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The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) congratulates Premier Shawn Graham for following through on his promise to provide quality physical education programs to New Brunswick children.

The New Brunswick Minister of Education announced recently that physical education within Anglophone elementary schools will be taught by physical education specialists, and the weekly time allocation for physical education will increase to 120 minutes per week starting in September 2008 and eventually increase to 150 minutes per week within three years. These program enhancements bring physical education delivery within Anglophone New Brunswick schools to the national standards for Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) as set by CAHPERD, which is an exceptional accomplishment. To date, no other province in Canada has committed to this level of commitment of QDPE delivery.

Clearly the government of New Brunswick has recognized the importance of quality physical education to the healthy development of children and youth and as a critical intervention to the physical inactivity and obesity epidemic facing Canadian children. These program enhancements will ensure that every child in New Brunswick has the opportunity to develop skills in physical and health literacy that are fundamental to leading physically active and healthy lives for children and youth now and in their future.

For several decades, CAHPERD has advocated the importance of quality physical education programs for every child in Canada as critical to the development of knowledge, skills, habits and attitudes that are essential for lifelong active living. Further, international health and wellness organizations, such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and UNESCO have gone as far as declaring physical education as a fundamental right to every child.

Schools have the ability to reach every child in Canada and therefore are in a position to provide equitable access to quality physical and health education programs. The government of New Brunswick is to be commended for recognizing the important role that physical education plays in the healthy development of all children and for ensuring its place as a core subject within the school curriculum. We hope this leadership will be the stimulus for many other provinces to follow.

QDPE is a well-planned school program of compulsory physical education provided for a minimum of 30 minutes each day to all students (Kindergarten to grade 12) throughout the school year. A QDPE program includes:

• Daily curricular instruction for all students (K-12) for a minimum of 30 minutes.

• Well planned lessons incorporating a wide range of activities.

• A high level of participation by all students in each class.

• An emphasis on fun, enjoyment, success, fair play, self-fulfillment and personal health.

• Appropriate activities for the age and stage of each student.

• Activities which enhance cardiovascular systems, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility.

• A participation based intramural program.

• Qualified, enthusiastic teachers.

• Creative and safe use of facilities and equipment.

CAHPERD is a national, charitable, voluntary-sector organization whose primary concern is to influence the healthy development of children and youth by advocating for quality, school-based physical and health education. Visit www.cahperd.ca for more information.

Grant McManes, CAHPERD President

Andrea Grantham, Executive Director of CAHPERD