Full Forecaste

Past Month's Most Commented Stories

Home > Readers

Walking to school a step in the right direction

Sunday, October 12, 2008 7:22 AM PDT

Font Size:
 
 

Commentary by Philip Wu
For The Daily News

When I grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, I lived a quarter mile from my elementary and junior high schools, and 1¼ miles from my high school. I routinely walked (or biked) to school every day, carrying all of my binders and books under my arms.

Walking and bicycling to school has traditionally been one of the most important and consistent ways that children have been physically active. In 1969, approximately 50 percent of children walked or bicycled to school. Of those kids living within a mile of school, 87 percent either walked or rode a bike. Today, fewer than 15 percent of schoolchildren walk or bicycle to school. As a result, kids today are less active, less independent and less healthy.

As a physician, I am increasingly alarmed at how physically inactive many of our children have become. Obesity-related health issues are on the rise. Nationwide, 33 percent of all children are now overweight or obese. When not in school or doing part time work to earn extra cash, young people now spend more time with computers, video games, TV and movies and less time with their families or in physical activities.

Kaiser Permanente understands the connection between physical inactivity and the high rate of childhood obesity. We believe it is important to encourage children and young people to be up on their feet moving around. That is why Kaiser Permanente is an enthusiastic supporter and sponsor of the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership. We want to restore walking and bicycling to school as THE primary modes for children getting to and from school.

Every community could benefit from this effort, and we can help make it happen by creating safe routes to school. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national and international movement and a federally funded program that creates safe, convenient and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from schools.

We should do all we can to provide our children with the opportunity to walk and bicycle to school safely and to get the physical activity they need as part of a healthy lifestyle! Visit www.kp.org/communitybenefit to learn more about KP’s work in the community.

Dr. Philip Wu is the pediatric clinical lead for the Weight Management Initiative in the Department of Pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Tualatin.

Previous

Viewpoint wrote on Oct 12, 2008 1:50 PM:

" In my youth I attended various school districts and schools and had opportunities to both walk and ride the bus to school, in a part of the country where snow was a given all winter and part of spring and fall. I wholeheartedly agree students should be walking as often as possible. Because districts are not paid transportation costs for students living within a mile of schools, as the crow flies, we should start as parents and community leaders to make sure those students within the mile perimeter have safe routes to school. Those routes should have sidewalks and bike paths, or wide even shoulders, as minimum requirements. Every time new housing development is proposed we should be asking how it will impact our schools and students. "

pilaf wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:59 PM:

" When I was a kid we all walked to school,too, but there were sidewalks which made it safe to walk or ride bikes to school. That is not the case any more in most areas, and I am not sure I would feel happy about having my kids ride bikes or walk along the shoulder of the road. "

El Gabilon wrote on Oct 13, 2008 3:20 PM:

" Kaiser just doesn't get it. As a youth we also walked to school but times have changed. Today children are subject to perverts, rapists, serial killers, child molesters, speeding vehicles, drivers who do not obey stop signs, red lights or other traffic signals. As for exercise, last year we weighed in at 190lbs. We walk 4-5 miles 4 times a week at 125 paces per minute, do stretching exercises, and weight lifting. Today we weigh 190lbs even though we have cut our intake of fat, snacks, etc. Our childrens problems of overweight comes in part from a lack of exercise, but also from the food industry that puts salt and sugar in almost every conceivable canned or bottled product, even baby food, just to start them off right. What is outrageous is if a person purchases a drink product with only 2 or 0 calories one has to pay double the price. Our children are addicted to sugar. Exercies we find is good for flexibility but not for weight loss. We recommend strict government control over canned and bottled food products, reducing or eliminating sugar and salt, and that our children be taught mandatory yoga in public schools from grade 1 on up to college level and as a life time exercise program. Walking, running etc although providing some flexibility they do not provide enough. Although 81, doing what we do we cannot sit in the yogi position or do yoga which would provide the necessasry flexibility. "

Woodlander wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:32 PM:

" I also remember walking alot more when I was school age. Even when I lived in more rural areas where taking a bus was necessary, we still had to walk several country blocks to get to the bus stop. Now, I have witnessed the bus picking up children right in front of their houses on rural country roads. I am not complaining about this for one reason, SAFETY! There is a cold-case here in Cowlitz County at least 20 years old involving a friends little sister who disappeared from her school bus stop on a rural route just outside of Woodland. No clues, no leads, poof! When our state starts putting these freaks away where they will never be a threat to our children, personally, I would rather have a living little fatty than carry the guilt of my child vanishing because I chose to put them out there all alone to defend themselves against the evil that is so prevalent these days. I can also remember a parent usually walking with or waiting at the bus stop with the kids. Not anymore. Even if a child is privileged enough to have a two parent home, they are both working so they can afford to feed, clothe,and house their children. I agree with El Gabilon, TIMES INDEED HAVE CHANGED. "

MMGrad66 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 5:47 AM:

" If really is too bad that times have changed. We moved to Longview in 1959 and moved away in 1968. During those years we walked everywhere: to school, to church, to the store, downtown, around the lake, over the bridge to Rainer - it was great! From 1960-66 I played 2-3 sports for Mark Morris every year in junior high and in high school. I could eat like a horse and never gain weight. We were always outside shooting hoops or racing our bikes up and down our block on 22nd Avenue. Kids just don't get outside as much these days as we used to when younger. Of course, as we age we change and I am now in Weight Watchers and have lost 31 lbs. I don't exercise enough now and cannot eat like I used to but I can truely say that I enjoyed living in Longview back then and go back as often as I can whether for an hour or two or to spend a couple days. The town definately has changed and I hope improvements can be realized for the Longview residents living there now. "

Viewpoint wrote on Oct 18, 2008 9:59 AM:

" Bussing kids is a band-aid solution if the real problem is safety and parents and communities who can't or won't protect children. This is another case of throwing money in the wrong direction and enabling irresponsibility. "

Top Jobs
More Top Jobs
Top Garage Sales
More Top Garage Sales
Top Rentals
More Top Rentals