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Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Thinking About The Anxious Generation

Posted in Health, Sustainability, tagged , on October 23, 2024| 6 Comments »

A bit later to the party with reading (actually listening) to Jonathan Haidt’s latest book but I do think there is a lot for us in education.  It is interesting to think of  Haidt’s thesis in the context of the cell phone restrictions in schools that are sweeping North America (including British Columbia this fall).

Reflecting on Jonathan Haidt’s latest work, The Anxious Generation, I can’t help but connect its themes to the stories and experiences I’m encountering in my work as superintendent. Haidt’s exploration of the growing anxiety epidemic among today’s youth speaks deeply to those of us in education, as we’re on the frontlines of witnessing what seems like a  generational shift. For those of us who have been in the system for 20 or 30 years, what we see is telling us something is different with today’s students and their families. I want to unpack some of Haidt’s key ideas and consider what they mean for our schools, our students, and us as educators.  It is also important to note upfront that Haidt’s work has not been universally accepted, and critics have loudly raised concerns (some here) about the research used. In the TED Talks Daily podcast with Elise Hu I recently listened to interviewing Haidt she challenged him as to whether he we conflating correlation for causation when it comes to young people and the impacts of social media.


The Reality of Rising Anxiety

One of the central arguments of The Anxious Generation is that young people today are struggling with unprecedented levels of anxiety, and Haidt attributes much of this to environmental changes—particularly the rise of social media, the erosion of unstructured play, and the hyper-focus on safety and risk aversion. These ideas are not new to those who have followed Haidt’s previous work or the themes that often emerge in our schools.  For a number of years now I have heard some version of the criticism that we are bubble wrapping our kids.  There was a joke that went viral recently (TikTok link here) that you just don’t see kids with casts anymore – which plays on the same theme.

In our schools, we see the consequences firsthand of anxiety: students who are scared to fail, who hesitate to take risks, who struggle with resilience. It’s no longer about just teaching math or science; it’s about teaching coping strategies and emotional literacy. What’s particularly compelling about Haidt’s perspective is the way he links this anxiety to broader societal trends—less time outdoors, overprotective parenting, and of course, the omnipresent influence of social media.

The Social Media Dilemma

Haidt dedicates significant attention to social media and its impact on young minds. This is something we’ve been grappling with in our district for years—how to embrace the positive aspects of technology while safeguarding our students from its pitfalls. I was skeptical about the restrictions on cell phones in schools that went in place this fall, but I have heard first hand from students, it is calming to know nobody has access during class – there is no Fear of Missing Out.   I have also heard from school staff that our students using social media are constantly comparing, curating, and performing, and as a result, they’re often left feeling exhausted and, yes, anxious.

One point Haidt makes is that our role isn’t to demonize social media but to create spaces where young people can better understand and manage it. This resonates deeply with me. As educators and leaders, we need to be proactive about integrating digital literacy into our curriculum—not just how to use technology, but how to navigate the emotional landscape it creates.  I think we have done the right thing over the last 15 years to teach about social media use.  Schools are the best place to build thoughtful digital skills that they can take with them outside of school.

Reclaiming Unstructured Play

Another compelling aspect of Haidt’s book is his emphasis on the importance of unstructured play. He argues that the decline of unsupervised play and exploration has left kids ill-equipped to face challenges independently. When we overly supervise, we signal to our children that the world is inherently dangerous, and this message undermines their confidence.

This makes me think about the balance we try to achieve in our schools—balancing safety and freedom. It’s not about throwing caution to the wind, but about trusting our students enough to take risks, to make mistakes, and to solve problems on their own.  I do take it as a point of pride at how guests to our school district are often so impressed (and surprised) by all the rocks and trees we have for students to play on.  They always ask, “Aren’t you worried of kids getting hurt or you getting sued?” The short answer is no.

Haidt’s call for less structured environments isn’t just about playgrounds; it’s about our classrooms too. It’s about group work, inquiry projects, and letting students take the lead, even when it means they might stumble.  A lot in this that reminds me of the work in British Columbia over the last 20 years.

A Call for Resilience

Ultimately, what stands out to me in The Anxious Generation is a call for resilience—a reminder that we need to create conditions where young people can develop the skills they need to cope with an unpredictable world. It’s a reminder that education isn’t just about academics; it’s about shaping character. It makes me reflect on the initiatives we’ve put in place—self-regulation strategies, peer support systems, and counseling services—and the role of the entire community to support mental well being and resilience and how it should not be left just to schools.

