PE in our nations schools: Health community commentary

I ran across a nice piece entitled: PE in Our Nation’s Schools A case of "many children left behind" and a nice "FIT" for health care by Dr. Mike McGee on the Health Commentary website.

His position is that it is time to take on the issue of the lack of physical education in schools, which more and more advocates are characterizing as a public health issue. As more of a typical child's school day is given over to math or reading instruction, time for physical activity--recess or physical education -- has all but evaporated in many schools. A number of education and public health advocates are quite concerned about the public health implications of childhood obesity coupled with the erosion of physical/health education."

The article addresses the childhood obesity crisis, and cites data from the CDC and public policy reports on the issue. In conclusion the article looks at " The Fit Kids Act" legislation now before congress and concludes, "The Fit Kids Act sounds like a great "fit" for advancing this nation's preventive health.

Related Research Citations:
Learning First Alliance: Strengthening Public Schools for Every Child
Status of Overweight Kids in America.
Exercise and Childhood Obesity
2006 Shape of the nation report: Status of physical education in the USA
S.2173, The FIT Kids Act.

The Real Story Behind Obesity.

Pass Fitness Test or Repeat PE

For freshmen students in California Public Schools physical fitness testing has a new meaning this year.



Pass 5 out of 6 fitness items or continue taking PE until you do. California's high schools have traditionally worked around Education Code and exempted students from taking PE in 11th and 12 grade. This year that will change as a result of the new legislation.

Under legislation taking effect this school year by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, many freshmen now must pass five of the six fitness tests this spring or face a significant new consequence this fall: Those who fail must take physical education again as sophomores, where they will face the same testing hurdles. Each year that they continue to fail two or more tests means another year of P. E.

In two schools districts in central California last year about 67 percent of ninth-graders met the five-out-of-six passing rate. District representatives expect that number to rise this spring because the tests have been such a big focus this year.

For more on New Legislation on CA Fitness Testing.....

Bullying Programs :Why they succeed or fail

Listen to Podcast on Bullying Programs. Why bullying programs fail or succeed.
Thirty-Six states have passed anti-bullying legislation which is indicative of the growing concern over bullying in schools. The tipping point for bullying has been the school shootings where 3/4 of all shooters reported being bullied or harassed. Clearly, bullying has captured the nation’s attention.

This podcast reviews the components and philosophy behind bullying intervention programs that succeed or fail.

Stop Bullying Now Program Link: http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov

Florida Passes Nation's Toughest Bullying Legislation

Florida legislature passes what is being described as the nations toughest bullying law called the "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Kids Act". The new bullying legislation passed the Senate and Governor Crist has indicated that he'll sign it into law according to Nick.com.

Jeffrey Johnson was a student that took his own life after three years of experiencing bullying at school and on the internet. His mother, Debbie Johnson lead the fight to get the bullying bill passed.

The bill requires schools to follow up on reports of bullying by contacting parents of students involved, according to ABC news. The hammer however is that schools will lose their funding if they don't comply.

Other posts on bullying:

"Golden Rule Act" Anti Bullying Bill Passes

The Bully and the Bystander

Hero in the Hallway - You tube Bullying Video

Smile at the Bully Button

Bullying UK Resources

Judge Slashes Jury's $4 Million Payout To Boy In Bullying Case

Oklahoma moves to increase physical activity in schools

New legislation in Oklahoma has passed doubling the amount of class time devoted to physical activity includeing: physical education, exercise programs, fitness breaks, wellness and nutrition education for the state's youngest students. The bill calls for an increase from 60 minutes a week to 120 minutes a week. The requirement will apply to students in kindergarten through the fifth grade.

The measure was approved by the Senate on Tuesday and now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.

Policy makers acknowledged an obligation to do all they can to reverse a growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

Status on State Legislation on Physical Education

State Legislatures, a publication of the National Conference of State Legislatures, featured this article, "PE Makes a Comeback," in its December 2007 issue. It gives an excellent overview of state legislative initiatives going on around the country.


Read more on PE MAKES A COMEBACK

Don't miss the last PEP phone conference opportunity

Don't miss the second PEP Grant technical assistance call in opportunity today.

Don't miss the final two technical assistance phone conferences for people interested in applying for 2008 PEP Grants.

