House bill's demise cause for celebration at Smiths Station High

By Jerry F. Rutledge - jrutledge@ledger-enquirer.com --

A bill in the Alabama House which would have expanded physical education classes in schools while endangering some elective courses has died.

Alabama House Bill 83 had sought to address the state's burgeoning problem with adolescent obesity, increasing elementary P.E. classes to an average of 40 minutes per day and middle school/high school classes to 45 minutes.

But many high school teachers and students thought the bill would cut into time for activities like band, chorus, drama and even some athletics. Its demise in the state legislature was cause for jubilation in a Smiths Station High School choral class.

"I'm glad that the legislature did not see the need for that at this time or the near future. Very glad," said Faye Haag, the choral music director at Smiths Station High School. "Our students, especially the seniors, wanted to keep our fine arts program alive."