Taking the plunge safely
By TOM CHEREDAR, Staff Writer
tched.wh@gmail.com
Seventy-one percent of the world’s watery surface will be considerably safer for a group of third-grade students at New Hope Academy who are learning to swim this week.
In an effort to curb child deaths caused by drowning, the Franklin Family YMCA has partnered with Christian private school New Hope Academy for the Learn-to-Swim program, which provides swim lessons to children who may not have access to them.
“I think it’s a life skill that they need to learn,” said New Hope Academy physical education teacher Krista Gaston, who approached the YMCA with the partnership. “This has really been in my heart to do this for a while.”
The programs primary intent is to prevent deaths, but there are many other benefits that drew Gaston to teaching children to swim.
Gaston said she felt water safety was important because it limits the life experiences a person has, as they grow older, such as never getting on boats and avoiding swimming pools with peers and athletic water sports.
“If people don’t know how to swim, or don’t know how to at least survive in the water, they’ll avoid it for the rest of their lives,” Gaston said. “Hopefully this will broaden their horizons.”
The first phase of the Learn-to-swim program will divide 22 students in to groups by their experience level. The classes will meet over three days this week at the Franklin Family YMCA.
“We want to provide an opportunity to offer swim lessons to children who otherwise might not have access to them,” due to their location or financial situation, said YMCA Vice President of Communications Phil Newman.
According to Newman, several children in every community experience a large number of child deaths due to drowning, simply because they do not have a chance to learn.
“As summer approaches and as they get a little older they might think ‘yeah I can probably swim over there,” he said. “Then they jump in somewhere and get in trouble.”
The classes teach safety as a first priority, but a will also go beyond the basic tutorial of staying afloat, according to Newman.
“In addition to swimming, there’s also a character education component woven into the curriculum,” Newman said. “It goes beyond water instruction.”
The YMCA’s four-goal message — caring, honesty, respect and responsibility — will also play a large role while the students learn to swim.
Newman said he could personally attest to the value of the program.
“I remember being in third grade going to the Learn-to-Swim (program) at the Y in our town,” said Newman, and added that it eliminated any fear of the water while teaching him how to be safe.
The Learn-to-Swim program’s coordinators said they would eventually like to expand it to a wider age group in the future.
“I just want them to enjoy the water,” said Gaston.
Posted on: 5/3/2007
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