I’m writing an editorial for my journalism class, and I decided that I would
write mine on making unicycling a part of a gym program. Any info you could
email to me would be great, or if you know of webpages that have this type of
info, that would also be helpful. I know I’ve read about Japanese having
unicycles at recess and also s had required it for gym… Well, judging by how
clogged my inbox is from this mailng list led, you guys should respond quickly!!
> I’m writing an editorial for my journalism class, and I decided that I would > write mine on making unicycling a part of a gym program. Any info you could > email to me would be great, or if you know of webpages that
What kind of information were you looking for?
Big concerns when starting a unicycle program are:
safety/liability
learning benefits
getting equipment
Safety/liability is the sticky one. Though there is plenty of evidence from
existing unicycle programs that there is no greater danger than any other
activity, people have an image in their minds of great danger. Sometimes the
“powers that be”, the people who decide whether or not you can do a program,
must be convinced first.
> Another example of liability. Last year a student set his face on fire will > trying to eat fire. He had been taught by the drama teacher for a show, but > when he actaully burt himself he was unsupervised and didn’t have permission > from the fire marshall so we can’t eat fire anymore, but the teacher offered > to teach us after school off campus
Just a reminder to all you school admins and insurance agents out there, there
are other things a lot more dangerous than unicycling! (and that certain things
shouldn’t be in your mouth)
I’m surprised to hear of kids (in the US) being permitted to do anything with
fire in a school environment, let alone be instructed how to put it in their
mouth. Though most of my experience as been in elementary schools, fire was
absolutely verbotten, even for us only to juggle in shows. That teacher is lucky
to still have a job.
>From: “Foss, JohnX” <johnx.foss@intel.com> To: “‘Tanya Marsh’” ><tanyamarsh@hotmail.com>, unicycling@winternet.com Subject: RE: Uni in gym >class Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:21:34 -0800 > >> I’m writing an editorial for my journalism class, and I decided that I would >> write mine on making unicycling a part of a gym program. Any info you could >> email to me would be great, or if you know of webpages that > >What kind of information were you looking for? > >Big concerns when starting a unicycle program are: >1. safety/liability >2. learning benefits >3. getting equipment jf
Mainly I was thinking I would concentrate on the benefits of learning, but other
stuff thrown in couldn’t hurt too much.
>Yeah. My biggest problem in trying to start a uni club back in high school was >just that. The condition they set was that the faculty advisor for the club >must know how to ride a unicycle. And so the club was never formed
Weird!! I have two advisers for my new club on campus, neither one of which can
unicycle yet, but they are both in the process of learning. We students pick it
up a lot faster though.
I am kind of surprised that no one has even expressed any concern about my
club’s possible dangers or injuries - not even about the giraffe (well, besides
my mom). They let us ride our unicycles on their gym floor - and we have black
tires!! But they don’t mark, which is good, and a few of our unis have white
tires. Most of them have plastic pedals, too.
>Nevertheless, individual teachers let me use it in gym class and physics class. >I don’t think the the administration was aware of it, though >:-)
I like to see how much I can get away with… I can ride in several buildings
and never get yelled at once. I just cruise down the hallway and everyone’s fine
with it! However, in the student union, they don’t like me very much, so I’m
making sure they won’t have to remind me for a third time that unicycling in the
building is prohibited.
In one of the recent unicycle magazines, On One Wheel there was an article by a
teacher setting up a unicycle group in a school. It hit on several points. For
starters it is a big help if the school district is behind you. It isn’t
necessary to know how to ride to teach it. The elementary school my daughter
goes to has an open gym program before school for 1/2 hour before school where
the kids learn to ride or practice. Our school has at least 45 unicycles and
about 24 giraffes. To ride a giraffe the rider must pass several skills. After
learning different skills, the kids are rewarded with a different colored bead.
Some of the skills are backwards, bunny hops, idles, knowing the different parts
of the unicycle, floor mount and 10 times around the gym and things like that.
We have a very successful program. As the kids learn the become part of the
performing team. We have 67 kids right now, 4-17. We are the Panther Pride Demo
Team. Barb K.
> >Safety/liability is the sticky one. Though there is plenty of evidence from >existing unicycle programs that there is no greater danger than any other >activity, people have an image in their minds of great danger. Sometimes the >“powers that be”, the people who decide whether or not you can do a program, >must be convinced first. >
Yeah. My biggest problem in trying to start a uni club back in high school was
just that. The condition they set was that the faculty advisor for the club must
know how to ride a unicycle. And so the club was never formed
Nevertheless, individual teachers let me use it in gym class and physics class.
