Issue date: 2/27/02 Section: Front Page

Texas children do not participate in enough daily vigorous physical activity, according to a bill passed in the state legislature last year that requires all school districts to examine their health education programs.

Although many schools have physical education programs, some activities, such as dodgeball, leave many students idle once they are out, said Carl Gabbada, professor of kinesiology and director of motor development studies.

The legislature will require all school districts to adopt a state-approved health program by 2007 that will increase the time and quality spent on health education in elementary schools.

Bryan ISD will enact the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program with a kick-off in March, said Patty Wellams, learning facilitator for Bryan ISD.

The Austin-based program focuses on a series of lessons from third to fifth grade, said Peter Cribb, CATCH program director for the University of Texas Health Science Center. The program uses a variety of facilities to teach students the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The objectives of CATCH are to coordinate classroom teachers, physical education teachers, food services and families in the education process.

"It is important to deliver these healthy messages from multiple directions," Cribb said.

Physical education training extends beyond kinesiology majors to all elementary education majors at Texas A&M. Elementary education majors currently take a course which provides them with the knowledge of how to teach physical education classes and health, Gabbada said.

Students who plan to be regular classroom teachers must take the course since some school districts have shortages of physical education teachers. If they are called to be physical education teachers, they will be prepared, he said.

Following the state's lead, A&M graduates continue to be prepared to focus on physical education in elementary schools, Gabbada said.

"A&M is way ahead of the curve," he said. "We have been preparing our students for this for quite some time."

But some students said they are afraid one required course is not enough. Jeana Petruzzo, a junior education major, said she did not think the one course would be enough preparation for her to teach physical eduation if she had to.

"I think the course is more of a precaution in case we are called to teach physical education," Petruzzo said. \\"However, I do think that what I have learned from this course will help me incorporate health education into my class time."

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