Do away with PE? Senate prez: ‘Who said that? I love PE!’
by Dara Kam | December 7th, 2011
A push in the Florida House to do away with physical education in middle schools will be a heavy lift across the hall.
A House committee on Tuesday approved a measure (HB 4057) by a 9-6 vote that would strike the requirements that middle school students take P.E. The American Heart Association is trying to beat back the proposal, saying that more than 30 percent of Florida children are obese and more than 62 percent of all Floridians are fat.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos hadn’t heard about the bill when we asked him this afternoon what he thought about doing away with PE in public schools.
“Who said that? Who filed that one? I love P.E.!” Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said.
The bill doesn’t have a Senate sponsor, and, judging by the president’s comments, may not get one.
“That’s not on my to-do list at this point. My wife’s a doctor and I was a high school and college athlete. I believe P.E.’s a good thing,” he said.
Tags: American Heart Association, childhood obesity, education, Florida House, Florida Senate, Mike Haridopolos, obesity, PE, physical education
December 7th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
When school districts don’t comply with the PE mandate you can’t blame legislators for wanting to repeal it.
December 9th, 2011 at 8:34 am
The PE “mandate” is actually more of a “suggestion.” Students in grades 6,7, and 8 are required to have PE for at least one semester unless they select another elective or are involved in an out-of-school activity that requires a “substantial” amount of physical activity weekly. If students and their parents want to avoid the mandate, it’s pretty easy to do so.