By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Physical education classes at Union City Elementary School are not just “roll out the balls and let the kids play for 45 minutes.”
Far from it.
Currently, third- and fourth-graders in Tammy Harris’ and Antawn Coby’s PE periods are participating in the National Archery in Schools Program.
Tara Dowdy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency is instructing students on all phases of archery, including safety and the 11 steps critical to shooting.
The program’s value is much more than simply learn basic bows and arrows, according to Mrs. Harris.
“It’s great for focus, for hand/eye coordination and concentration,” the longtime UCES physical education teacher claimed. “The kids have really picked up on it, and whatever apprehension they might have had in the beginning because of not knowing has been replaced by enthusiasm and willingness to learn.”
Harris said she first read about the program last summer and UC Schools is the first to have it in the area.
Dowdy, who taught students one hour of safety last week before they were ever allowed on the shooting course, insisted she sees many values in the program.
“There’s some environmental education and then there’s just the idea of getting kids outside where they can be physically active,” she said.
“We’re very thorough in all our safety instruction and we teach the 11 Steps of Archery Shooting before we have any field shooting.”
The 11 Steps of Archery Shooting address everything from how to stand to how to hold the bow.
The National Archery in the Schools Program is a joint venture between state departments of Education and Wildlife. Several archery equipment manufacturers and organizations are also partners. The program promotes student education, physical education and participation in the life-long sport of archery.
The NASP has engaged more than 11 million students in over 13,000 schools in 47 states since the organization was first founded in 2002.
NASP in Tennessee was started in October 2004 and currently has 265 schools from across the state participating. Tennessee was the 17th state to join the program.
According to the group’s website, there are 48 U.S. states, Australia, Mexico and Nova Scotia/Canada participating in the program, with other states and countries (Japan, parts of Europe) coming on board each month.
One report says educators are insisting that NASP “engages the unengaged” and inspires students to greater achievement in school. As far as safety is concerned, it has been reported that archery is safer than all ball sports except table tennis, and extra insurance is not required by the schools to teach archery.
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