



A new Florida law will require junior high students to participate in P.E. for one semester each year. In the past physical education was an elective, albeit a popular one.
George Lockhart is the principal of Roosevelt Middle School in West Palm Beach. He notes that current elective P.E. classes have been a popular part of the school day.
"Most kids want to do P.E," said Lockhart, adding that he expects very few if any objections from students or parents. "It's a non-issue as far as we are concerned."
Parents of middle school students can obtain a waiver for their children. The waivers will be granted if the student needs remedial academic courses, if the parents would rather they take another course or if the child is participating in physical activities after school.
The push for getting kids more active is in response to the growing number of obese children in Florida and across the nation. The hope is that the mandates will lower obesity rates among children and adolescents. Childhood obesity can lead to lifelong heath issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
Eric Stern is the Palm Beach County schools administrator overseeing physical education. He sees hope in the new mandates.
"The goal is to expose students to many different activities over the three years of middle school, so that in turn students will be comfortable with and will like a particular activity to carry through life," Stern said.
Read More About Florida Mandates P.E. Courses in Junior High to Combat Obesity...
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