“Bill to boost physical education dies”

Associated Press

Annapolis – A bill that would require public elementary schools in Maryland to offer 30 minutes of physical education a day has died in a House of Delegates committee.

School districts across the state lobbied heavily against the bill, saying they didn’t have enough space to hold more physical education classes. Many school officials complained that they already have to squeeze the classes into school cafeterias or multipurpose rooms. And they said they would have to spend millions of dollars to hire more teachers.

National guidelines say students ages 5 to 12 should get at least half an hour of physical activity and education per day. Most schools in Maryland offer 60 to 90 minutes of P.E. per week. The bill’s supporters said it would help curb childhood obesity in Maryland.

A similar bill passed the Senate last year but stalled in the House. This year’s bill received support from only two members of the House Ways and Means Committee.