May 26 2009
Physical Education Cutbacks in School
Removing or significantly cutting back on Physical Education classes has been occurring for several years now. Why do I bring it up now? Personally, I am hearing on the news more and more about obesity in children and the increase of Type II diabetes in young children. So, at a time with obesity on the rise, why are school continuing to cutback on the much needed Physical Education classes in elementary and secondary schools?
Well, two reasons. Budget cuts (imagine that) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The NCLB Act focuses all the strict standardized testing in subjects like math, reading, and writing while other subjects like social studies, art, health, and physical education subjects get pushed to the wayside.
Some schools have cut out PE to a mere 50 minutes a week. Other schools are now having the classroom teachers teach PE!! As if they don’t have enough on their plate and now they have to play four-square a couple hours a week with their students, as if that is physical “education”.
While I understand math and reading are essential skills, I am a firm believer that health and fitness are essential skills, also. Exercise increases test scores and makes children more alert, attentive, and of course, healthier!
I will not even go over all the many benefits of exercise here, because I think most people get that. What I will say is the No Child Left Behind is leaving behind healthy children or leaving behind bigger behinds in children. Arne - please with all that stimulus money - keep physical education in the schools, for the sake of our children’s future!
