Let those kids play!

1. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/how-physical-fitness-may-promote-school-success/?ref=health

2. Health/Fitness

3. National

4. This article discusses the effect of physical activity and overall fitness of children and their ability to retain information.

5. In a time where financial problems are more prevalent, we see more cuts being made to areas that are viewed as being less important to learning, and perhaps we as a nation are underestimating the importance of physical activity in schools.

6. When I was in elementary school, every grade got a thirty minute recess every single day. In middle school, we had the option of sports focused athletics, or PE that simply promoted being active. In highschool, every student was required to take at least four semesters of either athletics or PE. It seems that now, kids may get a few days of recess and any PE or athletics classes are optional or just not available anymore. I personally think that it is crazy that kids are expected to stay locked up in classes for 8 hours straight, not given any outlets, and then people act like it is so surprising that they get themselves into trouble and act up in class. More and more research is showing that physical activity improves the educational abilities of kids, and yet it is restricted more and more while performance in schools seems to be on the decline as well. I'm not saying physical activity is the deciding factor in whether or not a kid will perform well in school, but I do believe that it is one of the variables that needs to be considered. The school systems here in the U.S. are struggling, and this is just my opinion (we'll call it my hypothesis) but here is a list of what I think is wrong with our schools.
1. Educational requirements for education majors in college: Lets face it, it isn't exactly the most difficult area to be majoring in. The more difficult the requirements are, the more intelligent you will have to be to receive the degree. I'd like to have more educated people teaching my kids one day. Not to say that there aren't smart teachers out there, but I do feel like too many uneducated teachers make their way into the system.
2. Financial incentive for teachers: You can't increase the educational requirements for education majors when all that extra work will lead to a job that doesn't pay. Enough said.
3. Lack of creative expression for kids: I used to be excited about my art classes, sports, and learning new skills like welding and wood work. Sure the other stuff wasn't very exciting, but at least give the kids some kind of reason to look forward to going to school.
4. Nutritional availability in schools: Most parents wouldn't give their kids a few bucks and send them into a convenience store to pick out their own dinner. Those kids would just walk out with candy, chips, and sodas. It's exactly what is happening in schools for lunch. They have the option of a bunch of candy in a vending machine, or plate full of grease and fried foods. It doesn't really even have to be said how eating a bunch of junk food will negatively effect a kids attention span and energy levels in class.
5. Lack of physical activity in school: So we give our kids a bunch of junk food that will give them a sugar rush, and follow that up with a sugar crash. What better way to supplement that, than to also take away any form of energy expenditure for the day. Now we act so surprised and baffled at why so many kids are overweight these days.