Reps rally for more school PE
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 4:03 PM CDT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following testimony at a House Education and Labor Committee Hearing, fitness guru Richard Simmons joined with U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Zach Wamp (R-TN), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Ric Keller (R-FL), and Mike McIntyre (D-NC), representatives of the American Heart Association, educators and kids to rally for greater emphasis on physical education in schools.
The group called for the passage of the “Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids (FIT Kids) Act” (H.R. 3257), authored by Reps. Kind, Wamp and Inslee, which would combat childhood obesity by amending No Child Left Behind to support quality physical education for all public school children through grade 12 and ensure they receive important health and nutritional information. The bipartisan bill enjoys nearly 70 co-sponsors.
“It’s a simple concept: healthy minds need healthy bodies,” said U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, who is a co-chair of the Congressional Fitness Caucus. “Putting a greater emphasis on PE and nutrition in schools will not only go a long way to our kids on a healthier path in life, we’ll also see the benefits in their math and reading test scores, and get to the root of the obesity epidemic. It’s time to ‘Leave No Child On Their Behind’ and get this done for our kids.”
The FIT Kids Act supports making physical education a factor in measuring schools’ progress. Specifically, the bill would provide information to parents and the public by requiring all schools, districts and states to report on students’ physical activity. This information would include the amount of time spent in required physical education in relation to the recommended national standard and the percentage of age-appropriate physical education curriculum and certified physical education teachers.
In addition, the bill promotes physical education and activity in school programs, supports professional development for faculty and staff to promote kids’ healthy lifestyles and physical activity, and authorizes a study and pilot program to support effective ways to combat childhood obesity and im-prove healthy living and physical activity for all children.
A student advocate, Robert Kaiser, 18, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., helped to successfully lobby for passage of a PE bill in Florida that mandates 150 minutes per week of PE in elementary schools. Once overweight, he joined sports, lost weight, gained strength and confidence. to help others, he established a teen council and succesfully lobbied for passage of a PE bill in Florida that mandates 150 minutes per week of P.E. in elementary schools. He is the only youth-appointed member on the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.
elementary schools. At one time overweight, he joined sports, lost weight and gained strength and confidence. To help others, he established a teen council and successfully lobbied for passage of a PE bill in Florida that mandates 150 minutes per week of PE in elementary schools. He is the only youth-appointed member on the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness. |
Archives