South Carolina students would get more exercise and eat more
healthful lunches and snacks under a bill set to be approved by the
state House this week.
Obesity rates for S.C. youths have climbed as their time in
physical education classes has dropped over the past decade.
“People used to require physical education,” said Rep. Bob Leach,
R-Greenville, a co-sponsor of the bill. “Today they don’t require
that, and we’re becoming a society of fatties.”
The legislation has bipartisan support, as well as the blessing
of the state Department of Education. It could come up for final
approval as early as Wednesday.
It still must be considered by the Senate, although supporters
there are also optimistic the bill could pass this year.
“Addressing the obesity epidemic that has hit our country and our
state as early as possible is good, not only for the health and
well-being of our children, but it will improve the health and
well-being of our state for years to come,” said Rep. Scott Talley,
R-Spartanburg, a co-sponsor of the bill.
The legislation would require elementary schools to hire
certified physical education teachers in a ratio of 500 students to
1 teacher by the 2007-08 school year.
Lawmakers want students to have physical activity for 30 minutes
every day or every other day.
The bill would require school officials to:
• Rid vending machines and
cafeterias of candy and soda or at least move them out of areas
accessible to students
• Serve healthful but tasty foods
and encourage students and parents to help pick foods that students
will eat
• Teach nutrition once a week and
give children at least 20 minutes a day to eat lunch.
The bill also would require the General Assembly to pay for
licensed nurses for elementary schools.
Nationally, between 1991 and 1999, the percentage of students who
took physical education daily dropped to 29 percent from 42
percent.
In South Carolina, the number of hours elementary students spend
in physical education per week has been cut in half in recent years
to 30 or 40 minutes from 75.
Meanwhile, one in five S.C. children are overweight, and the
number who suffer from adult diabetes is rising alarmingly.
State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum in 2003 appointed a
task force to recommend ways to improve student nutrition and
physical activity. Many of the group’s 2004 recommendations are
included in the legislation.
An identical bill has been introduced in the Senate. Sen. Darrell
Jackson, D-Richland, the companion bill’s primary sponsor, said he
is hopeful the Senate will approve the measure.
The Senate Education Committee likely will have a hearing on the
bill soon, Jackson said, “and they think the votes may be there to
pass it.”
Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.
