| Releases & Statements
Public Advocate Cries Foul for Non-Compliance With State Regulations
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum released a report that blows the whistle on the Department of Education (DOE) for depriving New York City public school kids of their right to gym classes. The report found that out of 100 NYC public elementary schools surveyed, 14 schools did not even have a gym teacher, while 20 of the schools either had no gym classes at all or had them infrequently.
“When so many of our children are overweight, it is deplorable that more resources are not put toward their physical education,” Gotbaum said. “This is about helping kids in schools across all five boroughs,” she said. New York City has a high rate of child obesity, with 43 percent of NYC’s public elementary school students either obese or overweight.
According to the Surgeon General, skimping on sports is a major factor in childhood obesity. Moreover, overweight children have a 70 percent chance of growing up into overweight adults. While the DOE has launched the initiative Operation Healthy Kids, it is only being implemented in select middle schools. This initiative must be expanded to all elementary schools.
Going without gym classes is not simply unhealthy for kids; it’s actually illegal. NYC public schools are in violation of New York State regulations that mandate that students in grades K-3 have daily physical education, while students in grades 4-6 must have a minimum of three gym classes a week, or 120 minutes per week.
Gotbaum’s findings in the report, All Work and No Play , include:
All elementary schools surveyed are in violation of NY State law.
Only ten percent of schools surveyed have an after-school athletic program.
Only four percent of the schools surveyed had an athletic team.
"Given the epidemic of childhood obesity, we must get our children moving right now both in school and at home. We urge the Chancellor to convene an emergency meeting about this immediately. Better physical health has a big impact on the ability of children to learn. This is a problem as urgent as the need to improve reading and math scores. In addition and equally important, is the fact that the long range consequences of neglecting this epidemic are catastrophic rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease," said Maureen Cogan, chair of the New York City chapter of the Coalition for a Healthy and Active America.
"To address the epidemic rise in childhood obesity, health care professionals need to work with the Department of Education to help implement better physical activity programs and to promote healthy nutrition in our schools. School Based Health Centers such as the one North General Hospital created at P.S. 57 can bring together health professionals with educators to teach the entire school community the importance of combating obesity," said Dr. Adam Aponte, Chairman, Depts. of Pediatrics & Ambulatory Care, North General Hospital .
Recommendations include:
Work towards complying with New York State law by offering at least two physical education classes per week
Provide proper athletic facilities to promote a healthy school population
Develop an effective physical education curriculum
Recruit qualified physical education teachers
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