School P.E. debate heads to the Legislature

A playground scuffle over physical education could reignite in Tallahassee next month.

Public school districts and health advocates remain at odds over a 2008 requirement that students in grades 6, 7 and 8 attend gym class for 225 minutes a week, for at least one semester. The law aimed at combating childhood obesity has been criticized by school administrators weary of mandates limiting what they can offer students.

Although liberal waivers allow many middle school students to opt out of gym class, a new House bill proposes to remove the requirement altogether. It's among the bills being considered for the legislative session starting on Jan. 10.

St. Petersburg cardiologist Robert Sanchez said requiring physical education in school fights a growing health crisis. He points to research that shows one of every five teens has signs of fat buildup in their arteries. He is treating 20- and 30-somethings for chronic heart disease that he used to see in patients much older.

"We need to target our children," said Sanchez, a board member of the local chapter of the American Heart Association. "Physical activity and exercise are more beneficial than almost any drug we can come up with."

The Heart Association is among the groups that have lobbied since 2007 to keep gym class in public schools.

Earlier this month, they lobbied against the latest bill proposed by Rep. Larry Metz, R-Eustis. Metz told Capital News Service that parents, not schools, should decide if students need physical education.

"I don't think parents get a pass for the health and welfare of their students. I think they're primarily responsible for that," Metz said.

Despite objections from groups representing pediatricians, family physicians and physical education teachers, the repeal bill passed through preliminary House education committees. The bill, however, has yet to find a companion sponsor in the state Senate.

Hillsborough public schools are among the districts supporting the repeal. District administrators said they want the ability to schedule students according to what is best for their academic and physical well-being.

Continuing to force administrators to wedge in another required class won't do that, they maintain.

"Removing this mandate will not eliminate physical education from our schools. What it will do is give our schools the flexibility to work with students and parents in scheduling their classes," said Steve Hegarty, Hillsborough public schools spokesman.

Many parents expect physical education to be a part of every school day. But since 2007, the class is required only in Florida's public elementary schools, and only up to 150 minutes a week.

The law does require middle school students to take physical education, but a parent can sign a waiver for reasons such as physical disability, academic opportunities in a magnet school program, or if they are involved in sports outside of school.

Statewide, 62 percent of the more than 600,000 middle school students were enrolled in gym classes in the spring of 2011, according to Florida Department of Education data. Another 14 percent formally requested waivers, and another 25 percent were not taking physical education.

Some districts use the waiver liberally, which is why the Heart Association is lobbying to narrow the ways waivers can be used.

For example, Hillsborough County rarely uses the waiver. In the 2010-2011 school year, 84 percent of middle school students took gym class. In Pinellas, enrollment was 52 percent. But just 39 percent of Pasco County middle school children participated in the class.

Repealing the gym requirement or continuing to permit waivers will only delay the government's long-term financial burden, said James Mosteller, state advocacy director for the American Heart Association.

Reducing physical education opportunities in middle school will translate into added chronic heart disease costs for obese and unhealthy young adults, he said.

"The disease may not manifest itself for 20 or 30 years, but you're going to see it," he said.