This topic contains 4 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by T.E. Sumner 9 years, 5 months ago.
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Phyical ED for everyone.
Started by Tammy Lovelady Gouthier
Our children are more obese now than we were 36 years ago when I graduated from high school. Blame that on fast food. And also blame that on lack of enough physical activities in all our lives. I never liked the practice of serving junk food for meals because it’s easier to warm up than really cook a good, tasty meals. The point of this being: there is not enough physical activity to counter act unhealthy diet and sedimentary life. Children need recess and play. Give them a chance to rest and be active. I think relieving all that pent up energy would improve class discipline. It will improve their learning environment. I was in band and marching band counted towards P.E. credit. That is just in the fall semester, but every kid should be required to take P.E. every semester. Just complaining about obesity doesn’t cut it. Talk the talk and walk the walk.
You will need to login to join the discussion.4RepliesMC Lambeth, 11 years ago
Ms. Gouthier –
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Obesity is indeed a serious issue. Texas requires that elementary school children have 135 minutes a week of physical activity, 30 minutes a day for middle school children, and high school student must have 1.0 credit of physical education to graduate (can be substituted but not exempted). http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=4&ti=19&pt=2&ch=116
How would you propose creating more time for P.E.? What are your thoughts on nutrition/health classes in addition to P.E. or in place of P.E.?Junior Aguirre, 10 years ago
I do not believe that the problem alone lies in physical education/activity.
A great part of the blame can be placed on the poor quality, or in some cases a lack, of nutritional education.Educating children in school isn’t enough, both children and parents need to be educated. Children need to be educated to ensure that when the time comes for them to make a nutritional decision, that they will have the necessary and right information to make the healthiest choice. The same would apply to parents.
Parents also need to be educated, more so through public awareness than through direct courses (as is the case in child education). No matter how well educated and aware a child may be, it is still the parents decision and responsibility to ensure that their children receive proper nutrition through a balanced and nutritious meal.The other method would be to improve funding for schools that participate in National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP). And/or ensure that schools, at least here in Texas, are providing the best nutritional meal that they can. That they are not only meeting standards set by the USDA, but are exceeding it. Maybe a better educated, more aware, state ran version of the program with only the health and nutrition of Texas as its one and only priority/goal.
A healthy nutritious meal, combined with regular physical activity, can severely improve the health and lives of millions of children, and adults, across Texas (and the rest of the country).
Junior Aguirre, 10 years ago
Or simply reward children who both excel in their classes AND participate in after school physical activities; both team and recreational sports.
T.E. Sumner, 9 years ago
Many ISDs have abandoned Physical Education as a physical activity. Yes, many still “teach” phys ed by taking written test and occasionally moving around on the basketball court. But, real physical exertion is pretty rare. More often than not phys ed is a get-together time to shoot the breeze, not shoot hoops.
