Oklahoma Students Lobby for P.E. Bill

2 hours, 47 minutes ago Health - AP


By TIM TALLEY, Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY - Fifth-graders appeared before a state House committee Monday to lobby for passage of legislation that would create a voluntary statewide physical fitness program. Physical education classes are not required in Oklahoma schools.

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The Oklahoma Kids Fitness Challenge Act is patterned after a program developed at Bridge Creek Elementary School that encourages fifth-graders to pursue a healthy lifestyle and at the same time teaches them about Oklahoma.


Students would take a virtual tour of the state by walking at least 25 miles a week, an average of 5 miles each school day, and relating their mileage to traveling between various points on a map, learning about the geography and history of the areas they pass along the way.


Instead of walking, students can do 25 sit-ups in two minutes three times a week.


"The benefits could be healthier bodies, healthier minds, reduced health costs. And exercise can reduce the chance of getting Alzheimer's," 11-year-old Cody Smith said. As he spoke, a line of his classmates held a banner that read "Oklahoma Kids Fitness Challenge."


"Everyone can do it if they put their mind to it," he said.


Ten-year-old Stefani Mize said the program was developed after students and teachers realized that obesity was becoming a problem at Bridge Creek.


"We saw that the obesity rate index for fifth graders at our school was an outrageous 32 percent," Stefani said, eliciting chuckles and admiration from some members of the House Common Education Committee.


"Can I use this young lady to present my bill?" said Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell.


Stefani said not having a physical education program at the school last year may have contributed to the obesity rate. The statewide obesity rate is 24.4 percent.


"The problem is that some schools don't have enough money to hire a PE teacher," Stefani said.


The bill's author, Rep. Susan Winchester, said the measure requires the Department of Education (news - web sites) to create an optional "Walk Across Oklahoma" program, with funding for pedometers and access to curriculum for teachers in school districts that participate.


"It's really voluntary. But it will be a resource," Winchester said.


State Superintendent of Schools Sandy Garrett said the proposal "is well-intentioned" but needs more work.


"I think a plan that targets one grade level isn't a good plan," Garrett said. She also said officials need to find time in the school day for students to walk 5 miles, which takes about one hour and 15 minutes.


The measure has the support of the Oklahoma Department of Parks and Recreation as well as Integris Medical Center and other private companies. Winchester said the measure will have no impact on state finances.


The bill, House Bill 1647, passed unanimously and was sent to the full House for action.

We had phys. ed when I went to elementary school in the early 80s and there were still plenty of fat kids.
Blame the parents and quit asking the schools to fix everything that the parents broke.

Only 37% of Oklahoma public school graduates are prepared for college. There a lot of things our school system needs to be concentrating on other than PE.

I can't conceive of school, especially grade school, where there is no phys ed. There is a phys ed requirement right through high school in New York.

--PunkDavid

I don't know what the requirements were, but I had phys ed through my sophomore year in high school. I swam competitively for all of high school and took 4 phys ed classes in college. I'm still fat.

Obviously, physical activity isn't everything and God knows that parents fuck up a lot, but I'll betcha that there is plenty of evidence that obesity is lower in communitites with required physical activity.

I had phys ed all the way through high school myself, but I wll also agree there were still fat kids. I played other sports and was constantly outside. Whether it was playing football or basketball with neighborhood kids or just riding our bikes around aimlessly, we tended to stay active outside of school. Parents these days need to lock away the Playstations and 300 channel satellite systems and tell their kids to go outside and be kids.

Roughly the same.

Schools should address what they're feeding kids before they address physical education.
We had "life sciences" requirements starting in 6th grade all the way through graduation. Health and diet MUST be worked into that type of schooling. Kids have a hard time grasping mitochondria, but diet and nutrition and more important AND easier to explain.

phys ed should be required...some people are going to be fat anyway, but that doesn't mean they are unhealthy

Shit. We had health class in 6th, 8th, and 10th grades also, and that's where we learned nutrition and sex ed and stuff like that. What kind of schools do they have in the rest of the country?

People here complain about the NY state schools, but at least they had a standard curriculum of high quality. And don't tell me it's because Oklahoma is spending their energies concentrating on important things like science and math either.

--PunkDavid

Good point. I'm skinny, I get no exercise, and I feel like I'm gonna die some days.

--PunkDavid

that's strange that OK doesn't have P.E. requirements.

in TX you take it through 8th grade, and then have to take it for 1.5 years in high school.

This kid is off to a bad start.

PE is not a panacea, but I think there is merit in teaching (this is school, after all) kids healthy habits, and daily exercise should be one of them.

we were required through 8th grade too..but high school we had the option of it and other various electives...i only took it twice, i wish i'd taken it more

i took it all 4 years.

It's been several years, but Ohio required two semesters in college. Most of us took it in summer school. It was 3 weeks from 8-12 with Fridays off. You didn't have to go back to class or anything like that. It was pretty cool.

i'm trying to remember what i took in its place and scholars bowl is the only thing springing to mind, because i'm sure there wasn't anything else i liked all that much better than PE

Exactly.