Upland High School working to implement physical education in performing arts
Author: Sandra Emerson , Staff Writer
UPLAND - High school students in performing arts classes may be happy to know that the high school will be working to help them meet their required physical education credits for college.
Since performing arts courses are considered electives, students have to make up their required courses, usually physical education, at a later time.
The Upland Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved allowing teachers and the principals at Upland High School to implement a program that will help students meet their required physical education criteria through performing arts classes.
Since performing arts courses are considered electives, students have to make up their required courses, usually physical education, at a later time.
The Upland Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved allowing teachers and the principals at Upland High School to implement a program that will help students meet their required physical education criteria through performing arts classes.
The decision will help students meet the eight physical education elements required by the state.
"These students are not going to get physical education credit on their transcript if they are waived out," Upland High co-principal Ben Rich said. "They still need to meet the full requirements. This is just one other avenue by which they can do that."
Performing arts includes marching band, color guard, winter guard, pep squad and dance.
Typically, the students would make up courses during the summer, but since the summer school program at the high school has been changed due to budget cuts, an alternative was sought out, co-principal Guy Roubian said.
"There's not enough hours in the day," Roubian said. "We've always worked with these kids to get some things off their schedule during the summer and now that option is gone That's the only reason (co-principal Ben Rich) and I even started this conversation was in best interests of our performing arts kids."
During Tuesday's board meeting, two of the high school's physical education teachers spoke out against the decision. They said students can only really learn life-long fitness skills through the school's physical education program.
Parents of students in marching band also addressed the board in favor of the change because students in performing arts work on their rigorous routines for many hours a week.
Roubian and Rich said they hope to implement the plan in the fall.
"These students are not going to get physical education credit on their transcript if they are waived out," Upland High co-principal Ben Rich said. "They still need to meet the full requirements. This is just one other avenue by which they can do that."
Performing arts includes marching band, color guard, winter guard, pep squad and dance.
Typically, the students would make up courses during the summer, but since the summer school program at the high school has been changed due to budget cuts, an alternative was sought out, co-principal Guy Roubian said.
"There's not enough hours in the day," Roubian said. "We've always worked with these kids to get some things off their schedule during the summer and now that option is gone That's the only reason (co-principal Ben Rich) and I even started this conversation was in best interests of our performing arts kids."
During Tuesday's board meeting, two of the high school's physical education teachers spoke out against the decision. They said students can only really learn life-long fitness skills through the school's physical education program.
Parents of students in marching band also addressed the board in favor of the change because students in performing arts work on their rigorous routines for many hours a week.
Roubian and Rich said they hope to implement the plan in the fall.
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