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Principals' rep: Focus is on tests, not health Washington --- The pursuit of higher test scores in reading and math
hurts the drive for better nutrition and fitness policies in schools, the head
of a principals' group told the Healthy Schools Summit on Monday. "Educators are continually under pressure to improve academic
achievement and to be held accountable for their students' test scores,"
said Gerald Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary
School Principals, based in Alexandria, Va. Principals "value the importance of nutrition, health and
physical activity," Tirozzi said. "At the same time, they are not
encouraged nor are they rewarded for providing leadership in those areas." The No Child Left Behind Act signed in January by President Bush
rewards and punishes schools for scores on reading and math tests but not for
students acquiring good habits for eating and exercising. On the opening day of the two-day summit of more than 500 experts
and leaders from 30 national education, health, business and union groups, most
speakers praised goals agreed to during a year of preparations. The goals ranged from requiring daily physical education classes for
all students --- a standard tougher than those in every state except Illinois
--- to allowing every student at least 20 minutes to eat lunch, a standard
missed by one-fifth of the nation's public schools. "The reality check is that principals do not have the time nor
the support nor the resources nor the staff nor the local autonomy to meet all
the complex needs of children --- academic, social, emotional, health and
physical," Tirozzi said. He is a former principal who served in the
Department of Education under President Clinton. Most of them will "concentrate their energies on tests"
and continue to raise money "for essential school programs" through
deals for vending machines that sell not just healthy foods but also junk food,
Tirozzi said. Former Surgeon General David Satcher said: "If principals are
having to make decisions to sell fats and sweets to children because they need
to support the curriculum, that's not their problem. It's our problem for not
adequately supporting our schools." Satcher, a vocal critic of such vending machines, said principals
seeking high test scores should pay attention to nutrition and fitness.
"Children who are physically active and have good nutrition," he said,
"do a better job on the tests." |