In response to a recent New York Times article on physical education, the WCC submitted the following letter, published in the October 28, 2011 edition. The WCC’s Task Force on Physical Fitness advocates for the inclusion of comprehensive physical education in New York’s schools due to the myriad benefits it provides to students.
Exercise in Schools
To the Editor:
“Fitting In Time for Exercise, Between Math and English” (news article, Oct. 20) describes the creative ways some New York City teachers and principals have found to ensure that their pupils receive the benefits of regular physical education. Unfortunately, as shown by the city comptroller’s audit, such praiseworthy activity is found in far too few schools in the city.
In a recent position paper, we characterized physical education as “the missing ingredient for academic success.” Perhaps if more of the city’s principals and top administrators were aware that scientific studies provide strong evidence of a positive association between physical education and indicators of academic performance, including test scores, they would try harder to bring back adequate physical education to their schools.
The students who are participating in the programs cited are lucky, but access for all children to developmentally appropriate physical education should not be left to luck.
RUTH ACKER
KATHERINE S. LOBACH
New York, Oct. 21, 2011
The writers are, respectively, president of the Women’s City Club of New York, and a former assistant commissioner for child and adolescent health, New York City Department of Health, 1988-94.
The full text of the letter may be read online at the New York Times’ website.