As school leaders, we must also model this resilience. We need to show that while we acknowledge the challenges, we aren’t overwhelmed by them. Haidt’s work challenges us to rethink the environment we are building—not just for our students, but for our entire school community.

Moving Forward

The Anxious Generation offers no quick fixes, and perhaps that’s the most important lesson of all. Addressing youth anxiety is complex, and it requires us all—educators, parents, and community members—to play a role. We need to balance safety with freedom, acknowledge the pressures of social media, and create environments where students feel safe enough to take risks.

It’s a journey. And while Haidt offers a sobering look at the landscape of youth mental health today, he also provides hope—hope that by making thoughtful changes, we can help this generation not just survive, but thrive.

Curious for others who have read it – what do you think? What stood out for you?

The image at the top of this post was created by Chat GPT 4.  After drafting this post I used both Chat GPT  4 and Claude to get feedback and suggestions that I incorporated to improve the readability of the post.

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Embracing Physical Literacy: More Than Just Fitness

Posted in Change, Health, SD45, tagged , , , on March 11, 2024| 3 Comments »

 
I have written before (HERE) about the importance of not just moving more, but developing physical literacy skills with students.  This was pre-pandemic. And if anything the limited activity many had during the COVID-19 pandemic increased these challenges leading to what many are seeing as a health crisis.

In the world of education, we rightly emphasize intellectual growth, but the significance of physical health cannot be overstated. We are intentionally trying to do this differently in West Vancouver Schools. We are looking at the whole school environment to get students moving more often throughout the day.  For us physical health is not just about sports or fitness; it’s a comprehensive approach encompassing mental and emotional well-being, community involvement, and personal development.

During the pandemic new connections and partnerships were formed between health and education. And for us, this is translating into our work in physical literacy – it is not just about the “school’s job” to make changes, but it is also for the entire community to work together. Community partnerships can push us forward, positively impacting students’ overall health and wellbeing. This new physical health promotion video which is a product of our collective efforts in West Vancouver, shares our thinking:



The video showcases the importance of finding creative ways to promote physical activity and make movement matter.  Engaging students in a variety of activities, from yoga and dance to outdoor adventures, while also using simple but intentional movements in classrooms and hallways, highlights the diverse ways students can engage in physical health. It’s a reminder that physical health must be accessible to everyone, regardless of their athletic ability or interests. And we know that it is important for all of our students to be competent in key physical literacy skills.  Just like you have key literacy and numeracy skills to function in the world, the same is true with physical literacy.  When you are competent in movement skills, it is more likely you will  be immersed in diverse physical pursuits throughout your life because activities are more fun when you are physically competent. The focus is on enjoyment, participation, and the holistic benefits of staying active.

And we know the research is clear that physical literacy is linked to better academic performance and consistently embedding physical literacy in schools can have a positive impact on both physical health and academic achievement.

Physical health is a collective journey, where students support and motivate each other. This communal aspect is crucial, as it fosters a positive environment where students form new friendships, feel encouraged to try new activities in a variety of environments, and push their boundaries.

The integration of physical health promotion into our schools is a testament to its importance. It’s not just an extracurricular activity; it’s a fundamental part of student development. As the Province of BC moves to expand foods programs (through its Feeding Futures initiative) and calls are coming for a national program, this needs to be linked to the work in physical literacy – this is all interconnected.

The physical literacy work is essential for all of us. We need to continue promoting and supporting diverse physical health opportunities giving our students skills that they will value and be motivated to use for their entire life.  By doing so, we’re not just nurturing healthier bodies; we’re building stronger, more connected communities.

Note:  The visual at the top of today’s post was generated by me pasting this blog post into Chat GPT 4.0 and asking it to generate some options of images that could accompany the post. 

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Leaders Lending Their Calm

Posted in Change, Health, tagged , , , , on November 21, 2023| 2 Comments »

I love this notion that a leader can lend their calm.

I was recently listening to The Canadian-Ed Leadership Show hosted by Dean Shareski and his interview with the former  Director General of the Lester B School Board in Montreal, Michael Chechile.  He was relaying a story from Michael Fullan.  Chechile, quoting Fullan, said, “you don’t only show your calm as a leader but you lend your calm.”  This is such a wonderful extension to what we often say about modeling the calm we want in others.

Calmness is such an important quality in school leadership. As Chechile describes, it is one of the soft skills that you need to be a team player.   This notion of lending your calm is also referenced in the work of Stuart Shanker, someone who has greatly impacted my thinking – when their storm meets your calm, co-regulation occurs.  While it can be great in the classroom with students, the same principles apply in the interactions school and district leaders have with other adults in our work.

