic health care corporation, will partner with East Central to develop a wellness program for incoming ninth-graders that enriches the curriculum for the freshman leadership class. A team from these organizations will spend the summer working out the details.

“The program will focus on overall health,” says Judith Land, assistant director of the YWCA’s multicultural center and coordinator of the wellness program. “The classes will cover everything from physical fitness to what teens eat.”

Students will be able to choose from a variety of classes, such as Zumba (Latin aerobic dancing), weight training, stress management, and martial arts. There will be classes on nutrition, diabetes prevention, and eating disorders. And the wellness program will also provide citizenship education classes for immigrant students and their families.

Community Organizations Lend a Hand

When students talked about their desire to have more phys-ed classes, a light went off for Kim Nave, a volunteer facilitator for Teen Tulsa Talks and associate executive director for the YWCA. She knew her organization could help fill the void by developing a fitness program.

“We said, ‘OK, let’s grab some of the low-hanging fruit and run with it. We already have the resources in place to create a phys-ed program, so let’s do it.’”

Teen Tulsa Talks discussions also prompted the school to include East Central’s food service and Pepsi representatives in the program. “We’re working with Pepsi to stock our vending machines with healthier foods and beverages, such as juice instead of pop,” says Suzette Huggins, assistant principal at East Central.

“There is room for significant improvement in the food and beverage offerings at the school,” says former Teen Tulsa Talks Director Carol McGowen. “Using some good media coverage of the wellness program, we hope to encourage all of the food and beverage providers to make some changes as well.”

Getting a Healthy Start

Situated in a multi-ethnic and economically diverse neighborhood, East Central is one of the most diverse high schools in the state with a student population of more than 900.

In a school that’s known for its competitive sports teams, Tietjen predicts that non-athletic students will welcome the new wellness program. “Not everyone—including me—is into sports,” says Tietjen. “I can already think of several students who would be interested in program.”

At least 150 incoming ninth-graders will take part in the wellness program during the 2006-2007 school year. The program will take place during the third-period, freshman leadership class. Designed to help students adjust to their first year in high school, the class is for the “new kids on the block” teaching students new skills for studying, managing time, and socializing. The wellness program will add some essential new elements that will help them make the most of their high school experience.

Creating Good Two-way Communication

After the Teen Tulsa Talks discussions ended, student representatives from each of the discussion groups formed a “Freshman Senate” to continue working with O’Malley on their specific concerns. The principal says that the program is a great way to give students ownership of things that matter most to them.

“Teen Tulsa Talks not only helps us solicit ideas from students on how to improve the school, but it also gives us a way to ask them to pitch in and help, too,” says O’Malley.

As a discussion facilitator and parent of a ninth-grader, Kim Nave wanted to hear what other teens had to say. “I learned that adults are quick to point out that teens need to do this or that to be future leaders. But if we don’t give youth the opportunity to voice their opinions now, they may not do it in the future,” says Nave. “Teen Tulsa Talks is helping to train these young people to become engaged citizens.”

Tietjen agrees that Teen Tulsa Talks gave students a chance to share their thoughts on all kinds of issues. And being treated like an adult was key.

“We were actually involved in the decision making of the school,” says Tietjen. “I loved the fact that if we talked, our principal and faculty would listen. That was my favorite thing.”

Learn more: Youth Issues