This legislative session education is under the magnifying glass. All of us want to make sure Minnesota students get the finest education possible.
It brings up a subject that needs our attention: the physical education bill.
Physical activity has been proven to increase not only our children’s fitness but also their academic scores. There is a strong link between the two. In the past, physical education has taken a back seat to academic classes, and its role in a well-rounded curriculum sometimes has been downplayed. This needs to change.
Students with a solid physical education program burn off pent-up energy so they can concentrate better in class and use excess calories. Self-esteem can be affected when students are overweight, not to mention other problems like pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and more.
There is an old adage that states, “Without health you have nothing.” We need to set our students on a healthy, balanced path that includes not only attention to traditional academic classes but to making their bodies a priority, too.
With health care costs already out of control and one in three people being overweight, we cannot ignore this problem. Let’s give our students the tools they need to start on a lifelong path of physical activity and healthy choices. I hope our state lawmakers will see the wisdom in making the physical education bill law.
Linda Troolin
Duluth
The writer is a retired physical education teacher in Duluth public schools.
