Teachers Trained in Olympic Style Archery
Olympic style archery may be coming to several local schools in the near future. Fourteen physical education teachers from several schools in Elmore, Coosa and Montgomery counties became certified to implement the exciting “National Archery in the Schools Program” into their course of study. The certification workshop was conducted at Eclectic Middle School on January 3, 2005, as part of an in-service day for Elmore County teachers.
The following teachers attended the workshop:
Cindy Broom Millbrook Middle School Elmore County
Cynthia Collier Eclectic Middle School Elmore County
Libby Collier Holtville Middle School Elmore County
C. A. Doyle Central Middle School Coosa County
Flavia Freeney Millbrook Junior High School Elmore County
Ewell Fuller Wetumpka Intermediate School Elmore County
Patricia Johnson Floyd Middle Magnet School Montgomery County
Scott Johnson Millbrook Middle School Elmore County
Liz Justice Wetumpka Intermediate School Elmore County
Katrina Mitchell Extension Office Elmore County
Jared Parker Millbrook Middle School Elmore County
Edward Rogers Wetumpka Junior High School Elmore County
Mitchell Turberville Central Middle School Coosa County
Jane White Wetumpka Junior High School Elmore County
The eight-hour training program was presented by Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries archery instructors. During the training, physical education teachers learned about archery history, safety, shooting form and competition. The teachers learned, for example, that the National Safety Council rates target archery safer than football, baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer and even ping-pong.
To qualify for the program each school must agree to utilize a unit of study called “Archery: On Target for Life.” The school must also send its physical education teachers to an eight-hour USA Archery instructor-training course. Each participating school also agrees to purchase a standard set of modern archery equipment designed for safety, universal fit and ease of use. The equipment kit retails for $4,800, but thanks to support from several manufacturers within the archery industry, it can be purchased from Brennan Industries for $2,400. The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries is providing the next 24 schools to purchase a kit with an incentive that reduces the kit price to approximately $1,625.
The program provides physical education students with an opportunity to become involved in a life skill that has no barriers. Unlike many activities, students of all sizes can easily be involved in archery. Teachers across Alabama have made positive comments regarding student improvement in attributes such as self discipline, attendance, initiative and various other character related traits since implementing the archery program.
Teachers were very excited about the program and look forward to purchasing the equipment to implement the program into the physical education course of study. The Parent-Teacher Association from Wetumpka Intermediate School agreed to purchase the archery kit for their school the day following the workshop. Teachers from other schools are eager to begin fundraising efforts within their community to purchase the equipment. Archers and other outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to contact their local teachers to assist with efforts to purchase the equipment to implement this exciting new program within the physical education course of study.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Barnett Lawley stated, “I am excited about this partnership between the State Department of Education and the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. This is an opportunity to positively influence thousands of young Alabamians and provide them with the ingredients to become involved in a life skill that has no barriers. Unlike many school activities, students of all sizes can easily be involved in archery.”
Information regarding Alabama’s National Archery in the Schools Program is available on the Department of Conservation’s Web site at www.outdooralabama.com/education/archery. For more information contact Ray Metzler of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries at 1-800-245-2740.
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