Physical Education in Schools
“The Importance of Physical Education in a Child's Life & How www.HomeField.fit Could Be A Solution To These Needs” By Stella Porto SDA ED.D Experience Having worked as a special educator for 29 years in one of the world’s largest school systems, I noticed a trend of inappropriate classroom behaviors that could be addressed through physical education. In April of 1999, I published a journal article in The Journal of Autism & Developmental Disabilities of The Effects of Exercise on the Self-Stimulatory Behaviors and Positive Responding of Adolescents with Autism (v27 n2 p193-202 Apr 1997). The study investigated the effects of aerobic exercise on self-stimulatory behaviors (repetitive body movements to stimulate one’s own senses) and the academic performance of five adolescent males with autism. I found a significant decrease in self-stimulatory behavior following physical exercise. Academic performance increased after participating in aerobic exercise. I used these finding...