No More Gym Class?!

OK, let's be clear, right from the start.  I hated physical education when I was a kid.  Gym class was truly the bane of my existence in high school!  I was the proverbial 90 pound weakling--and almost always picked last when we divided up into teams.  The "phys ed" teachers were always much more interested in the football and basketball players than they were in uncoordinated guys like me.  There was one of them who never even learned how to pronounce my name (Danner isn't really much if a tongue twister, but he somehow got it wrong, week after week!)

That said, I am appalled to learn that the State of Florida is seriously considering removing "phys ed" from the list of required classes for middle schoolers.  Florida House Bill 4057 is being sponsored by Representative Larry Metz, from Yalaha. This in the face of the childhood obesity crisis!

The American Heart Association estimates that 30 percent of all children in Florida are considered to be obese.  Thirty percent!  One-in-three!  Now is not the time to eliminate the one time many kids engage in physical activity.  It is so easy today to sit out traditional childhood play--why make it even easier?

As an adult I finally learned the importance of tending to my body through exercise and physical activity.  Theologically speaking, I came to understand that I needed to be a good steward of my body!  Now, I walk.  I practice yoga.  I ride my bike.  How much better off I'd be today if I'd had gym teachers who really paid attention to the non-athletes in their classes.  But, that said, I'd be much worse off if I'd had no such classes at all!

As a kid, I never thought I'd ever champion the inclusion of gym class in my schedule.  But adults are supposed to know better than kids.