.gif) Education
P.E. or not? Some kids in D.M. get choice
By KATHY
A. BOLTEN
Register Staff Writer
08/26/2003
Many of Des Moines' top high school students this year are being
allowed to skip gym class because they have full academic schedules.
Students who spend part of their school day at Central Campus
taking advanced academic classes and take about six courses, or
those who are enrolled in select vocational programs, learned this
month that they no longer must attend a once-a-week physical
education class held before or after school.
The move, prompted by budget cuts, comes at a time when national
experts are worried about a dramatic increase in overweight and
sedentary children, as well as the related increase in children with
obesity-related diabetes.
"For many kids, (P.E.) could possibly be the only activity they
have all day," said Dr. Mark Reinertson, Cedar Rapids pediatrician
and chairman of the school health committee for the American Academy
of Pediatrics.
National studies show that about 15 percent of U.S. youngsters
ages 6 through 19 are severely overweight or obese. That proportion
has doubled over the past 20 years.
Some students, however, said they won't miss taking P.E. In fact,
they think more students should be excused from gym class.
"Every other kid in the school district should have that option,
too, especially if they are taking a full load of academic classes.
It's not fair that just a few students don't have to go to P.E.,"
said Jay Kozel, a Roosevelt High School junior who doesn't have to
take gym this year.
Most students who have a full course load but who don't travel to
Central Campus still are required to take gym.
About 155 students took a physical education class either before
or after school at Central Campus last year, but when the school
lost a half-time physical education position this year,
Administrator Gary McClanahan decided to eliminate the before- and
after-school gym classes.
Iowa law requires high school students "to participate in
physical education activities during each semester they are enrolled
in school." However, if students attend classes held away from their
high school, they can be excused from taking physical education, the
law says. In addition, 12th-graders who carry full academic
schedules can be excused from gym class.
Schools, however, can't eliminate physical education altogether.
The class must still be offered during the school day, which Central
Campus is doing, although students with a full slate of academic
classes are automatically being excused from taking it.
"This doesn't mean students can't enroll in P.E. They have the
option of taking it at their home school instead of some other
class," McClanahan said.
Sarah Rowat, an East High School sophomore, said all students who
have full class schedules should be allowed to skip gym, not just
those who attend Central Campus.
This school year Rowat is taking band and jazz band, geometry,
biology, English, world history and second-year Spanish. She will
take physical education on alternating days with jazz band.
"It's not fair that only the people who go to Central can get out
of gym class," she said. "Other students with full schedules should
be able to, too. Band may not be considered academic, but it can be
a career for people."
Roosevelt Principal Anita Micich said, "So many of our kids carry
heavy academic loads that they didn't have a place for P.E. . . . I
think it's important for our young people to be fit, but will that
one-day-a-week class make them physically fit?"
Educators, including Micich, say young people need to learn that
it's important to remain active and physically fit throughout their
entire lives. Many of today's gym classes aren't designed to convey
that message, they say.
Austin Draude, an East freshman, said students should take part
in a gym class if they aren't involved in other things that require
physical activity.
"With the amount of kids who are obese, gym is a very good idea,"
said Draude, who is excused from gym. The freshman is a soccer
referee and routinely jogs and walks his family's dogs.
A study in California released nearly two years ago showed that
80 percent of that state's adolescents were physically unfit.
"There's no reason to believe Iowa's youth are in any better
shape than California's youth," said Ed Thomas, with the Iowa
Department of Education. But, because Iowa doesn't have
state-mandated physical education tests like some other states, "we
don't know what kind of shape our youth are in."
Many health experts say there is a strong correlation between
academic achievement and physical activity. Students who are
physically fit are more likely to excel in the classroom, they
say.
Still, some health experts say that allowing some students to
skip gym class may not be a wise move.
"From a health standpoint . . . I think it becomes more important
the older they get, because younger kids tend to be more active
anyway," said Reinertson.
Hoover gives juniors option
CHANGE: Most of Hoover High School's freshmen and sophomores
will take physical education every day this school year and next,
said Principal Connie Cook. The students won't have to take the
class during their junior or senior years at the Des Moines school
unless they request it, she said.
HISTORY: In past years, most of Hoover's ninth- through
11th-graders had a gym class every day. If seniors met district
requirements, they took senior P.E. one day a week. State law
requires P.E. to be on their schedules.
ELECTIVES: Some Hoover students, in order to enroll in more
elective courses, began taking gym once a week, either during the
school day or before school, Cook said.
APPROVAL: Hoover officials last spring received district
approval to offer gym every day to freshmen and sophomores and scale
back gym offerings for juniors and seniors. Cook emphasized that
juniors and seniors who want to take gym class are being allowed to
take the class. Juniors and seniors have the option of being excused
from the class if they are carrying a full class load, she
said.
Register Staff Writer Brianna Blake contributed to this report.
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