PSS now requiring daily exercise in schools

The Public School System recently upgraded its promotion of healthier lifestyles among public school students and teachers, allocating funds to support exercise activities for each class.

According to a memorandum to all school principals and teachers, about $250 will be given to each classroom teacher for a nutrition, health, and physical education program after recent survey findings by the Department of Public Health highlighted the need to further educate students about diseases, including diabetes, as well as the benefits of healthy lifestyles.

“As educators, we know that prevention is the most effective and cost efficient way to avoid illness and the spiraling costs of medical care,” PSS Commissioner Rita Inos said in the statement. “We also know that the rate of incidence of diabetes and childhood obesity in the CNMI is one of the highest in the world. Therefore, we have an obligation, as educators, to teach our students about the many benefits that results from daily physical education, nutrition education…and healthy lifestyles.”

In addressing the issue, Inos said she now requires 30 minutes of healthy exercise—in any form—for every school day.

Other requirements are that nutrition and health education be “blended into daily lessons.” She explained that the lessons should also incorporate information on healthy eating habits, balanced daily diets with each of the four food groups included in the three daily meals, elimination of junk food, and eating healthy snacks.

In addition to the $250, the PSS will also provide “colorful and educational charts” for classroom display.

Inos also disclosed that another program, directed for teachers and staff, is in the works.

“We are promoting school wellness…by providing release time from 3:30-4:30pm Monday through Friday for the adult members of the school staff to engage in healthy exercise as a team,” she said.

She said each participating school would receive $500.

“Let’s remember that to teach healthy lifestyles, we must model healthy lifestyles,” Inos said.

Last July, Inos, DPH prevention specialist Sharon Daves, and other DPH and PSS staff stressed that joint efforts by the two agencies will focus on “real-life education and curriculum students can easily comprehend and integrate into their everyday lives” in hopes of addressing the many misconceptions students have on diseases, particularly diabetes.

Results of a survey conducted within five public schools earlier this year revealed that of the 1,401 students that answered the questionnaire, 95 percent are not aware of what diabetes is, with 84 percent perceiving that the disease is caused by eating too much sugar and sweet foods.

Daves said 2002 statistics showed there are 28 individuals below 20 years old who had been diagnosed with Type II diabetes in the Northern Marianas.

“It’s really great to have this data because it’s the basis of beginning to build in programs and to also reinforce programs that are already existing in our schools,” she said.