I really like this simple idea of lending your calm to someone else. It can mean offering a sense of tranquility, reassurance, or stability to another person during a stressful or challenging situation. It involves sharing a peaceful and composed presence to help someone feel more at ease or supported.   I am sure it is true in many professions, but I can speak with most authority in the school setting, that calmness from school and district leaders can be one of the most important qualities in times of heightened emotions.  

This idea of extending emotional support and helping others navigate difficult moments by sharing your own inner sense of peace or calmness is very powerful. This act can be particularly valuable in situations where someone is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed, as your quiet presence can have a calming effect on them.

When I think to the specific work of school and district leaders, lending our calm can:

  • exhibit leadership presence
  • manage a crisis
  • help in decision making
  • assist in communication
  • build support and confidence
  • model resilience
  • promote wellness

School and districts leaders seem to be faced with increased situations of heightened emotions.  This simple idea of lending one’s calm, can help reframe these situations, and help us slow down and react more thoughtfully.

Thanks Dean, Michael, Michael and Stuart for sharing this thinking.

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The Last 1000 Days – A Long Read

Posted in Change, Health, tagged , , , on October 13, 2023| 6 Comments »

I have always liked a good streak.

Some of them – likely getting a certain number of steps a day have been good for my health. Others, like the consecutive days having a Dairy Queen Blizzard streak – not so much.

So, as of my run today, I have had a running streak for the last 1000 days. Since January 17, 2021, I have run at least 5 kilometres outdoors each day.  I didn’t start it by planning to run every day.  I feel a bit like Forrest Gump, I just started running and I haven’t yet decided to stop.  

So, what have these last 1000 days taught me and what I have I noticed?

  1.  It is not really a run streak. It is a discipline streak. It is about consistency, habit, and stubbornness.  When I started, it was about running.  I had run fairly regularly before the start – usually 2 or 3 times a week.   But it is not the running that is hard.  It is the getting up in the dark and going outside that is hard.  I always feel better when I come back, but even after 1000 days, while it is a habit, it is still a challenge.
  2. People will always find ways to question what you are doing. I have not told many people I am doing this (I realize this post kind of ruins this).  I connect with a few people on Strava who see and encourage my daily run posts.  When people find out that I have been running every day there are a few common first comments – 1) “That can’t be good for you”  2) “You know that is not how you get faster” 3) I’m surprised you haven’t got injured yet.”  I do often think of the quote, “You will never be criticized by someone doing more than you.”  
  3. You can’t outrun a bad diet.  This mantra is something I have often heard – and it is true.  I am about 2 pounds heavier today than when I started this running streak.  When my diet is poor I gain weight, when my diet is better, my weight stays in balance – and really, the running hasn’t really changed that.  I have always been conscious of weight – from when I was 246 pounds in university to when I was having trouble keeping above 165 pounds at different times in the last decade.  My running streak is fairly divorced from my weight journey – which is really tied to my eating.  
  4. People online can give you motivation.  I have been skeptical of all those influencers online.  I have thought that change is strictly something that comes from within.  Well, this commitment to running has been fueled in part by my obsessions with David Goggins and Jesse Itzler.   I read Goggins first book, Can’t Hurt Me over the Christmas break in 2020.  He argues that we only tap into 40% of our capabilities.  Following Goggins introduced me to Itzler who wrote a book Living with a Seal on his being trained by Goggins.  I got to following them and adopting their approaches  – my intermittent fasting over the last year is a direct result of following Itzler on Instagram.  
  5. Track metrics. – I know all metrics have their limits but I track resting heart rate, weight, body fat and step totals every day and I have targets for all of them. I know, we are supposed to be motivated intrinsically and I am impressed by those who say they have never stepped on a scale in their life – I am just not that person.  I need concrete goals to always be chasing.  
  6. You can fight getting old.  I am not ready to embrace aging.  I am coming up on a significant birthday later this month and this run streak is part of an overall plan to hold onto my youth.  I want to be running with my kids when they are 40.  I follow Peter Diamandis – one of many out there looking at new technologies and the fight against aging.  This run streak is part of staying young.  During the last 1000 days, I have run faster 5 k, 10 k and half marathons than at anytime since my late 20’s.  
  7. Covid helped me reset.  The Culture of Yes had really taken its toll on me in the years leading up to Covid – I was saying yes to everything.  My life was bloated and my priorities were everything, all at once.  Through Covid, I was committed to getting and staying healthy and this run streak came out of that.  I would have said I didn’t have time before Covid to carve out 30 – 90 minutes a day to run, but now it seems easy, as I reset what mattered to me and my priorities.
  8. Setting and meeting goals is fun.  Even within this run plan, I have a series of other goals.  I commit myself to running at least one half marathon distanced run each month as an example.  I have also set a goal of doing my run in each province.  With work and pleasure, I have been able to get through seven provinces – only Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland left.  There is a sense of accomplishment even in micro goals that are part of a larger plan.  
  9. Running does help your mental health.  The connection between well being and exercise is regularly promoted.  And running definitely raises my mental being.  I use my runs to relax, reflect and reset. 
  10.  Outlasting brings fulfillment.  One of the favourite things about this blog is how long I have been doing it.  During that time, I think millions of blogs have started and been discarded.  I think about this and the run streak.  I will never be one of the greatest runners in the world, but not many people ever run 1000 days in a row and that brings a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment – not in the sense that I beat others, but I am doing something others just can’t / won’t do.

