That's Fit

Remember when PE was just as much a part of your education as Friday Night Football? I am an avid believer in daily PE in schools. I find it appalling that physical education as been reduced to an "elective" or "special" course. It is certainly no surprise that kids today are less healthy with each passing generation. We can look in the carpool line and see that child obesity is on the rise. As a matter of fact, child obesity rates have risen dramatically over the past 30 years. In the 1970s, childhood obesity ranked in low single digit percentages, now nearly one out of every five children is medically classified as obese. And, The Centers for Disease Control predicts about one third of today's children will become diabetic.

No child left without a big behind. Due to political policies and budgetary constraints, schools are being forced to reduce physical education programs and utilize that time for classroom instruction in order to prepare children for the onslaught of standardized tests. Schools receive funds and classifications based on "performance" standards (which are qualified strictly by standardized testing results). Ironically, and sadly, the more scientists and educators learn about the brain, the more evident it becomes that our children will perform better academically if more PE is included in their education--not less. Studies indicate that children perform better in math, science and language when regular physical activity is included in their daily schedule.

While grades are certainly important, physical activity boosts more than just a child's academic performance. Children who are physically active also have greater self-esteem and lower incidence of mood and emotional problems. With a shocking 2 million American children on anti-depressants or anti-psychotics, never before have American children needed the benefits of physical activity as they do now. Just like we spend the majority of our day at work, our children spend theirs at school. Our school system has failed our children by making PE a choice and not a requirement.

Parents of school aged children are finding that they must make it a point to include physical activity in the home. When your kids get home from school, turn off the TV and the video games and go outside with them. Ride bikes, go to the park, take walks, jog together or join the gym. Do it for your children and for yourself. Don't leave your child's health in the hands of a broken education system.