Below is the call-in information for the PEP Technical Assistance calls:

Call Date - 2/28/08
Panel Chair - Debbie Kalnasy
Time - 2:30 pm ET
Duration: 1 ½ hours
Toll-Free Number - (866) 209-6102
Conference ID # - 36180127
"You don't need to register in advance for these calls."

Call Date - 3/4/08
Panel Chair - Debbie Kalnasy
Time - 2:00 pm ET
Duration: 1 ½ hours
Toll-Free Number - (866) 209-6102
Conference ID # - 36179533
"You don't need to register in advance for these calls."

Everything you need to Succeed in applying for a PEP Grant!

IF you are planning on applying for a PEP Grant check out the Peaceful Playgrounds PEP Grant writing materials.

1. 2008 Grant Summary Application Information

2. PEP Narrative for Peaceful Playgrounds Program

3. PEP Budget for Peaceful Playgrounds, We Count Walking Program and Fundamental Movement Programs.

4. PEP Budget

5. 2008 PEP Grant Application


6. PEP 2008 Application Scoring Rubric

$75.655 million in PEP (Physical Education Program) 2008 grants

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) has announced that $75.655 million in PEP (Physical Education Program) grants will be awarded this calendar year (2008). This represents a $3 million increase from the amount distributed in 2007.

Peaceful Playgrounds, , and WE Count Pedometer Walking Programs have been supported across the nation through submission of the PEP Grant Application. Additionally, Peaceful Playgrounds has a PEP Grant writing support page with tips, hints and language for getting your PEP Grant funded.

According to SGMA, for the third consecutive year, Congress rebuffed the President's desire to eliminate PEP at a time when the Department of Education's budget was targeted for cuts.

Since the initial PEP grants in 2001, more than $400 million in PEP grants have been awarded to school districts and community based organizations. PEP funds have successfully enhanced K-12 physical education and community based organizations' physical activity programs across the country. PEP grants are used for professional development training; equipment (balls, bean bags etc), and Physical Education curriculum like Fundamental Movement and recess programs that increase children's physical activity levels like Peaceful Playgrounds and the We Count Walking Program which earned national recognition for After School Promising Practices .

The Gratitude Campaign

It's called The Gratitude Campaign. It was a man from the Seattle area's idea to help us all express our graditude to individual soldiers and sailors (both men and women) when we pass them on the street. It's a peaceful 'salute' that can be done from a distance and it saves you the Herculean effort of thinking of just the right words to say to a stranger that has put their life in danger by serving in the US Military. This gentle hand signal will say it all. Click on this web page and tap the "full length movie" words if it doesn't start automatically (it's just a couple of minutes long) If you want to learn more there are other active links on that page too.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php


No matter what your feelings are about the current war, the people that decided our youth would be in it or your political party during this national campaign season....this is a way to show graditude that it isn't YOU in the trenches by sending a kind, simple signal to those who are! Now I can't wait to get to do this!! I'm planing a trip that will take me half way across the country and will give me the chance in 3 different airports to see a military person and and show them my gratitude for their personal sacrifices. I'm sure I won't have to say "I hope it's all over soon and you can come home for good and peace will fill the world" everybody feels that way! and we're all looking for the people we feel can best lead this country cause that to happen. May God Bless us to cast our votes in such a way!

Click on this web page and pass it on!

PE Campaign: For the Children

The nation's second largest school system (Los Angeles Unified School District) has launched a Physical Education Campaign: Helping Students Move More, Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Do Their Best in School.

Components of the Campaign include:

First, a 55:1 cap on class size. WOW. 55 students to one teacher??? This seems outrageous. How can one teacher teacher 55 students?

Second, twenty-a-day: enforce California Education Code which mandates an average of 20 minutes of physical education every day for elementary school students.

Third, a certificated PE instructor at every elementary school.

Given the facts reported below by the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) it seems the situation is at an alarming state.

At LAUSD’s South Gate High School, 1,600 children took the state Fitnessgram test and not one child passed. Forty schools did not have a single physically fit student. Less than 10% of students were physically fit in nearly one-third of the 605 schools in LAUSD. Only eight schools had student populations that are more than 50% physically fit.

These statistics spell out an alarming situation in which a school system is failing its students- miserably- inequitably- forgivingly......

More on UTLA's PE Campaign for Children...

Children’s physical fitness should be priority in Congress

Amy Heuer; Bismarck, The Jamestown Sun

Two recent studies published by the New England Journal of Medicine on childhood obesity provide greater evidence that children are in dire need of quality physical education programs in schools. Overweight children have an increased risk for heart disease in adulthood as early as age 25, and are prone to premature heart attacks and strokes. Bottom line, our children are in trouble, and particularly here in North Dakota.

