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Lennox School District, in the Los
Angeles metro area, is using physical education to help
teach students the CHARACTER COUNTS!SM
program’s Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness,
respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
With the help of a Partnerships in
Character Education grant from the U.S. Department of
Education, the school district has designed a character
education program that revolves around physical education
classes. Each unit
of study has a dual base: one teaching a new physical
skill and one emphasizing a character trait.
Reaching all 7,200 K-8 students in
the district,
the Lennox Character Counts!SM
Program is a family-focused initiative,
with the goal of extending the lessons outside of the
classroom and into the home, where parents can learn
about positive values along with their children.
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Research tells us that children’s nutrition
and physical activity have a direct impact on their health, energy
levels, and positive behaviors. Yet, new statistics on the health
of our nation’s youth indicate that more and more children
are adopting unhealthy eating habits and inactive lifestyles. To
deal with this growing problem, schools, teachers, parents, and
community members across the country are providing students with
the knowledge and skills they need to stay healthy and fit.
Childhood Overweight: A National Crisis
In the past 20 years, the percentage of overweight
children in the United States has doubled. According to the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 1999-2000 National
Health and Nutrition Survey, 15% of children and adolescents between
the ages of 6 and 19 (almost 9 million) are overweight. This represents
a 4% increase from the overweight estimates of the previous Survey.
The long-term health consequences of childhood
overweight and sedentary lifestyles are great. According to a report
by the Surgeon General, overweight children have a 70% chance of
becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one
or more parent is overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are
associated with heart disease, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes,
stroke, arthritis, and other health problems.1
The number of young people being diagnosed with
type 2 diabetes is of particular concern. Two decades ago, type
2 diabetes was considered an adult disease. Today, however, children
and adolescents are being diagnosed with it at a distressing rate.2
“Americans need to understand that overweight
and obesity are literally killing us,” U.S. Secretary of Health
and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson said when launching a new research
strategy and national education campaign against overweight and
obesity. “To know that poor eating habits and inactivity
are on the verge of surpassing tobacco use as the leading cause
of preventable death in America should motivate all Americans to
take action to protect their health. We need to tackle America’s
weight issues as aggressively as we are addressing smoking and tobacco.”
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