| Not long ago, the Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, | | | | Tampa schools can score well on the state tests. |
| signed a new piece of legislation targeted at Florida | | | | Teachers are feeling more and more pressure to |
| schoolchildren. Established by Executive Order in | | | | teach to the test; and they need more time to do it in if |
| March 2007, the Council on Physical Fitness aims to | | | | they are to get the students at Tampa schools ready |
| ensure that youngsters have positive experiences with | | | | in time. |
| physical activity so that they choose a lifelong | | | | Shouldn't This Start at Home? |
| relationship with active, healthy living. Students attending | | | | Physical activity would be best begun at home, like |
| Tampa schools, along with the rest of Florida's | | | | everything else. Unfortunately, there are lots of families |
| students, are required (at the elementary level) to | | | | of Tampa schools that simply do not or can not make |
| receive 150 minutes of P.E. a week - about 30 minutes | | | | time for their kids to get outdoors and be active. |
| each day in grades K-5. | | | | Working two or more jobs, the adults have little time or |
| More than Just Recess | | | | energy to devote to making sure their kids are getting |
| The executive order is talking about more than just | | | | adequate exercise. Maybe these kids of Tampa |
| recess. Tampa schools' students are expected to | | | | schools are home by themselves after school and do |
| participate in structured activities led by a physical | | | | nothing but sit in front of the television or game system |
| education or regular education teacher. Lessons can | | | | until mom and dad come home. The truth of the |
| include dance, team sports (soccer, basketball, baseball, | | | | matter is that, just like many kids receive instruction in |
| football, lacrosse, etc...), calisthenics, track, gymnastics, | | | | character education, some kids must rely on Tampa |
| and yoga. The importance of unstructured, physical | | | | schools to ensure they are getting adequate exercise. |
| play that kids get while running around on the | | | | What's the Goal? |
| playground is recognized, but for many schools, getting | | | | The main goal of the newly established Council is to |
| the kids at Tampa schools outside and doing | | | | provide physical education instruction to students at |
| something physical has to be required to ensure that it | | | | Tampa schools which focuses on strength, agility, |
| gets done in the first place. | | | | flexibility, movement, stamina, teamwork, fair play and |
| You Can Lead a Horse to Water... | | | | nutrition. |
| No matter how many executive orders are handed | | | | While not everyone agrees that schools have a part in |
| down to Tampa schools, the truth is that way too | | | | educating Tampa schools' children past the 3 Rs, it is a |
| often, teachers and administrators are forced to cut | | | | fact that Tampa schools are in a position to do more |
| back on the "extras" like recess and physical | | | | than that; and Florida's governor is doing everything he |
| education classes in favor of more intensive reading | | | | can to make it so. |
| and math instruction so that students enrolled in | | | | |