It would be 'a tragic mistake' if increased PE time cut into enrichment

Editor:

I was very disturbed by the letter published in The News-Times on March 12, regarding the Student Health and Fitness Act to be voted on by the Georgia House. This bill calls for 30 minutes more per week of physical education in the elementary schools. The writer, Lisa Lawrence, claims to be in support of the enrichment programs, (music, chorus, Spanish, art and band), but has no problem with the bill's plan to reduce them to fill the extra PE time.

A few reasons this bill should be voted down:

There are students who struggle to meet the requirements of the core classes and need to feel successful in a classroom. Often, this success comes in an enrichment class.

Thirty minutes extra PE time each week is not going to make enough difference to be worth cutting out art, music, etc.

For a child to be well-rounded, enrichment classes are a must. What a shame it would be to raise generations of children with little or no knowledge of music, art and foreign language.

It is important to start enrichment classes at an early age. Waiting until middle and high school is simply too late.

Lawrence makes the claim that art and music classes can be taken after school "for a fee." What about the parents who can't afford this extra expense?

It has been shown in many studies that learning about art, music and other languages can help students in their core classes.

In short, it would be a tragic mistake on the state's part to cut enrichment programs in order to gain a few extra minutes of weekly PE. Do not support SB 474!

Luanne G. Schafner

Martinez