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School nutrition and activity
 
 



Physical Education Classes, Are They Enough?
 
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 06:10 PM Updated: 04:23 PM
 
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By Randi Hempel
E-mail | Biography
A study last month warned that for the first time ever, American children are not expected to outlive their parents.
Check out these numbers. Almost 20% of American kids ages 6 to 11 are obese. Teens are close behind at just over 17%.
Today, 3 On Your Side Education Reporter, Randi Hempel, talked to some Savannah-Chatham educators and students about what's being done "in" school to help curve that trend...
Coach Jackie Dixon has been teaching physical education for 24 years and in that time, "times" have changed.
"We would see the kids every day and we would have a set time where we would get them for at least 30 minutes, if not 60." Explains Shuman Middle School Physical Education Teacher, Jackie Dixon.
Now, the classes are between 50 and 60 minutes. (with the block 8 scheduling.)
Here's how the health and physical education programs work in Savannah-Chatham middle schools. Students take 9 weeks of PE and a separate 9 weeks of health on alternating days. But, the way the Georgia Department of Education Code is written, it only says that schools should "make available" health and physical education classes.
In high school, there are only two required classes, with other PE classes as just "electives."
"Is that enough?" I ask the district’s director of health and physical education.
"Well as a health educator, of course, I would love to see physical education and health the whole year, but with other academics required um to move on to the next level, it's just not possible but we're doing a lot more than some other districts are doing.” explains Michele Hartzell , Director of Health and Physical Education for Savannah Chatham Schools.
Some students wish they had more time.
“What do you think about that? Do you think you should have it longer?” I ask a Shuman Middle 7th Grader.
“The whole year.” Answers Jasmine Ellison, who loves physical education class.
Elementary students have PE every 4-6 days and have 30 minutes of activity on non-PE days.
“In an ideal world, what would you like the pe requirements to be across the district?” I ask Hartzell.
“In an ideal world, I would like to see at least physical education every other day.” responds Hartzell.
And, she says, some sort of activity every day.
As we told you last week, the district is working to evaluate the physical education programs they have in place, to see how they can do things better. We as parents can do our part to keep our children active and physically fit.
Michele Hartzell, director of health and physical education says we can get involved. Here are some suggestions:
Go outside and walk with your children before or after dinner. Go on bike rides or jump rope. Go to the park, bring a frisbee, ball or even roller blades.