Richard Simmons' campaign to bring physical education classes back to schools is gaining some important supporters-- key policy makers on Capitol Hill. According to Simmons, he makes no apologies for his "impatience with the current presidential contest, characterizing it as a political circus that drowns out calls to address the real crisis in children's health and fitness".
Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act)
The purpose of the Fit Kids Act is to address the unprecedented childhood obesity epidemic. The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 31, 2007 by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Jay Inslee (R-WA); and was introduced in the U.S. Senate on October 17, 2007 by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). If enacted, the FIT Kids Act would amend the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act to require that all schools, districts and states include the quantity and quality of PE in the “report cards” currently sent to parents. It would also ensure that children get the support they need to be active and make healthy food choices.
Listen to an interview with Simmons on the topics of physical education, the Fit Kids Act and his ideas on the specifics of the reform effort to improve the quality and quantity of physical education in schools ...
