Legislative Alert!
June 26, 2007
Physical Education Hearing
on Senate bill #334
May 29, 2007
All who represented MAHPERD and other
support organizations as well voiced the same words, “The Joint Committee on
Education was listening intently and asking pertinent questions.” It looks
extremely positive and we need to keep the momentum going!! So please read on
and get involved!
At the State House on Tuesday, May 29th, MAHPERD was represented by Executive
Director, Maria Melchionda, Advocacy Chair, Dr. Diane Smith; Past President, Dr.
Bob Rausch and Eunice Sirianos, physical educator from New Bedford; Dr. Mimi
Murray, Springfield College and Priscilla Houliston, Littlechanges.com
Maria Melchionda had stated that the lack of daily programs is having a
pronounced effect on our children and said that the costs of obesity related
illnesses each year exceed the cost per pupil of a quality daily physical
education program in any given school district. She cited a 2004 Thomson Medstat
Research Brief, which indicated that the average cost per child for private
insurance nationwide is $3,743 and the average cost per child for Medicaid is
$6,730 due to obesity. The costs are sure to be much higher today and will
continue to rise. Physical education programs could average $326-$420 per pupil
in most districts, a substantial savings in not only money to the Massachusetts
taxpayers, but as part of the solution to the obesity epidemic.
Maria also offered to volunteer to assist on a committee to search for a
solution to fund physical education programs. “Physical education is a most
integral part of the school curriculum. It would be tragic, if we were not
proactive instead of reactive.”
Dr. Diane Smith urged the committee to make sure that athletic programs are not
substituted for quality physical education programs. “Quality physical education
programs are patterned after the NASPE standards and the state frameworks while
athletics are designed according to interest and league competitiveness
opportunities.” Smith also stated that physical education is instructional,
sequential, developmental and structured according to individual student needs,
while athletics is recreational and provides spectator entertainment. She made
other key comparisons to this effect.
Dr. Bob Rausch spoke from a higher education perspective in which he conveyed
that his students are devoted to learning about the teaching profession and work
hard to ascertain excellence in teaching. Because physical education is reduced
or non-existent in some areas of the state, students enrolled in teaching
programs,can be affected negatively. As a parent, Dr. Rausch shared that his son
and daughter both enjoyed physical education class and the many ways in which it
has become such a positive impact on their lives.
Dr. Mimi Murray spoke about the mind, body and spirit. She alluded to the
emotional/social aspect whereby students would acquire self-confidence while
engaged in a quality program. Students learn leadership, cooperation,
team-building skills and social skills for a lifetime.
Eunice Sirianos stated that with such a limited amount of time, she focuses on
movement education. Fitness is integrated in almost every lesson. During
closure, she reminds students of their experience and exposure to specific
skills and encourages them to practice on own.
She has assessed her fourth grade students and could see the effects first hand.
Simply put, they are out of shape, with BMI’s of 51% deemed at risk and
overweight versus 21% of the first graders. Eunice acknowledged to the committee
that it saddens and frustrates her as a professional to know it does not have to
be this way. She finished with the following statement, “It truly would be a
dream come true if this bill were to pass. The students in my community would
have protection under the law to receive a quality physical education program.
Their education would not be limited to an either academic strength or physical
wellness. They would be afforded both.”
Priscilla Houliston, realized when she reached 400 pounds that she had to do
something, that all the weight reduction diets in the world would not help her
lose weight. So she decided to walk for 30 minutes a day. She is now on a 16,000
mile journey around the USA. It will take her two years to complete, but she has
been advocating for the love of movement! The timing was perfect for her to join
us in Boston on Tuesday! She was in Plymouth on Sunday and biked to Boston by
the 1:00pm start of the hearing on the PE bill on Tuesday. She spoke eloquently
on the need for all students in the Commonwealth to have daily, quality physical
education. Anything less she stated, was unacceptable. Please follow Priscilla
on her journey on her website, littlechanges.com
If you would like to learn more about the process of the PE bill and ways to
assist, please call Maria Melchionda, Executive Director at (508)794-1338 or Dr.
Diane Smith, Advocacy Chair at (413)323-5881.
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June 2, 2007
S334 http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st00/st00334.htm
and HB499 http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht00pdf/ht00499.pdf
Maria Melchionda,
Executive Director
Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
209 Ridge Street, Millis, MA 02054
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Legislative Update
January, 2007
Dr. Diane M. Smith
Advocacy Chair
As we begin the New Year, I would like to thank and congratulate all the members of MAHPERD for your support of the Quality Daily Physical Education Legislation. Your support of the Nutrition legislation this year was also significant. Many of you contributed by writing, calling or visiting your legislators; others invited their legislators, local politicians, parents and the media to their schools to participate in special programs, such as ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) or Jump Rope or Hoops for Heart events. Many continue to quietly provide quality instruction to students and serve as role models for a healthy, active lifestyle.
