Bill says schools must make sure their students get physical

Lawmakers emphasize ‘fourth R’ in public education

January 12, 2007

OLYMPIA -- Reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic. Everybody knows about the “three R’s” of public education.

This year in Olympia, two lawmakers are calling on Washington schools to emphasize a “fourth R”: recess -- or a physical-education class, or at least some physical activity that gets youngsters in motion.

“Kids need the opportunity every school day for at least some kind of physical activity in the gym or outside or wherever,” said state Rep. John McCoy, the prime sponsor of the proposal (House Bill 1188).

“Physical activity is a fundamental part of a youngster’s physical health,” said McCoy, D-Tulalip.

The legislation directs that most schools, kindergarten through high school, would be required to provide at least an hour of physical activity every school day.

A co-sponsor for the legislation, state Rep. Don Barlow, D-Spokane, explained that schools in session for fewer than three hours a day would be called on to provide their students a chance for 30 minutes of recess or some other physical activity.

“We all support high-quality books and computers and other classroom materials and instruction for students,” Barlow said. “This bill simply states that our schools need to be remembering that fourth R for the children.”

Barlow, a former Spokane School District board of directors president, is the vice chair of the House Education Committee in which the bill is awaiting a public hearing.

Radio and TV News Directors: To obtain broadcast-quality audio on this issue, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact Dan Frizzell, House Democratic Caucus broadcast coordinator, at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7208.