Money wins again over healthy lifestyle choices for our children. 

            A lot of schools are now teaching Spanish in classrooms because when children our younger it is easier for them to learn.  Imagine if we took that approach to learning healthy lifestyle choices when it comes to healthy food choices and daily exercise.  The only excuse I keep hearing is it cost too much money for us to make sure our children our healthy.  Once again money trumps P.E. from public school systems where are children spend the majority of their time from age 4 to age 18.  Just a current reminder of how little health is a concern for the people who should be doing everything they can to make sure our children stay healthy and live long healthy lives.

            As I was looking through the Richmond Times Dispatch online this morning I came across an article titled “McDonnell rejects PE requirements for students”.  Stating Bob McDonnell veto’s a bill for 150 hours a week of PE in for public elementary and middle schools (Meola, 2011).  Bob McDonnell vetoed the bill saying it was not an admirable fat fighting objective and saying it was an unfunded mandate he would not feel comfortable with (Meola, 2011). 

Governor Bob McDonnell

           

            Health advocacy groups are pushing for the bill to become law to help fight childhood obesity (Meola, 2011).  Lawmakers are unable to override this veto because the House voted 55-40 (Meola, 2011).   Sen. Ralph Northam who says he will do anything for children’s health is disappointed with the veto but he understands Governor McDonnell’s decision (Meola, 2011).  McDonnell says he agrees with the goal of the bill but not the million dollar approach (Meola, 2011).  “The Virginia chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association said McDonnell "missed an unprecedented opportunity to help address childhood obesity, a pressing and costly public health crisis”” (Meola, 2011). According to healthy advocacy groups nearly one in three children in the state of VA our overweight or obese (Meola, 2011). McDonnell acknowledges the efforts and says he will work on the issue over the next year and also says “government alone can’t slim down children” (Meola, 2011)

            I have a hard time understanding why money trumps healthy children who will become unhealthy adults which will cost more than millions of dollars in healthcare each year.  Overall money seems to be the main issue in fighting childhood obesity in our public school systems.  If you want this to change I urge you to write to your local representative and fight for your child’s right to be healthy.

Meola, O. (2011, March 25). McDonnell rejects PE requirement for students. Times Dispatch. (Richmond). Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/mar/25/8/tdmain01-mcdonnell-rejects-pe-requirement-for-stud-ar-926759/.

Image: Governor McDonnell (2011, March 25).  Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/mar/25/8/tdmain01-mcdonnell-rejects-pe-requirement-for-stud-ar-926759/.

Is physical education and health less important than math or science class?

            Childhood obesity in the public school systems not only comes from the high fat and high sugar foods that are being served for breakfast, lunch, for snacks from vending machines but also a lack of gym and physical education classes.  Some schools even making gym class an elective instead of a mandatory class, adding fuel to the already burning fire of teaching our children un-healthy life lessons.

            Not only are we feeding our children high fat and high sugar foods for breakfast, lunch, and snacks in school but gym and recess have recently become something of little or non-existent.  “According to the U.S. Surgeon General, only one half of U.S. children get regular exercise, and one fourth don’t take part in physical activity at all”(Worsnop,1997).

Physical education remains on the top of the chopping block when school funding gets tight and a lot of people say even when there are physical education classes in school most of the time is spent getting dressed, listening to instructions and waiting to take part in an activity (Worshop,1997).  Studies also show that children who are physically active do better in school, are less likely to get pregnant or suffer from depression and more likely to stay in school(Worsnop,1997).

Some schools have begun to offer different activities such as in line skating, dance, and tennis so that kids can come right in and choose what they would enjoy doing, making it easier for kids to exercise because they are choosing things that they enjoy and can still participate in as they become adults (Worsnop,1997). Also understanding that when children are less active they become adults who are less likely to be active also causing major concerns in health that are associated with being overweight(Worsnop,1997).       

 Electronics is another major contributor to children being overweight and not wanting to participate in physical fitness activities (Worsnop,1997).  Children choose computers, T.V. and video games over spending time playing sports or being outside riding bikes.  Some even say we are becoming too smart to be in shape (Worsnop,1997).  Saying over the years we have become so consumed with making technology to make up for physical movement such as remote control garage openers or remote car starters instead of taking two minutes to walk outside and open your garage or starting your car(Worsnop,1997).

People should look at school physical education as an introductory course for lifelong physical activity (Worsnop, 1997).  Overweight children are more than likely going to become overweight adults putting a higher strain on medical insurance, medicare and medicaid and causing major health problems.  Children need to learn at an early age how important physical education and physical activity are so that they can become adults who know the importance of being physically fit and the importance of enjoying physical activity making for a healthier and longer life.

Worsnop, R. L. (1997, September 26). Youth fitness. CQ Researcher, 7, 841-864. Retrieved from CQ Researcher on March 7, 2011.