Help! We need physical education!
PE is the only time in school that we get to be active, learn to move, and get fit.
We used to have PE everyday and now we only have it once a week - if at all.
I know you want us to study, but we need to move too. When we sit too much, we can't concentrate.
Adults should remember that we are kids and that too much sitting isn't healthy. If we
were more active, we would learn better.
Hi, I'm Dr. Thom McKenzie. Physical education is the main source of physical activity for
children during the school day. Parents and other adults, including teachers and school
board members, play an important roles in ensuring that children have regular access
to physical education and that children get enough physical activity.
Health authorities recommend children get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous
physical activity daily. Most children do not get enough.
Sedentary living is one of the most challenging, public health problems.
Physical inactivity is the 4th leading cause of death. Sedentary children are at risk for
overweight, obesity, and other chronic diseases.
Meanwhile, children are in school for over six hours per day, 9 months a year, for 13
years. And most of this time, they are forced to sit.
Research is showing that physical education programs are essential in helping children
accrue physical activity minutes. Physical education promotes healthy, active lifestyles,
increases physical fitness, and teaches important movement and behavioral skills.
There is also growing evidence that physical activity helps children be attentive during
class and improve academically.
The National Association For Sports and Physical Education, NASPE, recommends that elementary
students get 150 minutes of physical education weekly. Secondary school students receive
225 minutes. The majority of students do not receive this.
Barriers of quality of physical education include inadequate schedules, limited equipment
and space, and lack of certified physical education teachers.
Many programs do not have a specific curriculum and very few are evaluated regularly. Barriers
such as these keep physical education from playing a major role in promoting physical
activity and contributing to academic goals.
Large-scale studies have produced evidence-based physical education program and these are available
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Partnership for Prevention have identified
some of these programs, which include SPARK, Catch, and Planet Health.
So, what can caring adults do?
First, see if the minutes allocated for physical education at school are reaching national
Second, determine if the existing physical education program is a quality one. It should
provide lots of time for physical activity, physical fitness, skill development, and promote
activity outside of class.
Third, determine if the program uses an activity-based curriculum. If it does not, advocate for an
Fourth, advocate for an annual review of the physical education program.
Fifth, advocate for physical activity throughout the school day, including physical education,
recess, and active transport to school.
