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2004: No Child Left ON THEIR Behind
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Welcome to the February edition of PELINKS4U. Last month we dedicated
2004 as the No Child Left on Their Behind year. More than
1000 buttons have already been distributed to PELINKS4U readers.
If you didn't get your free button or want more to share with colleagues
click here
for ordering details.
A couple of issues ago I stated that physical educators acting
alone will never successfully get students to be active and healthy.
I suggested that we needed a comprehensive approach to addressing
the reasons why our students are becoming increasingly inactive
and unhealthy. In our NEWS column this month we learn that the 2003
health care costs of illnesses associated with obesity cost the
nation about $75 billion annually - half of which came from our
tax dollars.
Also in the news are new guidelines for children's physical activity,
birth - 5 from NASPE. When physical activity is absent from the
lives of preschool children, public school physical educators begin
at a disadvantage. What impact can 30 minutes or an hour of physical
education a week have on the activity habits of these children when
the remainder of their day is spent being almost entirely sedentary?
Clearly, it's essential that part of a comprehensive approach to
solving the problems of inactivity must address ways to change the
activity habits of children before they even enter our schools.
Two other programs in our NEWS column offer opportunities to promote
physical activity beyond physical education classes. If you teach
at the middle or high school level be sure to check into PE Central's
new "Get Active, Stay Active" program, which gives students
a way to track their activity in an online journal. Similarly, the
NikeGo web site offers a series of activity-promoting programs specifically
created for 9- to 15-year-olds. Let's support these programs and
keep reminding ourselves that it's what youngsters do outside of
class that has the most impact on their health.
Finally, perhaps the best news to celebrate this month is the approval
of an additional $70 million in funding for PEP grants. Although
the applications will not be due until spring, it would be wise
to start planning your application immediately.
Have a great heart-healthy month.
Steve Jefferies
Central Washington University
Publisher PELINKS4U
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