THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	32
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting that the Department of Education allow credits for current participation in extracurricular sports for all High School students TO encouragE physical fitness and mental well-being and support a reduction in obesity amongst High School Students.

     WHEREAS, according to a report on obesity, dated August 27, 2007, by the Trust for America's Health, Hawaii's youth are the twenty-ninth most obese in the nation and eighty-one per cent of Americans believe that the government should have a role in addressing obesity; and

     WHEREAS, according to a United States Department of Health and Human Services report released in 2003, one out of every eight deaths in America are caused by an illness directly related to obesity, including but not limited to diabetes, heart disease, and asthma; and

     WHEREAS, according to a nutrition education needs assessment survey conducted in Hawaii public schools from 2000 to 2004, over thirty-six per cent of high school students are either overweight or at risk for obesity; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association offers a variety of extracurricular sports to promote the educational experiences and physical benefits for all students; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health recommends a minimum of sixty minutes of physical activity at least three times a week; and

     WHEREAS, students who participate in extracurricular sports generally average an additional eight hours of exercise every week; and

     WHEREAS, participation in extracurricular sports for credit assists high school students in becoming physically fit and toward achieving the twenty-four credit requirement to graduate; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the 2007 Hawaii Secondary Student Conference recommends that the Board of Education provide credits toward graduation for those students participating in extracurricular sports in an effort to encourage physical fitness and mental well-being, and to reduce the rate of obesity amongst high school students; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Superintendent of Education, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the officers of the Hawaii State Student Council, the principals of all Hawaii high schools, and all Chairpersons of the School Community Councils.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Keiki Caucus; Student Conference; Extracurricular Credits