With all the talk about budget cuts I have heard people saying that "P.E." should be the first to go. Many people at this very website have stated that it's "not necessary". I have known that physical education is important to learning, but couldn't articulate why. I just returned from a conference and wanted to share some references regarding why physical education/movement is so important to include in our schools. Rather than me preaching about it, you can look up these researchers if you are interested. The lecturer also shared an anecdote that in Texas they had done away with P.E. in a school district. They recently reinstated it and guess what...the reading and math test scores went up exponentially! While I was away, my husband happened to talk to a mom who noticed that her son does better in school when he is actively playing soccer on a team. P.E. is not just about staying fit physically, it's about supporting your brain! Enjoy:

What Researchers Have to Say About

Movement and Cognition:

• Dr. Robert Sylwester: Movement facilitates cognition.

• Eric Jensen: Motor skills are fundamental to learning.

• Howard Gardner: Bodily Kinesthetic is one of eight

multiple intelligences.

• Carla Hannaford: 85% of school-age children are

kinesthetic learners.

• Ruby Payne: Most children in poverty seem to rely upon

their kinesthetic abilities to learn.

• Peter Kline: Physical activity increases NR2B protein that

increases memory retention.

• Pat Wolfe: The brain is hardwired for rhyme, rhythm,

movement, and emotion.

• Germund Hesslow (Cerebellum Research) What makes us

move, is also what makes us think.