I realize this post is coming off a bit as a self-help seminar.  But as I have said before about this space, I like to use it to work through my thinking.

And yes, I am going for a run tomorrow.  The problem with streaks is that there is not a natural way for them to end.  I assume one day I will just wake up and decide that’s enough.

This is the second post  that I am tagging “A Long Read.”  These are more personal essays that I am trying to write every few months reflecting on parts of my life and generalizing some lessons that have come from them.  The first of these, The Most Important Game of My Life I published in March. 

 

 

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COVID’s Lasting Impact on School Sports

Posted in Health, SD45, tagged , , , on October 12, 2022| 3 Comments »

This blog post also appears in the Fall Newsletter for the Canadian Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association 

As we return to school this fall, we are applying the many lessons learned from the last three years.  There is a worry that we will simply snap back to pre-COVID times without implementing what we have learned throughout the pandemic.  In our district, we are holding onto many of our COVID adjustments, from keeping some meetings online, to building in flexible time for students and staff schedules, to focusing more on well-being.

This same reflection should be happening in all our jurisdictions as we look at school sports. 

It also just seems like the right time to reassess what we did pre-COVID, by asking ourselves questions like: are we offering the right sports to meet the current needs of our students?  Are our leagues achieving what we want? Are we happy with the mix of practice and competition, and are we satisfied with the level of competition with our school sports?  Over the last three years, almost every sport was impacted for at least two of those years, and instead of racing back to ‘the way things were’, it seems like the ideal time to be revising and evolving our vision for school sports.

As COVID eliminated school sports to varying degrees, we were reminded of just how important these activities were for social connectedness, and how for young people, and their coaches and families, school sports are crucial to social, emotional, and physical well-being. I would regularly hear from parents that school sports are the glue that connects their children to school. The importance of school sports is not just a gut-feel that many of us have, a 2021 University of Wisconsin study, found that athletes who were able to continue to play sports during the pandemic were less likely to report anxiety and depression symptoms than those who didn’t have the opportunity to participate.

Beyond reinforcing the value and importance of school sports, these are some opportunities, lessons, and takeaways:

  • Livestreaming sporting events in schools for health and safety reasons, while not new, engaged more students and families, and efforts should be made to continue once health and safety rules are relaxed.
  • In 2020-21, when most jurisdictions did not allow inter-school competition, many sports saw increased participation for what amounted to yearlong practicing. These are students we should be looking to keep engaged in school sports now that we are returning to traditional league structures.
  • There was a reset on competition. School sports doubled-down on their values of being about student growth, development and wellbeing, and further distanced themselves from the for-profit, win-at-all-costs programming we see from some community sports vendors.  Building on the reset of competition, we also witnessed increased levels of participation, more students involved in each sport, no cuts, and a reemphasis on well-being and school community.
  • As the rigid edges of hyper-competitive athletics were softened during COVID, we noticed and observed a more inclusive and accepting school athletic community.
  • As we build our school sports back to pre COVID levels, students and families are showing a greater appreciation for the opportunity to play and for their coaches, that make school sports possible.
  • Teachers and other volunteers found more sustainable routines during COVID.  I often heard coaches say they found balance.  As we work to reengage these key people, we might need to adjust the expectations in order to encourage them back.

What lessons about school sports did you learn during COVID, and how are you applying these lessons to meet the needs of our students, families and schools?

