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GARY
FANDEL/THE REGISTER
On
the move: Seventh-graders at Des Moines' Callanan Middle School play
scooter soccer in physical education class Wednesday.
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Health
School days have less exercise time
More attention to reading and math means less chance for physical
activity, teachers say.
By
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
January 13, 2005
Students probably will have to look outside the school day in order to
get the hour of daily exercise recommended under new federal guidelines
announced Wednesday, educators said.
"I'm not sure we can promise
60 minutes during the school day when we're trying to get more math and
reading in there," said Jerry Clutts , Des Moines' deputy director of
elementary and middle school programs. "It's got to be a partnership thing
- home and school."
The dietary and exercise guidelines also called
for youngsters to exercise 60 minutes a day when they were last updated in
2000.
In the past five years, however, the time students spend in the
classroom has increased while time allotted for physical education and
recess has been slashed, said educators from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
Budget cuts and federal education accountability laws have caused the
change.
In some Des Moines elementary schools, students have
physical education class for 30 minutes once a week, instead of the
preferred 60 minutes a week, officials said.
The Davenport school district has trimmed the amount of recess students
have so they can spend more time on reading and math.
Nationally,
educators have searched for ways to help students eat more healthfully and
exercise more to stem rising childhood obesity rates. Schools have offered
healthier meal choices, shifted the focus of gym class away from team
games to individual fitness, and eliminated sugary and fatty snacks in
vending machines.
Mary O'Connor , a physical education teacher at
Callanan Middle School, said she has noticed a decline in students' level
of fitness during her 14 years of teaching. Schools have a role in solving
the problem, she said.
"Districts are struggling with where to put their dollars," she said.
"Hopefully, they'll see in the long run if they keep taking away from
physical education, it's going to hurt students."
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