Elementary school students might soon find themselves working up a sweat as the Senate today gave initial approval to a bill that would require public and charter elementary schools to give children more exercise time.
House Bill 1069 requires each school board to adopt policies making more time for physical activity, citing a “growing trend of childhood obesity,” and studies linking physical activity to improved performance in the classroom.
Language in the bill also referenced the increasing unsuitability of young people for military service due to poor physical conditioning. One in four Colorado children is overweight or obese, according to a 2009 child health survey conducted by the Department of Public Health and Environment.
Sen. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, supported the bill and said he hoped more physical activity would decrease misdiagnosis of attention deficit disorder and related disorders, especially among boys.
But Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, thought the bill overstepped the bounds of the state government and had troubling implications for young boys. Renfroe said regimented physical activity could get in the way of “boys being boys,” and could lead to “the feminization of our boys.”
“I don’t think this bill is something we at the state should do,” Renfroe said. “This is a local issue.”
The amount of extra exercise time the bill requires varies depending on how many days-per-week and hours-per-day the student is in school, but full-day students who attend class five times a week must get the opportunity for 10 extra hours of activity each month.
The bill does not replace existing standards for physical education classes, and school boards that already have stricter standards will maintain those standards.
The bill previously received initial House approval.Kyle Glazier: 303-954-1638 or kglazier@denverpost.com
