Dear Sir or Madam:
This is to express my concern about the quality of physical education my children are receiving at ________ school. Like most parents, I want my children to have a balanced curriculum which allows them to achieve their potential. I want our schools to offer the very best in academic subjects. But I also believe that schools should balance academics with quality physical education offered on a daily basis from kindergarten through high school.
Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) consists of instruction and activity for all students on a daily basis throughout the school year. It has been clearly proven that QDPE helps to increase children's academic potential. QDPE is a program of the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD). To be formally recognized by CAHPERD, a school must provide a well-balanced, high quality physical education program for all students, providing a minimum of 150 minutes of physical education per five day week.
It is my understanding that our school has not been recognized by CAHPERD and, in fact, does not have a program of QDPE that would meet these standards. That is why I am writing to you. I want your support in establishing QDPE as a standard in our school board.
I believe there is an urgent need for this kind of program. Today, many children are bused to school and don't receive the physical benefits of walking. They watch at least 26 hours of television in addition to the 25 to 30 hours a week they sit behind a desk in school. Studies show that children only receive about one half the amount of exercise required to maintain effectively functioning cardiovascular systems.
Physical education does not just improve a child's heart-lung health. Quality Daily Physical Education has been shown to improve young people's academic performance. One long-term study in Trois-Rivières, Québec showed that students in Grades 2 to 6 who received five extra hours of physical activity per week achieved higher marks than students in a regular program.
In addition, QDPE is a sound investment for the future when you consider how much money we spend treating health problems associated with inactivity. For example, cardiovascular disease kills an estimated 80,000 Canadians annually and costs taxpayers two billion dollars each year in health care. Unfortunately, our children are developing sedentary patterns which will place them at risk for heart disease long before they enter into adulthood.
QDPE helps children develop positive patterns which will help them achieve their full potential -- mentally, physically, socially and academically. The education system is the only avenue we have where we can reach every child.
Please, join me in supporting the efforts of CAHPERD. I would like to know where you stand, as a trustee [principal]. I would also like to know what our school board is doing to promote quality, daily physical education in our schools. Just as importantly, I would like to know what I can do to help the process.
Sincerely,
c.c.: Principal [Trustee]
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