We need to remember that it is not MAHPERD members working in isolation making the difference, but the collective efforts of the American Heart Association and the members of the Massachusetts Coalition for Obesity Education, sponsored by Harvard Prevention Research and the Massachusetts Children’s Caucus providing their resources and energy as well. In addition, several college communities continue to work with their faculty, students and alumnae to promote quality physical education programming and legislation.
In January, Legislation for Quality Daily Physical Education in Massachusetts will be filed. Senator McGee has agreed to sponsor the bill. Please visit the www.mass.gov web site to learn who has signed onto this legislation. If your legislator has not signed on, call him or her to schedule an appointment to discuss the merits of the bill. Review the Tips for a Legislative Visit before your visit. The MAHPERD (www.ma-hperd.org) web page has supporting information and links to other organizations providing current research and evidence, such as the CDC and Action for Healthy Kids. After your visit, please complete the visit report form and return it to Executive Director, Maria, Melchionda. If your Legislator has signed on, call or write to them to thank them for their support.
MACOPE has scheduled April 4, 2007 for the annual Legislative Breakfast. During this event several organizations, including MAHPERD will educate the legislators concerning both the Quality Daily Physical Education bill and the Nutrition bill. Plan to join us at the State House from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. to provide support and to deliver packets of information to your legislator. Please call or email me diane28028@aol.com to let me know if you will attend. We would also like to provide information concerning the impact of No Child Left Behind on Physical Education programming, so take a minute to fill out the survey in this issue or on the MAHPERD website so our information is as complete as possible.
Let us resolve to make Quality Daily Physical Education a reality for the children of Massachusetts in 2007. Working together, we can make a difference in the health and vitality of the children of Massachusetts.
Please take the MAHPERD PE Survey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------October 18, 2006
Dear Friends,
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Legislative Update During this past year, we have worked with MACOPE (Massachusetts Coalition for Obesity Prevention), Springfield College and several legislators to gain support for S 334, An Act to Improve Quality Physical Education. We have made tremendous progress toward getting the bill passed this year. Many members called their legislators, submitted written testimony, and agreed to testify at the hearing on January 31, 2006. As a result, the bill was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Education in March. We were disappointed that the important language concerning the time allocation, no substitution of other subjects for physical education and coursework taught by certified physical educators was not included in the redrafted bill. The bill moved forward as HB 4737 to the Health Care Financing Committee. Since that time, Senator Thomas M. McGee has worked with Senator Richard T. Moore, Chair of the committee, to reintroduce the original language back into the bill and to solve the financing issue for the mandate. Unfortunately, they could not resolve these important issues and the bill was not be moved forward during the session ending on July 31, 2006. We cannot sit back now! We must continue to garner support for this important piece of legislation. The bill will be filed again in the fall for the next Legislative session. Because of your efforts, we have commitment from several legislators to support An Act to Improve Quality Physical Education. This is an election year, however. Approximately 20% of Massachusetts Legislators will be new to office next year. We have the responsibility to educate them about Quality Physical Education programs and the benefits to the children in their districts. To learn who is a candidate for office in your district, access the Office of the Secretary of State, Election Division, http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elecand/candidx.htm. Take advantage of the time before the election to speak with the candidates; provide them with information on the obesity issue; ask what you can do to help them and thank them for taking the time to speak with you. Thank you to all who helped with the advocacy efforts this year. We are one-step closer to Quality Daily Physical Education for the children of Massachusetts because YOU took the initiative to get involved. Keep the momentum going and continue to garner support from students, parents, colleagues, other professionals and your legislators. ACTION STEPS TO TAKE NOW: ● Make an appointment to visit with your legislator in their home or state house office. Ask for their support. ● Provide a packet of information concerning quality physical education. (materials are available at www.ma-hperd.org or email me at dmsmith280@charter.net ) ● Invite them to visit your school to participate in a your physical education program. Discuss your programs strengths and needs. Set a date for the visit. ● Plan an event for parents, administrators, and community members. ● Consider participating in the Walk to School program on October 4, 2006 Check the MAHPERD web site or the Partnership for a Walkable America web site, http://www.walktoschool.org/ for ideas to plan your event. |