The Herald-Zeitung

State lawmakers’ recent decision to remove health as a required subject for high school graduation is short-sighted and not in the best interest of Texas.

Fortunately, local school districts can take action to resolve the problem.

The legislature decided two years ago to increase the number of required core courses for graduation. Now students must take four years of math and science instead of just three each. Educators adjusted students’ schedules to accommodate the increased requirements. Recent legislation removes health as one of the state requirements but allows school districts to decide whether to require it as a local credit.

The move might appear beneficial toward students and educators as lawmakers try to shake loose room in students’ schedules for electives. However, it flies in the face of the national debate about health care reform and the growing obesity problem among this country’s youth. Health classes cover issues such as sexuality and drug and alcohol awareness, not to mention the benefits of good nutrition and exercise. Today’s teens are not likely to find these lessons in their video games and social networking sites, so local school districts should require their students to take these important classes.

The age of high-stakes testing and college preparation dawned many years ago, and no one argues against the need for students to be educated so our country can compete in the global marketplace. However, requiring students to take additional math and science classes will do little to advance our nation’s cause if they are poorly nourished, unfit and mentally unprepared to handle all of society’s challenges.

Comal and New Braunfels school district boards will consider in the next few weeks whether to keep health as a required class. We strongly urge trustees to ponder the health and welfare of students for today and the future.