FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MR. ALBERTO M. CARVALHO

      The standards for Florida Middle schools require PE for only one semester each year; some schools provide it for only one period, nine weeks, and students in remedial classes, don’t have PE at all. PE improves overall health; it promotes growth and develops attitudes and skills that lead to a lifelong physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Therefore, PE should be provided for the whole school year. Middle school students have to deal with the onset of puberty, and changes in their bodies; they need PE more than ever. Health specialists recommend that PE time, in middle schools, should be 225 minutes per week, which is 50% increase in comparision with elemntary school. But in Florida PE is reduced to only one semester. If other States such as New York acknowledge the importance of PE and provide it all year, why can’t we have that in Florida?
    
      PE not only promotes growth and development, but helps prevent many diseases such as obesity and chronic diseases. Exercise raises the levels of endorphins, which reduces stress, improves mood and attitude. Several studies have stated that increasing time for physical activity can lead to better concentration, reduction of disruptive behavior, and even improved academic performance and higher test scores in core subjects. PE also facilitates socialization, providing an opportunity to learn about competing, how to handle winning and losing, teamwork, and cooperate with others to achieve goals. Moreover, physical activity increase the body’s ability to do more demanding tasks, kids become more active. Normal activities turn more comfortable and pleasant. Physical activity provides more energy that invigorates all other activities, increasing productivity in other spheres of life.

     For many middle school students, PE is the only opportunity they have to exercise. Many families in Florida have two working parents, with 9-5 or 9-6 schedules, which reduce the kids’ possibilities to participate in sports or physical activities outside of schools. Another problem is the cost of sports clubs, with fees that can vary between 150 to 200 dollars per month. For a family with many children, these fees would be out of their budget. Also, some parents are not aware of the benefits that physical activity brings to their kids. All of these factors contribute in youth falling into sedentary activities such as playing video games or excessive computer use.

     Middle schools students are developing their attitudes toward physical activity because they are in transition into adulthood. By increasing the Florida Middle schools standards, schools will promote lifelong health, encourage social development, reduce rates of life-threating diseases, improve students’ academic abilities, and overall well-being. Please join this campaign to increase the standards. If your kids have the opportunity to participate in sports outside the school, they can be waived. But, sign this petition to give other kids the same opportunity. Florida middle school students should not be denied of all these benefits!

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