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My children are not yet in the PPS system, but will likely be in the coming years. The proposed decision to drop PE classes uniformly across elementary schools is of great concern to myself and other parents (as indicated by the percent of parents opposing the idea). Studies have shown that reduced physical activity of children is associated with 2 big problems (1) increased classroom management problems and (2) higher percentages of overweight children. To address the first point, increases in classroom management problems lead to less effective instruction, and subsequently lowered achievement. To address the second issue, we are in a decade where childhood obesity is at its greatest, and it seems important to address what has become a national epidemic, not promote the problem. The way to do this would be to increase activities shown to improve the problem (i.e., physical activity), not reduce them. Kids simply need physical activity. The outcome to both of these points will in the long-term, lead to increases in behavioral problems, lowered academic achievement, and increased rates of child obesity. It simply seems like a short-sighted solution to a financial problem that will likely result in much greater costs to the health care system and education system in the long run.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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