We are Health/Physical Education major at Illinois State. We will be looking for a job in the spring of 2012 as will many other education majors graduating from ISU. As we embark on our journey out into the work force it is important to consider whether or not Health and Physical Education classes are by law, taught by a highly qualified in their specific content area. As of now, the law does not require that schools use state certified Health and Physical Education teachers in their perspective classrooms. We should be outraged. We spend four to five years developing professionally prior to becoming a certified teacher in our content areas. Then when we finally are certified, other teachers are given our positions without proper training. But the one’s affected most by this are the students. They are not receiving the highest education available. Education is at the forefront of many political campaigns. Since 2001, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has been the standard by which schools were responsible for the academic progress of students. This law is finally changing and we have the opportunity to influence not only our future, but generations of teachers to come. In the Reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) or NCLB, we Health/Physical Education teachers should be included as a highly qualified position. To be a leader in changing these policies all you have do is follow two simple directions. 1. Sign the petition linked below 2. Follow the link provided below, fill out your contact information and press send. This link will automatically send a form letter encouraging your specific State Representatives and Senators to include our content areas as a core subject.