CUMBERLAND, RI - Teaching and tennis are two things for which Erin Dwyer has a passion, so when the elementary school physical education teacher was presented with the opportunity to combine the two, she jumped at it.
Dwyer, who teaches at Garvin Memorial School, will be bringing tennis to her students both during class and after school.
"I've always played tennis and enjoyed passing the game on to others, but there has never been any tennis in the curriculum at our schools," said Dwyer, a high school tennis star who played collegiately at the University of Rhode Island. "At the beginning of the year, we go over with the kids what we'll be learning and when I mentioned tennis, they were very excited, so that was a great sign."
Dwyer, who is an assistant tennis coach at Johnson and Wales University, attended a Recreational Coaches Workshop three years ago while teaching middle school.
"I had an interest in it when I originally attended the conference, so when I started to learn more about QuickStart Tennis and the equipment and the curriculum available, I sent an email to USTA New England," Dwyer said. "From that point, it was very easy. A week later, I had 25 youth racquets."
Dwyer partnered with Brett Marshall, USTA New England's Community Relations Manager in Rhode Island, and will be using the QuickStart format in her physical education classes beginning in early March.
In addition, she will be holding a four-week after-school tennis program in the spring, which will be open to students in grades 3-5.
"I believe that the kids should be exposed to as many sports as possible, especially at a young age," Dwyer said. "From there, they can find the ones that they like and progress as they get older."
Dwyer noted that the QuickStart format is ideal for students whose tennis experience may be very limited.
"I remember being a kid taking tennis lessons and it was tough," she said. "Kids would tend to get discouraged or bored because of all the waiting around. I think with the equipment and all the games included in the curriculum, the kids will all stay engaged, and they'll all enjoy it."
Dwyer is the first in the school district to make tennis part of the curriculum, but believes that others will soon follow suit.