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As childhood obesity is on the rise there is also another trend happening. Physical Education classes across the country are being cut, usually as a result of budget issues. P.S. 24 in Brooklyn, New York is an example of these budget cuts. P.S. 24 has more than 750 students that attend school. For the entire school there is currently only one P.E. teacher, 50 year old Elaine Gill. Because there are enormous odds stacked against her as a result of limited budgets, nearly 300 students receive absolutely no gym class in a calendar year. Those that do have gym class only receive one 40-minute period every week, while others receive none. Across the country gym classes are being cut, and our nation's children are not receiving the physical activity and education that they are entitled to (Moss). Is this ok? .
It is proven that children need physical exercise every day, not just once every other day for forty minutes. The Institute of Medicine reports that all schools should provide at the minimum of 60 minutes per day of vigorous or moderate intensity physical activity. They recommend that 30-45 minutes of this physical activity should come from gym classes. The other time could be spent out at recess or in academic lessons that require students to get up and move around. However it has become apparent that due to budget cuts, students are not getting anywhere close to the recommended gym class times (AMA). An injustice is being done to the children of America. .
Three decades ago children were forced into healthy living, because of the type of lifestyle that they lived. 30 years ago students would walk to and from school or ride a bicycle. Often times this was uphill both ways. Now a day, children either ride the bus or are part of a carpool. It is very rare for children to walk to school in today's day and age. Kids use to run around at school, from gym classes to after school athletics, because of current budget cuts both are now limited.