Monday, May 5, 2008; Posted 6.26 pm (CDT)
In 20 years Oklahoma has seen a 300 percent increase in teenage obesity. Monday Governor Brad Henry signed a bill into law to try to fight that.
"Today a full 15 percent are not just overweight but obese," says Henry.
"This might be the first generation of children who don't live as long as their parents do, so it's very scary if you think of all the health implications for the obesity of children," says Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy Executive Director Anne Roberts.
Currently schools are required to have one hour of physical education each week. Senate Bill 1186 doubles that.
"There's not really going to be any changes," says Mid-Del Schools Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Education Katherine Hughes. "We already offer 120 minutes of physical education for children every single week."
"Some school districts have really stepped up to the plate and gone above and beyond already, but some have been dragging their feet," says Roberts. "And unless we give all children the same opportunity to exercise and be healthy everyday, we're short changing those in some of those school districts."
Some schools not currently meeting the requirement are worried about not having enough resources to meet the new requirements.
"We don't want to burden school districts," says Roberts. "I know superintendents have so much they're required to do. We want to make it easy for kids to get up and move."
"This particular additional 60 minutes is not at costs for the schools," says Oklahoma Superintendent Sandy Garrett.
Officials say that's possible because the second 60 minutes of activity are less formal than the first and can include activities like recess. It's all in the hopes of having a healthy Oklahoma.
"We want all of Oklahoma to keep moving," says Garrett.
A 2004 survey found only 37 percent of Oklahoma school children were enrolled in P.E. compared to 55 percent nationwide.
In case the additional hour does put a strain on schools, Roberts says grants and other resources are available to help out.
Go here for more information on those resources.
For the language of SB 1186, go here.
