For many kids, physical education class is the
only exercise they get. Generally, once the school day ends…
“A lot of kids don’t work out. They don’t
do anything. They just sit and watch t-v, “ says 15-year
old Courtney.
According to a national survey done by the Centers for Disease
Control, 60-percent of kids age 9 to 13 don’t participate
in sports or other coached activities outside school.
“Some kids don’t get to work out at home and
they don’t know the importance of it,” says Michael,
15.
16-year old Catherine says, ”I think if we start at
a younger age and progressively make students exercise and
put a greater emphasis on p-e, then maybe students will get
the point.”
The problem is p-e isn’t what it used to be. According
to the National Association for Sports and Physical Education,
only 26-percent of high school students take p-e daily. 40-percent
get no p-e at all.
“It sets the norm for the school culture that physical
education, physical activity is not so important, it’s
not something that is incorporated into our daily routine,”
says Howell Wechsler with the CDC.
Experts say sports and p-e help to create an athletic “identity”
so that kids start thinking about exercise as a fundamental
part of who they are.
16-year old Adam agrees. “Just getting early habits
now is going to help later on.”
“[That is especially true] on the elementary and middle
school levels because to me that’s when you develop
a lot of your habits,” says Cynthia Brogdon, a former
professional athlete and current high school health director.
Experts say parents play a more important role now than
ever especially because p-e has been curtailed or even eliminated
at so many schools. Health officials say parents should work
out with their children and develop creative activities that
get them moving.
15-year old Ajsia says that is advice to live by. “These
are our teenage years and you know we’re getting older
so we should start with the good habits of working out and
eating right.”
Courtney agrees. “When you set habits now, they’ll
follow you into your adult years and as adults it’ll
just be something that you’ll do regularly.”
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