> I've noted the reports--borne out by personal observation--of the growing
> obesity trend here in this country. Compounding the concern, of course,
> is the dubious revelation that our own state has slipped to number five on
> the list. Roughly one in four of our citizens is not just overweight, but
> obese.
>
> It seems to me that a proper function of our public educational systems
> would be to reemphasize programs of physical fitness. Having just
> graduated a child from the K-4 level, and having one about to graduate
> high school, I'm struck (again) by the almost utter lack of such in the
> higher grades. The youngster got a fairly healthy dose of various
> programs of physical conditioning, along with a generally higher level of
> physical activity inherent in her day to day school experience.
>
> The high schooler gets ONE semester of twice a week physical 'education'
> classes a year...if that. The curriculum does not require any real
> conditioning; mostly amounting to just 'exposure' to such.
> ...

> I've noted the reports--borne out by personal observation--of the
> growing obesity trend here in this country. Compounding the concern,
> of course, is the dubious revelation that our own state has...

>> I'd be a lot more supportive the MNPS if my kids also were required to
>> exercise regularly. I believe that a higher level of physical fitness
>> would result in a corresponding higher level of mental fitness and
>> increased self esteem.
>>
>> Just my $.02.....
>>
>> jak
>>

>
> . . . Most would rather watch paint dry . . . we almost have a nickel.
>

> I've noted the reports--borne out by personal observation--of the
> growing obesity trend here in this country. Compounding the concern, of
> course, is the dubious revelation that our own state has slipped to
> number five on the list. Roughly one in four of our citizens is not
> just overweight, but obese.
>
> It seems to me that a proper function of our public educational systems
> would be to reemphasize programs of physical fitness. Having just
> graduated a child from the K-4 level, and having one about to graduate
> high school, I'm struck (again) by the almost utter lack of such in the
> higher grades. The youngster got a fairly healthy dose of various
> programs of physical conditioning, along with a generally higher level
> of physical activity inherent in her day to day school experience.
>
> The high schooler gets ONE semester of twice a week physical 'education'
> classes a year...if that. The curriculum does not require any real
> conditioning; mostly amounting to just 'exposure' to such.
>
> My own experience, 40 years on, was that we were *required* to ...

> On 2007-08-29 09:15:49 -0500, jakdedert bellsouth.net> said:
>

>> I've noted the reports--borne out by personal observation--of the growing
>> obesity trend here in this country. Compounding the concern, of course,
>> is the dubious revelation that our own state has slipped to number five
>> on the list. Roughly one in four of our citizens is not just overweight,
>> but obese.
>>
>> It seems to me that a proper function of our public educational systems
>> would be to reemphasize programs of physical fitness. Having just
>> graduated a child from the K-4 level, and having one about to graduate
>> high school, I'm struck (again) by the almost utter lack of such in the
>> higher grades. The youngster got a fairly healthy dose of various
>> programs of physical conditioning, along with a generally higher level of
>> physical activity inherent in her day to day school experience.
>>
>> The high schooler gets ONE semester of twice a week physical 'education' ...

>My own experience, 40 years on, was that we were *required* to
>participate in real physical conditioning three times a week, from 7th
>grade on. Even those programs wouldn't fit any modern scientific
>definition of 'conditioning'; but were a damn sight better than what my
>own kids are receiving.

> Funny that. How DID our parents and grandparents live into their 70s, 80s
> and sometimes 90s, while eating whatever they damned well pleased?

> On Aug 29, 8:22 pm, "Olin" comcast.net> wrote:
>

>> Funny that. How DID our parents and grandparents live into their 70s, 80s
>> and sometimes 90s, while eating whatever they damned well pleased?

>
> Most of them didn't. The life expectancy when our grandparents were
> born was much lower and infant mortality was much higher than it is
> now.
>

> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:15:49 -0500, jakdedert
>
> bellsouth.net> wrote:

>>My own experience, 40 years on, was that we were *required* to
>>participate in real physical conditioning three times a week, from 7th
>>grade on. Even those programs wouldn't fit any modern scientific
>>definition of 'conditioning'; but were a damn sight better than what my
>>own kids are receiving.

>
> My own experience is that enforced physical education just made me
> rejoice the day I never had to do any of that awful crap again.
>
> Over the intervening years, off my own bat, I have found that many of
> those activities can actually be quite enjoyable. Particularly when
> partaken of under circumstances of my own choosing.
>
> What is needed is a less ingrained affinity for convenience food and a
> relaxation of the over-protectionism that leads to an expectation of
> every destination requiring transportation by car. ...