News Flash:  A recent study by the American College of Sports Medicine reports that children with increased physical activity, as little as 20 minutes/3 times per week, also had increased attention spans, self-esteem and academic achievement.  Pardon my boldness, but I did the same research, for my Master's Degree in Supervision and Administration of Education, studying my self-created Intramural Sports Program at Mirage Elementary School(Glendale, Az.), and reported the exact results - 22 years ago!  

     In related news, many schools are altering their physical education programs to emphasize fitness activities, instead of sports-skilled or game acitivites.  They just do NOT understand!  If it isn't fun, it won't get done!  Physical education class should be the highlight of a student's day - it should be active, self-competitive and FUN!  That is why adults are now clamoring to participate in sporting activities - to have FUN and stay fit - not to do physical drills/running and then measure their pulse rate.  Education is what is learned - not what is taught!(Hey, I like that!)  Life gets in the way as it is, so making physical activity a job, or an accountability, will eventually cause 'juvenile burnout' in still another area of life, coinciding with burnout of family-time, academic-time, work ethic, etc. 

     And Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is airing TV commercials calling for student involvement in any activity that would be an alternative to drug use.  He's kidding himself!  I've known many students and adults that have many alternate activities, but still are drug users - some from addiction, some for 'recreational' reasons.  The only thing to prevent students from using illegal drugs is responsible adult supervision.  Nancy Reagan said it best, and it still rings true - "Just say NO!" 

Teacher:  Emma, give me a sentence starting with "I." 

Emma:  I is....

Teacher:  Excuse me, Emma....always say, "I am."

Emma:  Okay.  I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.