Florida to Require Physical Education

Starting in August all Florida elementary school kids will have to have at least 30 minutes of P.E. every day under a new law signed by Gov. Charlie Crist:

All elementary school students must have at least a half-hour of daily physical education under a bill Florida's health-conscious governor signed Thursday, after tossing a few footballs at the Miami Dolphins training camp.

When school starts in August, a minimum of 21/2 hours will be required each week for students between kindergarten and fifth grade. Middle and high schools are encouraged to provide up to 33/4 hours of gym class weekly.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who played quarterback on his high school football team, threw three spirals into a practice net on a Dolphins practice field at Nova Southeastern University. He then reminded the Broward County students around him that physical education was part of the school day when he was growing up in St. Petersburg.

"It's very important for you to have the opportunity to have physical education," he told them.

The slim governor, who has also established a state council on physical fitness, had publicly supported the bill sponsored by state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, during the regular legislative session that concluded May 4.

Crist and state lawmakers believe the requirement can help prevent childhood obesity and related health problems. A state task force found in 2003 that millions of school children were at risk for juvenile diabetes and other ailments because of poor exercise and nutrition habits.

"We're trying to create a culture of activity in our elementary schools," Weatherford said.

Having gone to K-12 school in Florida, it was not until high school that I didn't have daily P.E., not that I particuarly needed it since I was playing soccer for my school starting in grade 7 (6th graders weren't allowed on interscholastic teams) and had been playing club soccer since I was 9. But a lot of my classmates didn't play sports.

I also tend to think that exercise helps kids burn off excess physical energy. It is unnatural for young children to sit in school for six hours and not have P.E.

I would like to see more P.E. in teh upper grades, but at least this is a start.