On June 1, 2011, WCC President Ruth Acker submitted the following letter to the editor to The New York Times:
June 1, 2011
To the Editor:
One ingredient is missing from Diane Ravitch’s excellent op-ed piece, “Waiting for a School Miracle” (The New York Times, June 1, 2011). To be sure, schools need “stable, experienced staff, adequate resources and a balanced curriculum including the arts, foreign languages, history and science.” But let’s not forget the benefits of regular and state-mandated physical education for the children in New York City’s public schools — something which far too many students no longer receive! Evidence, including from recent City Departments of Education and Health studies, shows that physical education contributes to children’s health, well-being, and even their academic performance. A white paper on our website: www.wccny.org/advocacy/physical-fitness provides additional details.
Ruth Acker
President, Women’s City Club of New York
307 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1403
New York, NY 10001
212.353.8070 ext. 202
racker@wccny.org
