Physical education is not what it used to be, according to PE teacher Tom Ellis of Elsinore Middle School in Lake Elsinore.

"Go!" he yells into a microphone as, two at a time, students charge head-first through the new inflatable obstacle course unveiled on Friday, May 16, in the school’s air-conditioned gym.

Ellis lets two children reach the course’s halfway point before signaling the next pair to race each other. The children bounce, laugh and are out of breath by the time they either glide feet first or tumble head first down the slide at the end.

The 65-foot course is red, white and navy blue, custom made to match Elsinore school colors.

"We received a grant from the state of California to buy equipment. Our kids have been waiting all school year for it to come in. We have never had money like this, since we are in a low socioeconomic area. This is truly a treat for our kids," Ellis said.

"Something like this obstacle course is normally for the super privileged," he added. The obstacle course cost around $10,000.

The course is an incentive for students to work harder all week in PE. Whoever has finished their mile runs, which are done twice a week, qualifies for the "Fun Friday" obstacle course.

"It’s better than the Tiger Trail," said Sara Leonard, 13, an eighth-grader. "Those are the laps we normally have to run."

According to Ellis, there is a stigma attached to PE and those people who hated it when they were young probably weren’t good at basketball or baseball.

"We usually play football or Advertisement

[ Christ the King Lutheran Church ] something. Sometimes we free-play. This is much more fun," said Spencer Pitotti, 13, who attends Elsinore in the seventh grade.

Ellis wanted to stress how much PE is changing. He said it is becoming more geared toward overall fitness and not just sports. Elsinore also has rock climbing and archery.

Classes include circuit training with stationary bikes and free weights. Sports are not ruled out altogether, because Elsinore was able to purchase new equipment such as high quality basketballs and soccer goals.

Ellis is interested in motivating the children to be as active as possible and have fun doing it. In his PE classes he wants to encourage team building and lifelong health through more exciting activities.

When asked what he liked about the obstacle course, Aaron Ohye, 14, an eight grade student, said, "We are actually racing someone and it’s not like the old obstacle course."

Madison Bladford, 14, also in the eighth grade, said, "This is the most fun Friday we have ever had. It’s definitely something different."

There were some students who didn’t want to participate and sat along the wall.

Courtney Malone and Megan Beaman, both 12-year-old seventh-graders, said they didn’t want to participate because other students’ shorts were falling down.

"I’d rather laugh at them," Courtney said.

Even if the inflatable obstacle course isn’t for everyone, Ellis is determined to get all of his students involved in PE and enjoy it someway, somehow.

Ellis calls the new obstacle course "adventure learning." This just might be the key to influencing the way children think about PE and how this class is beginning to evolve.