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Editorial: Don't make schools responsible for solving the obesity problem

November 21, 2004

One of the things that legislators like to do best - both at the state and national level - is make the public schools responsible for every bad thing that's happening in America.

Now we read that Kentucky lawmakers are preparing to lay the youth obesity problem at the feet of educators.

A state official told a legislative subcommittee last week that those attending obesity forums at nine locations across the state were in favor of mandating physical education every day for all grades. It was suggested to the lawmakers that elementary students be required to have physical education for 30 minutes a day and the middle school and high school students have physical education for 45 minutes a day.

The suggestion actually makes some sense for elementary school students. In the old days, the break for physical activity was called "recess" and no doubt served to make the day go better for everyone - teachers and students alike - as the kids got a chance to let off some steam.

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For middle school and high school students, however, the idea is absurd. Kids in that age group are old enough to get out after school and take a walk, play a sport or otherwise take responsibility for their own physical fitness. Furthermore, they are old enough to know that if they eat too much and don't get enough exercise, they're going to get fat.

We wouldn't deny that obesity is a problem. Kentucky ranks eighth in the country for adult obesity, and 14.6 percent of Kentucky high school students are obese compared to about 10.5 percent nationwide.

Still, the solution isn't to make a bunch of 12- to 18-year-old kids go to the gym for 45 minutes each day and run laps under the watchful eye of the football coach. For the kids that do have a problem with weight, the experience is bound to be humiliating. For those who don't, it would be a waste of time.

For the public schools, it would be yet another costly mandate that's not directly related to the academic achievement of students.

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