Congress has an opportunity to help improve the health and well-being of our children by supporting the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act, which amends the No Child Left Behind Act to encourage schools to increase physical education and give children the tools they need to stay fit and healthy through adulthood. Not only is a fit child at less risk for future heart disease, studies show they also achieve more academically.

Rising levels of overweight are negatively effecting children’s health and quality of life. The increase in childhood obesity is linked to a dramatic rise in the number of children suffering from type 2 diabetes. If current trends continue, adolescents with type 2 diabetes may experience heart disease symptoms beginning as young as age 30 to 40.

Giving the nation’s children a head start on physical fitness to reduce their risk for obesity-related diseases should be a priority for Congress in 2008. The FIT Kids Act will not only fill a void in NCLB, it will also give children the tools they need to lead healthier lives.

Heuer is president of North Dakota Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, as well as, a Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Grant writer/director bringing Peaceful Playgrounds a physical activity recess program to 10 local schools in North Dakota.

Tax-credit gifts give boost to Peoria schools

Charles Kelly
The Arizona Republic

Your tax-credit donation can aid students in the Peoria Unified School District in many ways.

Rae Conelley, principal at Alta Loma Elementary School, can list a variety of them.

"We have used tax-credit money for so many opportunities that we might never have had," Conelley said. "The money that our patrons donate to us through the Arizona Tax Credit system has been used for programs that keep our children participating and interested in school."

Seventh-graders and their after-school mentors are using a program called Jump Start for Math, the physical-education department has a new softball- pitching machine and the after-school tutoring program has new books and supplies, all purchased with tax-credit funds. If a child can't afford to attend a class field trip, tax-credit money can be used to help him or her take part.

Students at Alta Loma also have been exposed to various arts opportunities through tax-credit-funded programs. They were able to bring in artist-in-residence Sara Yeager to help the after-school Drama Club present Danny, King of the Basement and to invite musician Dr. Jesse Maguire to perform the national anthem for the Alta Loma Patriotic Presentation last year.

"This year, we are hoping to purchase materials for the Peaceful Playground so that students can stay active wheen they are outside and have something safe to do," Conelley said.

Arizona tax law allows an individual taxpayer a tax credit of up to $200 or a married couple filing a joint return a credit of up to $400. The donor is able to get the exact amount back from the state when filing a return.

All the donated funds go directly to the school and program selected by the contributor. Or a contributor can decide to direct the donation to schools with the greatest need.

New Jersey Legislator to Propose Statewide Mandatory Daily Recess

A group of concerned parents met with state Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington, Mercer) in his office in Jackson on Nov. 21 to discuss the idea of making student recess mandatory in all New Jersey school districts.

During the meeting Malone presented the parents with a proposed bill that would establish a task force to examine the issue of school recess.

Malone asked the parents to review the bill he said he would propose in the Legislature.

The bill would establish a task force on public school student recess. It states that "it will be the duty of the task force to examine current data, research, programs, and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual benefits achieved by young students as a result of participation in school recess; identify effective strategies for schools that promote lifelong health and prepare children and youth for physically active lifestyles; examine the extent to which recess is provided to students in school districts across the state of New Jersey; and develop recommendations on the advisability of mandating daily recess in all school districts."

The final outcome of the task force would be to issue a report on its findings to the governor and the Legislature recommending a Statewide Mandatory Daily Recess Requirement.

More on mandatory recess

CSBA sues State of CA over mandated costs

The California School Boards Association and several districts have sued the state for nearly $1 billion, saying the state's deferral of payments for 38 mandatory programs violates the state of California's constitution. The lawsuit claims that districts are forced to divert limited educational funding to support state-mandated programs such as student health screenings and attendance-figure reporting.

Physical education and health educators may be interested in the following items included in the suit:
AIDS Prevention Instruction ($3,968,036)
Physical Education Reports ($3000)
Physical Performance Tests ($1,437,872)
Pupil Health Screenings ($ 3,949,640)
Scoliosis Training ($2,304,813)

European Parliament: PE should be mandatory in schools

Physical education should be compulsory in school and children should have at least three physical education lessons a week, says an own-initiative report adopted by MEPs with 590 votes in favor 56 against and 21 abstentions. The number of children who are overweight or obese is growing by an estimated 400,000 per year, yet, according to a study for the Culture Committee, the average time that primary schools allocate to physical education has fallen from 121 to 109 minutes per week since 2002.

