Physical Education a Weighty Subject

In “26% of Kids Overweight, Study Finds” (Dec. 12), it was quite disturbing to find out that there are kids in middle school who weigh over 200 pounds. That’s more than I -- a 36-year-old male -- weigh now.

When I grew up, my school had a physical education class every day. I think it took an act of God to get excused from P.E. We kids played kickball, softball and basketball, on blacktop no less. You learned to take your bumps and bruises or stay on your feet. At home, after school or on the weekends, unless it was raining or getting dark, we were outside. Not watching TV, playing video games or sitting around eating. We were always active.

Now the dialogue with my two boys may go something like this: “Dad, it’s boring outside. Can we watch TV?”

“The sun’s out, it’s not raining, and it’s not dark. What do you think?”

“No, Dad.”

“Good. Go outside.”

Healthy habits start at home. It’s time to take away the video games and send your kids outside to play.

Jason L. Williams

Lakewood

*

The no-soda approach is a Band-Aid! School districts need to eliminate the sale of chips and other fat-laden snacks and foods. We also need to mandate physical education or alternative fitness programs for every child in our public schools for every term and eliminate the requirement that they need only two years of P.E. to graduate from high school.

Richard Schott

Teacher, LAUSD

San Pedro