I had heard so much about the childhood obesity epidemic that when Rocco Gianni invited me to visit his 8th grade PE class at the South Whidbey Middle School, I was afraid I’d find a class full of portly cherubs wearing T-shirts. Boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise!

My first hint that I wasn’t in Kansas any more came as soon as I walked into the hall of the school gym. The first thing that caught my eye was a large wall poster that read, “So Many Ways to Keep Fit, What’s a Body to Do?” As I glanced at it the unmistakable voice of Willie Nelson came through the door to my right. Needless to say, I opened the door. About a dozen very active looking youngsters sporting black helmets and kneepads were literally climbing the wall! It had been painted blue and black, and dotted with rock holds (those big, gray plastic things that look like large, misshapen noses.) Several students were about 6 to 8 feet off the floor in interesting positions with arms and feet splayed out, grasping the hand holds. The sound of country music filled the room. I was fascinated, but quickly shut the door and hurried off to find Rocco’s classroom to keep my appointment.

Rocco was dividing the youngsters into teams for bowling practice. While he kept an eye on his class as rolling lightweight balls into groups of plastic pins, Rocco told me that the current goal of physical education is to motivate youngsters to find an interest in activities which they can continue as adults. “Unlike competitive sports,” he explained, “which very few continue in later adult life.” He also mentioned that physically active kids tend to be happier and score higher on tests.

I asked if he thought kids now are less active at home. “I tell kids to climb trees, throw wood on the wood pile, get on a skateboard. They have a natural energy that they used to use playing outside in the neighborhood. When I began teaching there were no computers — no video games. For a lot of single parent families, that’s where the kids spend their time now.”

Just the day before I had spoken to Willie Smith, PE teacher at the Coupeville Middle School, who had approached the same problem from a different angle saying that neighborhoods are now more spread out, so there’s less chance to play outside with other kids. “A habit of just sitting around as a child can continue on into the future with obese grownups in a culture where everyone is big. This may be the result of more stress in life.”

Stephen Sanders, in the book Active for Life underscores the need for small children to move about feely, saying it “can set the stage for healthy movement later in life not only {to} help ensure fitness, but {to} contribute to self-esteem and an enhanced capacity for learning and problem solving.”

Meanwhile, back in Rocco’s class the kids were beginning to need his attention. “Before you leave, you might like to visit the climbing class,” he suggested as I started for the door.

Good idea! I headed back to the room with the blue wall. By now the period was ending and students were coming down off the wall and tossing helmets and kneed pads into large, plastic carryalls which a few students cheerfully dragged into the equipment room. The teacher, Erik Jokinen, had a moment between classes to chat.

I was interested to see fitness machines. Erik explained. “If they go into a fitness club, and someone mentions “quads,” our kids don’t stand there wondering what they’re talking about—they know their muscle groups and how to work out in a fitness center.” He, too, mentioned the need for learning activities that will be available as adults.

When asked what changes he’d seen, he mentioned a growing gap between the kids whose families encourage and support them in sports and recreational activities, and those who are much more sedentary, often due to economic circumstances. “The kids growing up in single parent homes are more likely to be sitting around in front of the TV or computer till Mom or Dad comes home from work.”

These seemed like major cultural influences, and I wondered how people who are concerned about these trends could have an impact. Eric explained that in many schools today PE class is not a full hour. With kids riding to school instead of walking, and video games waiting at home, PE class may be their only physical activity. All three instructors emphasized that we should be aware how differently PE is being taught today. Realizing that, adults might be more willing to encourage youngsters to take more PE, and to support having a full hour of PE required.

I had told Rocco that I thought the middle school age was a time when changes in lifestyle were still possible and asked if he agreed. “I think we have a chance to plant seeds,” was his response. “I just hope this is fertile ground.”

As I was leaving the building, one of Rocco’s students asked why I’d been observing class. I explained I was planning to do an article, and he very politely wished me luck on the project. As I look over my notes, I recall Mark Twain dryly remarking that the rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated. It occurs to me that, for this generation as for others before them, there are certainly problems which need to be addressed. But all is not lost, new problems have given rise to new strategies. If more kids can be as active and engaged as those I saw, I think we can safely add a healthy dose of optimism to our concern for their future.

Article by Elaine Woods, owner of Whidbey Walks.

Elaine is a member of the Whidbey In Motion Coalition. Log on to our website at www.whidbeyinmotion.org for more information.