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Retelling My New Year’s Story from 20 Years Ago

Posted in Health, Parenting, tagged , , , on December 31, 2021| 4 Comments »

Well before I had this blog, I had a regular column for several years at the turn of the century at the Richmond News.  The posts are no longer easily accessible on the internet, but I have all the columns cut-out in a scrapbook (truly old school).  I have been rereading some old posts over the break, and mixed in with posts about the Vancouver Grizzlies, dial-up internet, street racing and various local political issues was a  more personal post about New Year’s 2002 – 20 years ago!

And at a time we all owe great thanks to the doctors, nurses and others in our hospitals doing amazing work, here is “Caring folk make for best new year’s party in town” from Kennedy’s Corner in the Richmond News – originally published on January 9, 2002.

On New Year’s Eve and the days that followed I got to meet some of the most caring, skilled and committed people I have ever known.

It wasn’t what I had planned for New Year’s Eve, but the evening and the following morning turned out to be my best ew year’s celebration ever.

At about 11 on the morning of December 31, I was running around getting the last supplies for our small new year’s party.

I called home to check on any last-minute grocery purchases and caught my wife just as she was going to the hospital.

Apparently our first child who was due around January 10, decided that she was going to come early.

Richmond General was a hub of activity.

The doctors and nurses were so supportive and caring, each one friendlier and more willing to help than the last.

It was very apparent from everyone I met, that while there are many problems with the health care system in BC, the people on the front lines are the very best at what they do.

Dr. Robson was the most popular person in the hospital that night.  We saw her when we came in at noon on the 31st, and some 24 hours later she was still up and going.  Being paged from emergency to the operating room, to checking on all her patients in the maternity ward, she was always calm.  When someone asked how things were going, I heard her say, “Busy, but no problems.”

I doubt the new year’s eve to new year’s day shift is the most popular, but never a word of complaint.

The same shift is also probably not coveted by nurses.

It is really unfair to single any individuals out, as the 20 or so that I had some contact with were all first rate.  From Kerri who took time to explain everything to my wife and I, to Sherri who was with us through the night, to Narinder who cam on in the morning, they were all unwavering in their support for us.  After some 18 hours in the hospital, our daughter was born on the morning of January 1st, the second baby born of the new year in Richmond.

The following hours and days in the hospital saw the same caring that we had enjoyed through the labour and birth.

Nurses like Lillian and Rite and doctors Wagner and Duncan shared in our joy of the birth of our daughter and did everything they could to make things as easy as possible for us.

The list of thank-yous is really endless.

These nurses and doctors working 12-hour or sometimes longer shifts treated us always as if we were their main priority and nothing was going to stop them from helping us.

This type of support, commitment and enthusiasm is so special.

As we rest quietly at home, I know I speak for my wife and young Elizabeth when I say thanks to all the doctors and nurses at Richmond General for making our new year’s the best ever.

Thanks to Dixon Tam, then editor of the Richmond News, who gave me a chance to write for his paper.  I got $35 a column – but I would have done it for free 🙂

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Keep Being Passionate After This is Over

Posted in Change, Health, tagged , , , , on November 30, 2021| 9 Comments »

This is one of those dangerous posts to publish.  I know people will take parts of it out of context and repurpose it for their own benefit.  I am not new around here, I know that is what people do to superintendents and what people do in the age of outrage on the internet.

I have been getting a lot of phone calls and emails lately.  I am not sure of another time in the last decade when there have been so many.  I know I get a lot during job action, or when people think I have made a bad decision on calling or not calling a snow day, or when there are budget challenges.  This is different.  From mask wearing to vaccinations, COVID has brought people to the school district. 

Of course, it is not only a local issue, there are lots of videos circulating on the internet of school board meetings, particularly in the United States, of name calling and sometimes violence over COVID protocols.  Even Saturday Night Live noticed, and did a sketch (HERE) earlier this season on the growing phenomenon.  While more subdued in Canada, my colleagues tell stories of protestors at their doors, fights between parents in the parking lot over vaccinations, and name-calling and threats towards school officials.   And this is not a “don’t worry, it is just happening somewhere else” issue, our teachers and principals are seeing increased tensions and short-tempers regularly.   

My first thought is we need to be better than this.  Our kids are watching.  I appreciate there is great anxiety and frustration.  And I also know that school boards – staff and elected officials – are often more accessible than other government officials and thus an easy target.  Many of us spend our careers in education helping students see nuance, and trying to engage with challenging topics or those with whom we disagree in thoughtful ways – unlike all these images we are seeing.  I have yet to meet anyone in health or education who is not going above and beyond right now to do what they think is best for students.  

