PHYSICAL EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO OUR STUDENTS
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport www.presidentschallenge.org
Heart Health - Regular physical activity can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can reduce the risk of illness such as obesity, Type II diabetes, stroke or heart disease.
Bone Support - Exercise is a good way to build strong, healthy bones and can help slow the bone loss associated with aging.
Sense of Well-Being - Being in good shape can give you more energy, reduce anxiety and depression, improve self-esteem, and help you better manage stress.
Social Life - Staying active can be a great way to have fun, make new friends, and spend quality time with family.
Physical Appearance - Staying active helps you tone muscles and maintain a healthy weight - and can even improve your posture.
Parents Believe Physical Activity Key To Preventing Childhood Obesity www.aahperd.org/naspe
Washington, DC, April 29, 2003 - Amid growing concerns about escalating childhood obesity rates and the rise of Type II diabetes, many parents see daily physical activity as key to optimal health and academic success. This is reported in a new opinion survey released by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Nearly all parents (95%) think regular, daily physical activity helps children do better academically.
Three in four parents (76%) think more school physical education could help control or prevent childhood obesity.
The vast majority (95%) think physical education should be a part of a school curriculum for all students in grades K-12.
More than half (at least 54%) believe physical education is as important, or more important than academics such as math, science, and English.
PEP Appropriations are important to American children www.aahperd.org/naspe
The U.S. Congress appropriated $60 million for the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress Program in 2002. Quality school physical education programs are the cornerstone in developing healthy, active lifestyles, and our government's support of PEP will help provide children with a quality education. A quality physical education program can do the following:
Improve motor skills and learn sport techniques;
Expose young people to lifetime fitness/recreation activities that they otherwise would not have a chance to learn;
Offer physical activity opportunities to all students (including sedentary and disables populations, not just athletically inclined;
Teach a variety of social desirable outcomes like improved self-confidence, enhanced communication, and interactive skills;
Improve academic performance-healthy, physically active kids learn better.
California Study shows a distinct relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness of California's public school students. (2001) http://www.cde.ca.gov/
The study matched reading and mathematics scores with fitness scores of 353,000 fifth graders, 322,000 seventh graders, and 279,000 ninth graders. Higher achievement was associated with higher levels of fitness at each of the three grade levels measured. The statewide study provided compelling evidence that the physical well-being of students has a direct impact on their ability to achieve academically.
Dr. Judith C. Young, Executive Director of National Association for Sport and Physical Education www.aahperd.org/naspe
"Today, it is acknowledged that quality physical education programs provide preventive health benefits for a lifetime and options for the use of leisure time, as well as preparation for the physical demands of daily life. It is regarded as an integral part of the education of the whole child. It has a unique role in the education of children, enhancing physical fitness, well-being, and the development of physical competence and confidence as they learn a variety of motor skills. Physical education also contributes in unique ways to the shared curricular goals of self-direction, enhanced self-esteem, positive social development, and cooperative behavior."