The report calls on Member States to make physical education compulsory in primary and secondary schools, ensure that the timetable includes at least three physical education lessons a week, and ensure "a higher degree of integration" between sports and academic subjects.

MEPs underline that physical education is the only school subject that seeks to prepare children for a healthy lifestyle and focuses on their physical and mental development.

MEPs also stress the need for better sports facilities and recommends that EU structural funds be used to create school and other sports facilities in disadvantaged areas.

"F as Fat" : Obesity Policies Are Failing in America

Obesity has dominated media headlines over the past few years as the
nation has begun to recognize it is a serious health crisis.

"F as Fat", a new document released by the Trust for America's Health points out how obesity policies are failing in America. The 118 page reports covers such topics as

1. Obesity Rates and Related Trends

2. Obesity and State Policy: A review of legislation and initiatives;

3. Obesity and Federal Policy: An update of federal obesity-related initia-
tives

4. Physical Activity policies and data by state

5. Experts Survey of potential strategies

6. Recommendations

F as Fat is a must read for all those concerned about obesity.

For a copy, visit http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2007/Obesity2007Report.pdf

Play Every Day Legislation

S 651 PLAY Every Day Act 2/15/07

To help promote the national recommendation of physical activity to kids, families, and communities across the United States. The Secretary of Education, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall provide grants to State health departments to enable the State health departments to work in partnership with eligible community-based coalitions to plan and implement model communities of play. They shall use grant funds in partnership with community coalitions to carry out a community action plan and promote a model community of play, by enabling the maximum use of, or the creation of, spaces and places for physical activity for children, families, and communities before, during, and after school or work. This may include increasing the number of schools serving the community that provide recess, physical education, and physical activity for children and youth.

Sponsors: Harken, Clinton

Co-sponsors: Bingaman, Hagel, Landrieu, Mikulski, Sanders, Boxer, Durbin, Inouye, Menendez, Nelson

Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions


HR 2045 PLAY Every Day Act 4/27/07
House version.

Sponsors: Udall, Granger, Boswell, McIntyre, Cummings

Co-sponsors: Abercrombie, Allen, Blumenauer, Alexander, Bishop, Bordallo, Boucher, Brady, Braley, Capps, Carson, Castor, Chandler, Christensen, Cohen, Delahunt, Doyle, Duncan, English, Etheridge, Filner, Fortuno, Frank, Gerlach, Gillibrand, Gonzalez, Gordon, Green, Hastings, Hinchey, Hinojosa, Israel, Jefferson, Kind, LaHood, Lewis, Maloney, Markey, Marshall, McGovern, McNulty, Miller, Moran, Musgrave, Myrick, Napolitano, Norton, Olver, Pastor, Payne, Price, Ramstad, Renzi, Rothman, Salazar, Schakowsky, Snyder, Souder, Towns, Weiner

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

Please look this legislation over, and if your Senator or Representative is not listed in the sponsorship, contact them and ask for their support. You can find their contact information at www.congress.org.

Oregon Law Requires "Exercise" beginning in 2017

A new law that will take effect in 2017 will require all Oregon schoolchildren to work toward physical fitness at school.

Once taken for granted as a by product of children's playtime, physical fitness is now a state mandate for school kids through eighth grade.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed a bill last week requiring 150 minutes of physical education a week for grades kindergarten through 5 and 225 minutes a week for grades 6 through 8 in an attempt to combat prevalent childhood obesity.

The law, effective in fall 2017, specifies that half of that time must be used for exercise.

Most elementary schools in Jackson County don't include formal physical education in the school day. Physical activity comes as a part of recess or informal activities initiated by teachers. Recess cannot be counted as physical education under the law.

NCLB Effect on Physical Education and Recess.

In the five years since a federal law (No Child Left Behind) mandated an expansion of reading and math tests, 44 percent of school districts nationwide have made deep cutbacks in social studies, science, art and music lessons, physical education, recess in elementary grades and have even slashed lunchtime, a new survey has found.

The Center on Education Policy found that 36 percent of school districts surveyed cut elementary class time for social studies in the past five years, 28 percent reduced time for science, 20 percent for lunch, 16 percent for art and music, 9 percent for physical education and 5 percent for recess.