Laws are created, amended, passed, vetoed and so on across our country all the time. For example, the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA), enacted on July 1, 1997, has strict specifications for obtaining a driving permit and license. This legislation was enacted in an attempted to allow teenage drivers to safely gain driving experience thereby reducing the number of accidents they are involved in. I think we can all agree that it is a good idea to keep our little friends on the kindergarten hall from driving to school every morning!
The Georgia General Assembly is currently considering a bill, Senate Bill 474 (SB 474), that would directly impact you. This bill is known as the “Student Health and Fitness Act”. It would require that each student in elementary school participate in 150 minutes of Physical Education a week, which is the equivalent of 30 minutes a day. This legislation is intended to help prevent childhood obesity. To read SB 474 just go here. I’ve highlighted some of the parts I thought you might find interesting.
As a democratic society, we have the right and obligation to voice our thoughts about these matters. I have contacted members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate to express my opinions, but I’m interested in knowing what you think. Remember that you currently have P.E. two times a week for 45 minutes (or 90 minutes a week). We are 60 minutes below what the legislation proposes. Consider the possibility of having P.E. everyday for 30 minutes. Does that sound good to you? What if having 30 minutes of P.E. a day meant that you would no longer have Art, Music and Computer Lab? Does that change your opinion? Do you think 30 minutes would be enough time to use the pedometers, heart rate monitors and other cool equipment we have? You are all such smart boys and girls that I cannot wait to hear what you have to say. And maybe after you share your ideas with me I will tell you my opinion on the subject!
::UPDATE::
I spoke with a Georgia State Senator on Friday about SB 474. He is a member of the group that wrote and proposed this legislation. In our conversation he assured me that including the additional P.E. time would not result in the elimination of Art, Music or Computer Lab. I thought that was great news and something that you all needed to know!
I LIKE THIS IDEA
Posted by: Donnie | March 10, 2006 at 07:58 AM
I like this idea becuase we will get more feet.
Posted by: Ricardo | March 10, 2006 at 07:58 AM
I like this idea becaues we can have lots of fun.
Posted by: Paola | March 10, 2006 at 07:59 AM
I don't like the idea.
Posted by: Cristobal | March 10, 2006 at 08:03 AM
NCLB has certainly made academics the priority they should be. However, the current level of priority & testing has come at a cost. Primary & elementary students need time to apply the skills they have learned in the structured PE classroom, as well as unstructured time to run, jump, play, and breathe the outside air. Perhaps, giving students time on the playground (weather permitting) two or three times a week can round out the 150 minutes. Ninety minutes of PE instruction plus two 30-minute, or three 20-minute, sessions on the playground would be 150 minutes. However, that amount of time should be a goal. The academic day is riddled with too many interruptions to make 150 minutes per week a law.
Posted by: Susie Mann, first grade teacher | March 10, 2006 at 12:38 PM
I am glad that we might have P.E all week but I have to have a water. I am sad and glad.
Posted by: cassidy | March 13, 2006 at 09:18 AM
I think we should have more time some days than others besides that I think it is OK.
Posted by: jordan | March 13, 2006 at 09:20 AM
I think it is important to have pe every day.
Posted by: maria | March 13, 2006 at 09:22 AM
I wish we can have an hour of playing instead of 30 min.
Posted by: ashailyn | March 13, 2006 at 09:22 AM
i think it is a great thing that might have p.e everyday. but I don't agree having only
thirty minutes.
Posted by: alejandra | March 13, 2006 at 09:24 AM
I love pe becausu I like to exsercise to be fun.
Posted by: JOSE JUAN | March 13, 2006 at 09:24 AM
Mrs.Roper,
I thtink that having P.E is
not a good idea for us kids.It
is bad if I do not get music/art.
Posted by: alixandra | March 13, 2006 at 09:24 AM
I would not like to have pe every day becaus we wouldn't get to have ohter specials.
Posted by: holly | March 13, 2006 at 09:25 AM
I think we should not because it would be boring having P.E 30 min everyday.
Posted by: stacy | March 13, 2006 at 09:25 AM
i love pe i thtink it is good for us kids
Posted by: megan | March 13, 2006 at 09:25 AM
I think no because having all day P.E will be boaring sometimes.Than people will miss Art,Music and Compter Lab.
Posted by: laura | March 13, 2006 at 09:26 AM
I think it is a great idea.
Posted by: christina | March 13, 2006 at 10:05 AM
I guess we're going to have a better
schedule.
Posted by: mayra | March 13, 2006 at 10:06 AM
I think that I would not like P.E.. I think that is a bad idea.
Posted by: Sonia | March 13, 2006 at 10:06 AM
If we'll have 30 min of P.E. everyday I will have a heart attack.
Posted by: Moises | March 13, 2006 at 10:07 AM
I think you have a good idea We can get a lot of exrcise and that is coooool!!!!!
Posted by: marcella | March 13, 2006 at 10:07 AM
It is awesome because we get to get more exrcise in P.E. I think its cooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: alejandra | March 13, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Tear down your eyes.I think we should keep on going to P.E so we
can keep on getting our excize.
Posted by: Casaria | March 13, 2006 at 10:08 AM
I'm not sure... I love other specials,and I love P.E..I can't decide if we have P.E. and no other specials. So i'll leave it up to you and other special's teachers. They should have a voice in this too.
Posted by: davis | March 13, 2006 at 10:09 AM
I want P.E. every day.
Posted by: autumn | March 13, 2006 at 10:10 AM