Richard Simmons helps out at school

He's been helping people get fit for 30 years and he's got no reason to slow down now. Richard Simmons, fitness expert and advocate, is taking on the public school system. Simmons is pushing lawmakers to pass the Fit Kids Act, which would attach physical education to the measures used to judge school progress by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Simmons would also like to see more time spent in P.E. during the school week (wouldn't we all?), up to 150 minutes per week for lower grades and 225 minutes for high school . He wants certified fitness instructors in schools, and wants them to teach children the different components of exercise, like warming up, cardio, strength training, and stretching. Finally, he'd love to see children moving to music more often.

Simmons has a respectable record when it comes to advocacy. Hear an interview with him discussing this issue here.