I also think about a post I wrote on “the hat rule” a few years ago.  We love topics that are easy to think about.  Masks are either good or bad, same with vaccinations.  When I listen to the health experts each week, I feel their frustration as they try to tell a far more detailed and nuanced story, but we do love to jump to things that are simple to think about.  Keeping kids safe in schools and providing rich opportunities for learning in our times of COVID is complicated and “hat rule” conversations are easy but incomplete.  What we love about these binary topics is that you are either with us or against us – it is like supporting your local sports team and uniting with everyone wearing the same coloured jerseys.

And finally, when this is over, I hope people stick around.  Those who have spoken to me about masks, ventilation, hand sanitizer, or vaccination,  don’t stop being engaged in schools.  Regardless of whether you have been happy or unhappy with the health guidelines, please keep holding me and others accountable.  Hold us accountable for ensuring that all students by grade 4 can read, that students of Indigenous backgrounds are succeeding at the same levels as all other students and that graduates have opportunities for post-secondary and other options after grade 12.  And hold us accountable for ensuring students are learning the skills and attributes of engaged citizenship.  This is our work and the success of all students in the community should be a concern for all of us. 

I realize it may seem far more important to a parent that all students in their child’s class are wearing a mask or are vaccinated than it is that they can read or socialize with others.  I get it.  COVID is scary.  The last 18 months have reminded us of the importance of school and the importance of collective action.  I do hope we show some of the same engagement and passions for the collective well being of all students – as I know it does not feel as immediate and personal as COVID, but we should all want all of our learners to be successful.

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Is it Time for School Sports to Return?

Posted in Change, Health, tagged , , , on October 25, 2020| 1 Comment »

Using my blog for something different this time.  Last week I had a good conversation with Vancouver Province Sports Reporter Steve Ewen on the possibilities for school sports – even in the middle of a pandemic.  Readers of this blog know how interested I am in youth sports.  In an effort to share the article with a larger audience, I am sharing the text from Steve’s article below.  You can also see the original article on The Province website HERE.

West Vancouver school district Supt. Chris Kennedy thinks it’s time to try to restart high school sports.

He’s very clear. He’s not talking about something leading to a massive provincial championship. Kennedy’s talking about neighbouring high school teams, in cohorts of four, playing against only one another with extensive coronavirus protocols in place.
He’s talking about what community sports was granted in August by the B.C. government and has been doing since then. The government’s return-to-school plan released in July said inter-school events wouldn’t be permitted to take place initially but would be “re-evaluated in mid-fall 2020.”

High school teams have been allowed to practise since classes returned.

The provincial election has taken the focus of the government of late. Kennedy understands too that the rising COVID-19 case numbers may spark concern. He believes that schools can make sports run safely — “we’re living those protocols every day,” he explained — and a return to games between rival schools, albeit in a limited format, would benefit the overall well-being of students and school communities.”

“There’s so much positive will trying to make it happen right now. I’ve spoken to a number of my superintendent colleagues and there’s a common belief that sports can aid in the physical, social and emotional well-being of students,” explained Kennedy, a longtime high school basketball coach himself, highlighted by his time guiding Richmond’s McRoberts Strikers.“We’re worried about the mental health of kids. We’re looking for more things to connect with kids. If school becomes just a place where you go to get credits, then it’s not really school.”

“I don’t want to underestimate the complexities of this, but everything we’ve done so far with schools this year has been complex. Getting the kids to school, getting the cohorts figured out, dealing with different technology issues … every day we’re faced with problems that we never imagined before the pandemic.”

The basic frustration for school sports folks about being on the sideline is the simple fact that community sport is up-and-running. As Kennedy says, there are “kids in our gymnasiums with school teams from 3 to 6 p.m. obeying by certain rules and then they can be back in those same gyms with their club teams from 6 to 8 p.m. playing under a completely different set of rules.”

There’s the price point issue as well. School sports is subsidized. Club sports is often a business. The longer school sports sits on the sideline, the more you wonder about how it might look when they do eventually return, and whether programs will be lost long-term. There are also families who don’t have the money or wherewithal to take part in club sports regularly.

“There’s probably been little change for the affluent families regarding sport through this. They’ve found club situations that work for them,” Kennedy explained. “The kids who need school sports the most are the ones who aren’t getting it.”

