Avery is absolutely correct in saying "insufficient attention is accorded to skills development..." This is true across most of North America and in the UK. One of the problems has been the lack of enough research into the effectiveness of cycling education. It is so important to train young cyclist. As I have mentioned before, courses such as the CAN-Bike Festivals and the current program going into Ottawa schools by the Ottawa-Carleton Safety Council do nothing towards improving cycling behaviour, knowledge or attitudes mostly due to the insufficient time frame. Recent research in the US and the UK has indicated that courses such as KIDS CAN-Bike do work. In all cases courses must take into account the style of teaching and research in child development indicates care must be taken with children who have an impulsive personality style. Researchers and cycling educators feel the best approach would be to institutionalize cycling skills education much the same way swimming lessons are done. Ideally, the school setting would be best. Cycling education is mentioned albeit briefly in the Ontario Curriculum. More than likely these courses would be offered out of community centres as part of the parks and recreation programs. The benefits of doing this are that it reaches far more children on a consistent basis. Cycling education needs to happen over the longer time frame it takes children to learn. Convincing the powers (local and provincial) that be of the necessity of cycling skills development is going to take a great deal of advocacy, lobbying and solid research into its benefits. In the meantime, if anyone is interested in becoming an instructor please do so. Regards, Lynda Kadey cfsc director ------ To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.aVHtMM Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 ==^================================================================
