"An outdated physical education syllabus is failing the fitness of our school children," argues Sheila Wigmore, a sports lecturer and physical-education expert at the UK's Sheffield Hallam University.
She claims that today's children are not seduced by the competitive games imposed by the school physical education curriculum, which is "comparable to that of 1933".
She believes that, in order to get young people interested in sports and physical activity once more, promotion of the health benefits of physical activity should give way to its social aspects. "Showing that activity can help them make friends and be happy in a range of environments will help them enjoy moving their bodies again, while, coincidentally, improving their health".
According to Wigmore, local authorities, sporting clubs and schools need to get together to discuss the ways to achieve this modernisation.