Kennedy downplayed the idea that student/athletes were missing out on university scholarship opportunities with school sport in limbo, calling it a “red herring.” He believes that university coaches will find ways to find players.

In fact, he thinks that the return of school sports in this era would have an even greater focus on participation, since teams wouldn’t be gearing up for a run at the provincials.

“You’d probably carry a bigger roster, you’d probably play everyone more equally because you’re not worried about that high-level competition piece,” he explained.

Kennedy contends high school sport could “look different” for it to be allowed to return. He talked about switching to 3-on-3 basketball or 2-on-2 volleyball, for instance, if that help makes things safer.

“You shouldn’t skip out on something just because you think it might be hard,” Kennedy explained. “We’ve found ways to make music and art and drama happen in so many of our schools. There are other kids who have passions for athletics. We need to help them.

“We’ve got schools launched. We’ve got club sports launched. Now we take what we’ve learned from both of them and put it together for school sports.”

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Maybe Youth Sports Come Back Different

Posted in Change, Health, Parenting, tagged , on June 7, 2020| 6 Comments »

I have used this space a number of times over the last decade to think out loud about youth sports.  And I can reaffirm my bias upfront that sports in our schools and our community and the values they largely promote are important, and perhaps more significant than ever.

And now I see the opportunity, that the shutdown of the last three months could be the catalyst of something different to emerge.  Especially as the pandemic has reshaped the economy, ideas around travel and issues of safety – there are barriers and opportunities for sports in all of these.

There is a definite hope for sports to re-emerge soon.  In British Columbia Via Sport released it Return to Sport guidelines this past week.   In our rush to return to normal, there is an opportunity to consider if normal is really what we want.  Of course this is a conversation happening across society as items that have been closed begin to re-open.

So how might school and community youth sports come back different (and yes many of these are related)?

Cheaper

Youth sports have too often become games for the rich in recent years.  The professionalization of childhood sports has left many behind. So many families will emerge from the pandemic with less money to spend on activities for their kids.  There is an opportunity for cheaper options to emerge and be successful.  Linked to other changes like less travel and more volunteerism, and a refocus on play, growth and development and a lessening of competition, sports could be cheaper.  And likely sports requiring less equipment costs, and without heavy facility rentals (which may be more expensive because of additional cleaning costs) will be more popular.   I think sports like ultimate, track and field, soccer and baseball all might fall into this category.

More Local

We are all getting used to traveling less.  And until there is a COVID vaccine, it definitely seems like some travel restrictions will be in place.  In recent years we have become obsessed with traveling long distances for competition.  It does not seem like 4 or 5 kids from different families will be sharing hotel room anytime soon.   Rather than the top players being siphoned off to play on teams in other communities, structures could be built for intra-club and other localized competitions and these would have value and be important.  Leagues would be refocused on individual communities and playing through this would be culminating events rather than larger events with travel.

New Role for Parents

One of the first things I hear from coaches about the pandemic is that if parents are not allowed to watch – that might be a good thing.  Too often youth sports have not been about young people competing with other young people, but about parents competing with other parents through their kids.  If in the short-term youth sports become drop-off activities, parents could either 1) commit to be volunteers and assist with the program or 2) treat this as found time – workout, read a book, enjoy their own pursuits.  The lack of parents in attendance could really refocus youth sports.  We just might have more teenagers willing to be officials knowing there wouldn’t be anyone there to yell at them.

Less Game Focused

Even though we know better, far too many teams have more games than practices.  This will change as we have smaller, more localized leagues.  As we start back up with sports the focus will be on practices and no competition.  This will likely be a reset for many sports.  The practice to game ratio will be adjusted so there are far more practices to competition dates.   It will still be competitive but it will be done within an individual club set-up.

Volunteer Driven

When sports become local, we will hopefully see the return of the volunteer coach.  The volunteer coach has gone missing in recent years.  The professionalization of youth sports has happened alongside the reduction of volunteer coaches.  It is a bit of a chicken and egg scenario.  As youth coaches became paid coaches, the volunteer coaches began to disappear.  Of course, it could be argued that the volunteer coach disappeared so we moved to a paid coach model.  In cheaper, more local models hopefully the volunteer coach returns – the parent or other community member who is supported by local sports organizations to improve his / her skills and gives back through coaching.

Different Sports and Modified Sports

Some messages we keep hearing are more outdoor activities, smaller groups and less physical contact.  As Dr. Bonnie Henry has said “fewer faces, big spaces.” I am not sure what the complete list of sports are that will thrive but it is definitely different from many of the ones we have grown up with.  Might we see more beach volleyball and 3×3 basketball (which are both outdoor sports) than their more well known traditional indoor counterparts?  We may see sports with different rules that reduce physical contact.  It seems as though some of the more high profile sports will be slow to return as they are based on contact and often happen inside.