I don’t think the the administration was aware of it, though
>Nevertheless, individual teachers let me use it in gym class and physics class
Exactly, the first day I rode my uni to school I carried it around all day
almost every period I was “forced” to ride down the hall especially physics. It
turns out the German Teacher at my school rode in her youth and gave a
demonstaration for the class. But of course when I was riding around at lunch
the admin. immediately made me get off>
Another example of liability. Last year a student set his face on fire will
trying to eat fire. He had been taught by the drama teacher for a show, but when
he actaully burt himself he was unsupervised and didn’t have permission from the
fire marshall so we can’t eat fire anymore, but the teacher offered to teach us
after school off campus
>Nevertheless, individual teachers let me use it in gym class and physics class
Exactly, the first day I rode my uni to school I carried it around all day
almost every period I was “forced” to ride down the hall especially physics. It
turns out the German Teacher at my school rode in her youth and gave a
demonstaration for the class. But of course when I was riding around at lunch
the admin. immediately made me get off>
Another example of liability. Last year a student set his face on fire will
trying to eat fire. He had been taught by the drama teacher for a show, but when
he actaully burt himself he was unsupervised and didn’t have permission from the
fire marshall so we can’t eat fire anymore, but the teacher offered to teach us
after school off campus. But at least I can still juggle it.
>>> I’m writing an editorial for my journalism class, and I decided that I would >>> write mine on making unicycling a part of a gym program. Any info you could >>> email to me would be great, or if you know of webpages that >> >>What kind of information were you looking for? >> >>Big concerns when starting a unicycle program are: >>1. safety/liability >>2. learning benefits >>3. getting equipment jf > >Mainly I was thinking I would concentrate on the benefits of learning, but >other stuff thrown in couldn’t hurt too much.
-builds confidence -good exercise -good form of transportation (outside of
school); among teenagers, there are probably more fatal car accidents than fatal
unicycle accidents -can prevent alcohol & drug abuse (schools LUV this). As a
result of learning in a PE program, clubs can beformed giving kids a
recreational/social activity outside of school. Have t-shirts made “Say No to
Drugs, Say Yes to Unicycling” :-). IMO unicycling IS a drug, and it’s much
better getting high the natural way.
I told my brother (non-uni) and he told me that the type of person who would be
interested in unicycling is not the type who would do drugs anyway. I didn’t
know weather to be offended or not. -Mary
Unilady@aol.com wrote in article <b6cc29b7.36ffa7d2@aol.com>… > > In a message dated 3/28/99 4:28:57 AM, tanyamarsh@hotmail.com wrote: > > >>> I’m writing an editorial for my journalism class, and I decided that I > >>> would write mine on making unicycling a part of a gym program. Any info > >>> you could email to me would be great, or if you know of webpages that > >> > >>What kind of information were you looking for? > >> > >>Big concerns when starting a unicycle program are: > >>1. safety/liability > >>2. learning benefits > >>3. getting equipment jf > > > >Mainly I was thinking I would concentrate on the benefits of learning, but > >other stuff thrown in couldn’t hurt too much. > > -builds confidence -good exercise -good form of transportation (outside of > school); among teenagers, there
are > probably more fatal car accidents than fatal unicycle accidents -can prevent > alcohol & drug abuse (schools LUV this). As a result of
learning > in a PE program, clubs can beformed giving kids a recreational/social
activity > outside of school. Have t-shirts made “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Unicycling” > :-). IMO unicycling IS a drug, and it’s much better getting
high > the natural way. > > > Unicycle Lady http://members.aol.com/unilady/ “A Smile is a Wonderous Thing”
> I told my brother (non-uni) and he told me that the type of person who would > be interested in unicycling is not the type who would do drugs anyway. I > didn’t know weather to be offended or not.
I think that in general he’s right. Why be offended? But there are a lot of kids
out there who fall into neither category, and can be swayed. Kids with too much
time on their hands need help finding things to do that aren’t destructive and
the unicycle is a great one. It’s something they can continue throughout their
lives, and promotes a healthy body and a well-tuned nervous system.
Unicycling is not free of drug users (nor is anything else), but I have
definitely noticed only a small incidence of it in all my riding and
experiences.
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