That's why Lawler, coordinator of physical education for schools in Naperville, Illinois, wants to revolutionize the way phys ed is taught. Over the past 10 years, he and his colleagues have revamped the phys ed curriculum for their district's 21 schools. They have their cholesterol checked, and they develop personal fitness plans.
Students wear heart monitors and earn points for working out at their target heart rate.
Lawler's onto something. The CDC has recognized Madison as one of eight model phys ed programs in the nation. Donations, grants, and used equipment supplement Lawler's modest budget, and Illinois' mandatory daily phys ed policy helps him keep kids moving. But educators short on resources and class time can still achieve gains in kids' fitness, he says. Instead of dividing a class into two teams for touch football, for example, put four kids on a side and have four or five games going at once.