SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WRESTLE WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BILL

Elementary schools in Washington County are questioning the impact that Virginias bill on
public school physical activity requirements will have if it passes. Students physical fitness and
activity levels remain concerns for educators and school administrators.
We have the same presidential physical
fitness standards that we have always had, said
Allyson Willis, the principal of Greendale
Elementary School. Every year, in Washington
County and across the country, the scores have
gotten lower and lower.
Current Virginia regulations set a weekly
150-minute physical fitness goal for all public
school students, but House Bill 357 would
mandate 100 minutes of weekly physical activity
for grades K-5. The bill has passed both the House
and Senate and is waiting for the governors
approval.
Under present regulations, each
elementary school in Washington County can
choose how to implement the 150 minutes of
physical activity through recess and physical
education classes.
Greendale administrators are considering
replacing one of their two physical education
classes with a computer lab if the bill passes.
What thats going to mean is that recess
absolutely cannot be taken for any reason, Willis said. She says that will have a ripple effect on
discipline.
Willis says that the increased focus on technology and learning standards can contribute
to childrens lack of physical activity. We ask them to go home and read, and we ask them to go
home and do their math problems, and we ask them to finish their homework, and all of that is
sedentary activity.
At Greendale Elementary School, brain-based research is leading teachers to incorporate
breaks for physical movement into core classes. Theyre getting up, and theyre doing some
kind of physical activity within math and reading and science and social studies, Willis said.
Willis says many children spend their time at home playing video games instead of
playing outdoors or doing another activity. Willis asked a kindergartener what she did over the
weekend. Did you go outside and play? Did you get on the swings? Did you run? The girl
answered, No, I played on my tablet.
Janet Lester, Ed.D., oversees health and wellness programs for Washington County public
schools. The problem of childhood obesity, I dont think it can be taken care of just at the
school level, she said. I think it needs to become a habit for the students to exercise and eat
healthily, and thats a parental component.