Published: September 05, 2008 12:17 am            

Kent: School district’s P.E. policy remains

Meridian Public School District Superintendent Charlie Kent said a new physical education policy implemented by the district will remain, despite a P.E. Petition implemented by a parents and concerned citizens group.

"All of the elementary principals met and, in order for us to meet the required hours and have a common plan time, they have have chosen to do this," Kent said.

"They are using P.E., art, music and library as time that the teachers can utilize to have common plan time. So their students are spread to these different places for that 50-minute period so that the teachers can get together and do what they need to do for academic purposes," he said. "That's what they chose to do as a group of all elementary teachers, along with the cabinet members, and that's what I'm supporting." Concerned that the city's elementary school children are not moving enough, the group has drawn up a petition against the district's new physical education policy.

In accordance to the Mississippi Department of Education's requirement of 150 minutes a week of physical activity for the state's elementary school children, MPSD is implementing two 50-minute periods with the P.E. coach and 10 minutes five days a week with the classroom teacher. The petitioning group says this is inadequate.

"We feel that two days with a full period of P.E. is not sufficient for the health and well being of our children," said Cheryl Thaggard, a spokesman for the group that is based from Poplar Springs Elementary School, but represents all the district's elementary schools.

The group – which would like the 150 minutes divided equally through the week – does not understand why this is a problem since the weeks this school year are longer by two hours and 55 minutes, Thaggard said.

"Recess is no longer a part of the day after second grade. So after age 7, the children are confined at school for seven hours and 20 minutes, three days a week without any extended time to do anything except walk, sit and be quiet. We feel this atmosphere is not healthy," she said.

The group sites several medical organization, including The American Heart Association, as well as a growing field of research linking physical activity with better academic performance.

" ... Educators thought that when we took the minutes from P.E. and gave it to reading or spelling or math that test scores would go up; but actually they've gone down," Thaggard said. "We need to turn full circle and go back to what we know and what worked in the beginning, which is a healthy mind and a healthy body go together.

"When you have children – 8, 9 and 10-year-olds – and, from the time they catch the bus until they get home from the bus, plus the 20-45 minutes of homework that they do, it's like they are at a full-time job with school, because it's more than eight hours," she said. "They have a 10-minute break; it is crazy, even as adults we don't do that."

The petitioning group notes that MPSD is the only school district in the county and state to initiate this physical education regiment. Thaggard said a school in Florida enacted a similar policy until it was petitioned by a group similar to the local one.

Kent met with representatives of the parents and concerned citizens group about the issue last week and said he would contact them on Tuesday. When Thaggard had not heard from him Tuesday, she called central office and left a message for Kent.

"I told his secretary who I was and asked her to let him know that I've been waiting to hear from him," she said. "I gave her my home and cell numbers and she said she would put it on his desk."

As of Thursday, Kent had not contacted Thaggard.

Kent said he was unable to call due to meetings with principals and other school officials, as well as other school matters. He said he has prepared a letter that will be mailed to Thaggard.

In the meantime, Thaggard has turned in paperwork to be included on the agenda for the school board's Sept. 15 meeting at Crestwood Elementary School.

"Florida had the same problem and when they didn't get a response they took it to the legislature," she said. "And they (legislatures) came back and said, 'That's not what we intended.' I hope we don't have to take this to Jackson and to Haley Barbour and have this come down like Florida did. Haley Barbour said that's supposed to be 30 minutes a day; that's not what's being done."

        

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