Wednesday, December 15, 2004
A sporty Christmas for Ernest Bevin College
I've just heard the fantastic news that my old secondary school, Ernest Bevin College is getting over £500,000 to develop a Dojo - a special gym for Judo and Karate - thanks to an early Christmas present from our Labour Government.
The £548,332 grant from the Government's "Big Lottery Fund" will benefit 900 Ernest Bevin pupils, but also some 350 pupils from nearby Tooting schools, and a potential 5,000 local residents who will also get to use these fantastic new facilities outside school hourse. The dojo is part of a larger, six-court sports hall complex at Ernest Bevin.
A big debate is of course raging about sport in schools, and the health problems lack of exercise among kids produces later in life. I think school sport is really important - but the key to involving more children is widening the choices available; the old-fashioned school sports of football or rugby on windswept, rain-drenched playing fields just aren't working any more.
By widening the choice of activities available to everyone, not only will people get fitter, but by learning martial arts like judo or karate gain self-defence skills and equate exercise with fun.That's why the Government's early Christmas present for Ernest Bevin is so welcome.
Sadiq
The £548,332 grant from the Government's "Big Lottery Fund" will benefit 900 Ernest Bevin pupils, but also some 350 pupils from nearby Tooting schools, and a potential 5,000 local residents who will also get to use these fantastic new facilities outside school hourse. The dojo is part of a larger, six-court sports hall complex at Ernest Bevin.
A big debate is of course raging about sport in schools, and the health problems lack of exercise among kids produces later in life. I think school sport is really important - but the key to involving more children is widening the choices available; the old-fashioned school sports of football or rugby on windswept, rain-drenched playing fields just aren't working any more.
By widening the choice of activities available to everyone, not only will people get fitter, but by learning martial arts like judo or karate gain self-defence skills and equate exercise with fun.That's why the Government's early Christmas present for Ernest Bevin is so welcome.
Sadiq
