Schools give physical activity short shrift

Vicki Linkin, Las Vegas

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

I have to comment on an editorial in Saturday’s Las Vegas Sun regarding teenage physical activity. You quote Clark County School District curriculum to show students are getting at least some exercise. You then go on to blame teenage lethargy and potential future obesity on TV, computers and video games. I’m not so sure they are entirely to blame.

I was shocked to find out my elementary school daughter has P.E. only twice a week and the rest of the week has only one approximately 15-minute recess before lunch.

I have had to take matters into my own hands, and pocketbook, to enroll my daughter in sports and physical activities after school. Furthermore, it’s my understanding that P.E. is required for only half a year each year in middle school, while the other half is for computer classes. And only two units of P.E. required in high school? Not enough, in my opinion.

When I was in school, we had P.E. every day for an hour through the end of high school. If this has changed, it should be reinstated for the health of our children. Not everyone has the time or money it takes to enroll their children in extracurricular activities.

That, the extreme heat in the summer and fear of predators and careless drivers are the real reasons kids don’t play outside as I did for hours every day in my childhood. While I do agree that too much time in front of the TV or computer is not healthy, I’m sure most kids of all ages would enjoy playing and being active with their friends.