A delegation of Japanese educators descended on Colonial Hills Elementary School earlier this month, observing longtime teacher John Blaine's physical education students as they kicked, dribbled and raced through soccer techniques.

"The Japanese educators wanted to see an elementary physical education class and we were doing a soccer lesson," Blaine said. "What may be different about our physical education program is that we want every kid to participate in some kind of sport.

"I offer every level a sport no matter where a child comes in," he said. "I think many kids don't participate in sports because they think they will embarrass themselves. I try to teach them they can get better at things."

The Japanese educators were Hirommi Miki, professor of health and sports science at the University of Tsukaba; Yukata Sato, senior specialist for curriculum, Ministry of Education; Takeo Takahashi, dean of the Graduate School for Health and Sports Science, Nippon Sport Science University; and Takeshi Yoshinaga, professor of sports science at Waseda University.

Colonial Hills Principal Henk DeRee said the Japanese educators were working with Ohio State University physical education faculty members with the goal of discussing the development of national standards for physical education in Japan.

"As part of the visit, the Japanese scholars requested a chance to observe exemplary physical education programs, and Mr. Blaine's program was selected," DeRee said. "Our Japanese guests said they were truly impressed by what they saw at Colonial Hills."

Blaine said his "No. 1 goal is to take every individual child from their present level of competency to a new and higher level.

"If a child comes to me without skills I expect them to learn and advance, and if they come to me with advanced skills I expect them to advance even higher," he said. "I want every kid to come out of class feeling like, 'I got better at something today, or I learned something today.' "

The delegation worked with OSU educators Jackie Goodway, Philip Ward, Sue Sutherland, Weidong Li and Harry Lehwald, all faculty in sports science education.

Goodway, associate professor of the School of Physical Activity and Education Services, who also is section head for sports, physical education and exercise science at OSU, said the visit resulted from a trip she took to Japan in March.

"I was invited to present in Japan to a group of physical educators about wellness issues and physical education at the school and university level," she said. "While I was over there, the Ministry of Education was going through a revision of the national standards of physical education and they told me a delegation of five individuals would like to come to the United States to look at OSU's program.

"Our program at OSU is the top-ranked program in the country," she said. "John Blaine is an alumni of our program and has worked with us for 20 years. I would say he is one of the best physical education teachers in the country. So when they wanted to see a truly exemplary elementary program, I showed them John's classes."

Goodway said "the kind of outcome John achieves with his students is truly amazing and the learning outcomes that occur in his gym are phenomenal.

"I think the Japanese were so blown away by the kinds of things John was teaching young children that they are trying to steal him away to Japan," she said.

Blaine said he would love to go to Japan.

"I'm always trying to learn new things and it would be a great opportunity to bring information back to my classes," he said.

Blaine said this is the second time a Japanese educational delegation has visited the school; eight years ago, Japanese educators were concerned about rising childhood obesity and wanted to see how Blaine integrated fitness with sports.

"I don't do fitness units, but every sport we do contains fitness," he said. "But I don't make them run laps and every drill we do is high movement, with no lines or waiting. If they are shooting balls, every child has a ball in their hand and we are constantly moving."

Blaine has been physical education teacher at Colonial Hills for 26 years.