You Do The Math - Cost of Quality PE
Did you know the average American school spends about a $1.49 per student per year in the school’s physical education budget? Isn’t it sad, the most Americans throw more change in their car cup holder driving through McDonalds each week, than they are willing to invest in a physical education programs. If taught properly, a quality physical education program is the number one defense at fighting the childhood obesity crisis, and eventually solves the American crisis of future health care cost.
Most school administrators argue we can not afford quality physical education programs.
I believe it is a matter of making physical education and the health of our children a priority.
About 25 years ago, the experts in education, the experts that were making decisions on what was best for children said, in order to prepare children for the 21st century, we need computer labs in every American school. School leaders said they could not afford the expensive computers, fast forward 25 years. School leaders made computers a priority and now every school in the nation have computer labs.
I think the “experts” in education need to make the same commitment to physical education if we are going to prepare students for the 21st century. The first argument from schools, we can not afford quality PE. The first question should be, is there a need to focus on the health of children. The second question, can we afford not to invest in the health of students.
What does it cost to put in a first class “fitness lab”, like schools did with computer labs…. Well…….You Do The Math
Do you have a calculator handy….………. take the time to do this simple math problem…..I will give you the correct answer…testing your math skills..
Madison Junior High (PE4LIFE Academy) invested a $100,000 in a state of the art fitness center – this center includes a fully equipped fitness center with cardio and strength machines, exergames, a rock climbing wall, and the latest technology to collect data on the health of children…..
Now do the math:
$100,000 cost
Divide by 1000 (the number of students in the school)
Now divide by 10 ( the number of years quality fitness equipment will last in a school setting with proper care – actually it will last longer than 10 years)
Now divide by 180 ( the number of school days in a normal school year)
Answer to the math question………… it cost a little over 5 cents a day to provide equipment for a first class physical education program
- note– students that have gone through this program, only 3% of the students are overweight or obese – national average is 35% and climbing
- 20,000students in this district – if the district prevents 1 heart attack –savings over $100,000
What will be the cost be if we continue to neglect physical education programs. What will it cost by 2015 when 50% of students are either overweight or obese? We already know 33% of children will develop on set diabetes. We all know obesity and diabetes are also related to many other health problems.
There have been very few studies predicating American Health Care cost when this generation become adults. It was only an estimate, but one study recently predicted, the “childhood obesity” generation – sometimes known as the gamer generation will cost insurance company about $200,000 per person during there 35 year career in the work force.
Should we invest 5 cents a day in prevention, or $200,000 in treatment?
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