Sports meeting the interest of all youth

The time off has hopefully allowed us to reflect on purpose.  How can we make sports more inclusive of all youth?  It is a small example, but out of necessity we held a virtual track and field meet last week in West Vancouver Schools.  Every student could do all five events and be part of it – dozens of them (and their parents) shared these stories on social media.  Nobody got cut or not selected, everyone participated, there was something to celebrate for each student and it promoted health and fitness.  We need more of this.  We have an opportunity to look at school and community sports and ask questions about purpose and ensure that we really are serving our communities.

Conclusions

It would be a missed opportunity if we just raced to return youth sports to as they were before the pandemic.  And anywhere I wrote youth sports – you could really replace it with school sports.  Many of the same issues and opportunities exist.  We know sports are powerful for young people and so important at developing life skills but we also know our system we had was fine but not great.

There is a chance now to do better.

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New Wardrobe Rules Announced for All Staff

Posted in Health, tagged , , on April 1, 2020| 7 Comments »

During these challenging times there has been some interesting research coming out as students and teachers learn and work remotely.  It is being said that some things that are happening now will change how we do business forever, and that in the post-pandemic era we will never go back to some of pre-pandemic practices.  West Vancouver continues to take pride in being one of our world’s most innovative jurisdictions.

While remote learning is still fairly new, there is some exciting research around student learning that is leading to some permanent change in policy.  Based on the global research conducted around remote learning that teachers are able to have students perform at least 5% better when they teach in their pajamas we are making a change to our district dress code rules.  I am pleased to announce today that going forward, all teachers will be required to teach in pajamas – even when we return to in-person learning.  It is Sweden, and the work of Loof Lipra, that has shown us first some of this exciting research.  Pajama-Based Learning (more commonly referred to in the research as PBL) is being positively received around the world.  A quick search of “PBL” on Google will find you quotes like this:

Of course, there has been some long standing suspicions that teachers teaching in pajamas improved student achievement.  Many schools that had “Pajama Days”  saw those teachers who were active participants have their students score higher marks than the students of non-participants.  This quiet study which compared achievement results of teachers who participated versus those who did not participate has been a real sleeper that has finally come out from under the covers.

Now, on remote learning, with all our teachers at home teaching in their pajamas, the results are exceptionally powerful.  While the research is not clear as to the reasons for this surge in achievement, some of the speculation includes:

  • teachers can spend more time planning lessons as they don’t have to think about what they are going to wear
  • dressing for comfort puts teachers at ease and more able to convey information to students
  • students feel “more at home” with teachers as a result of their casual dress
  • when you wear pajamas you care less about what you eat, meaning you eat more and have more energy
  • pajamas have some magical powers 

For those teachers who still want to maintain the formality of school, I hear you.  For most of my work I have adopted the “Zoom Meeting Casual” look – business on the top, time for bed on the bottom.  As the kids say, I am livin’ la vida jam-jam.

Of course there is still more research to do.  Questions like “Does switching from daytime to nighttime pajamas affect achievement gains?”  and “Do staff wearing matching pajamas lead to increased sense of community?”  There is also work to understand why wearing pajamas leads to improved achievement, but dressing in the close cousin of pajamas the yoga pant seems to have little effect.

While we look forward to the return to in-person learning, and we continue to do our work to “flatten the curve” it is exciting to see that we are already learning lessons that will forever change our education system.  We are not afraid to engage in acts of PDP (Public Displays of Pajamas).  So the innovation continues – Welcome to West Vancouver Schools – Where We Wear Our Pajamas So you Can Learn.  

Today’s announcement is the latest in the long line of innovative actions from our school district.  Here is the list of those from recent years:

In 2012 I launched my FLOG.

In 2013 I made the announcement of Quadrennial Round Schooling.

In 2014 we formalized our System of Student Power Rankings.

In 2015 we created our Rock, Paper, Scissors Academy.

In 2016 we introduced the Drone Homework Delivery System.

In 2017 we introduced the Donald J. Trump Elementary School of Winning.

In 2018 we announced the construction of Soak City Elementary.

In 2019 we went back to the 80’s with the launch of the Belvedere Learning Academy.

We know these are challenging times, but innovations just can’t stop. Happy April 1st.

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