The final days before summer vacation are full of antsy children and tired teachers. Very little learning is achieved. Nothing is interesting. Nothing is fun.
There are stares out the window longing for the wind in your hair, sleeping in and summer freedom. And those are the teachers.
St. Anthony de Padua Catholic School students found a surplus of fun in roller skating.
In the St. Anthony’s gym on a recent Thursday, there were squeals of joy. Screams and laughter. Lots of enthusiasm with the directions of the gym teacher and assistants. Skating backward, turns and stops.
Another important aspect of the lesson was how to fall safely.
Samatha “Sam” Coulter is the gym teacher. She said skating is a great exercise that develops core strength, balance and body control. “Core strength is important and not too many other activities have that.”
Chris Fowler, a retired St. Anthony’s gym teacher who came back to help teach the five-week session, said skating builds confidence.
The students said it is a bucket of fun.
The skates are rented from Skate Time, a company in Indianapolis. The schools are provided with wrist guards, knee pads and helmets. Safety first.
Sam said there are a ton of benefits. “At first, the students put on the skates and can sit on a rug at the center of the gym.” With time, they get off the rug and skate a little. “We did this last year and there is a lot of retention. Those two girls are new to the school and they are very cautious, but they are trying.”
Other kids fly by.
“Chris asked me if we wanted to do roller skating a couple of years ago.” Sam said she didn’t jump on the bandwagon. “This is my fourth year here. Year one and two, I said no. Year three I said I’d only do it if Chris came back and helped.”
So he did last year and everyone is happy with the chance.
“I grew up in the age that everyone went to the USA Skate Center for birthdays,” Sam said. “Since then, people have stopped skating.”
USA Skate Center in Mishawaka closed in 2016, when its owner retired. There are rinks in Niles and Elkhart. If you want a road trip, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne have skating centers.
A brief history of roller skating
Time for roller skating history. According to Wikipedia and several sites devoted to roller skating, it originated as a stage prop in London during the 18th century. The performers were using the skates to simulate ice skaters.
How Stuff Works and other sites credit John Joseph Merlin with the first roller skate in 1760. John’s debut ended when he crashed through a mirror while playing a violin. John didn’t have that stopping thing down pat.
The first patent for skates was in 1819.
Roller skating was popular in the late 1800s to the early 1910s. The golden era was the 1930s through the 1950s when more than 5,000 rinks opened.
Later, there was roller disco time in the 1970s. Think glitter, crop tops, sequin shorts and bell bottom pants. The movie “Xanadu” opened in 1980 with Olivia Newton John, Gene Kelly and a roller skating nightclub.
Inline skating was introduced in 1980.
Roller derby started in 1930 during the Great Depression. Later in the early television days of the 1950s through 1970s, roller derby was a lot like professional wrestling with many scripted battles. No one can forget the flips over the railing and the elbows to the eyes.
South Bend’s roller derby team formed in 2010.
Good for socializing
A number of the fourth graders said they have roller blade experience. They are comfortable with the four wheels on the corners.
For Chris, he said he sees many advantages. “Frankly, it is good socially. Get them off of the screens. And you can see them helping each other. Holding hands to help. Helping them get up. It changes the class.”
Chris said he didn’t know how to skate either until he had to learn so that he could teach it.
“Oh, Lordy, the kids love to do this. I knew they would like this. I give all the credit to Sam,” Chris said, “for coming up with this.”
A good day for Chris is seeing students skating, learning a skill and getting along. He stands in the middle of the gym watching the students and changing things up with a little dodgeball on skates.
Leslie Fuchs is a parent assistant and a member of the South Bend Roller Derby team. “I helped with two-thirds of the classes. They absorb the skills. They learn so quickly.”
Bernie Kirzeder takes a breather to talk about skating. She has a lot of brown curls that almost fit under the helmet. “I have skated outside of school. I broke my arm then, but this is fun.”
Rancel Hood added that he has learned different things, such as stopping and turning.
Adriel Quijada enjoys the chance to learn and skate. James Dainty liked it last year and this year. “I think I like it more this year.”
“I would suggest any gym teacher to look into it for next year. And I’ll help if they want it,” Chris said.
Contact Chris Fowler at PLF2CGF@gmail.com for skating pointers.
Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Anthony students learn health benefits of roller skating
Reporting by Kathy Borlik, Columnist / South Bend Tribune
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