For many people, physical education from their good old school days conjures up a lot of memories, mostly bad.

                  Falling off the parallel bars, not getting any higher than the knot on that rope that hung from the ceiling,
striking out three straight times, or being pummeled in wrestling by the class bully was about as good as it got for some students.

                  But the face of physical education is changing in junior high schools and high schools, and particularly in Naperville School District 203.

                  In a program spearheaded by Madison Junior High School teacher Phil Lawler, physical education throughout the district, and in some 30 percent of other schools in Illinois, is moving toward overall physical fitness for students and away from the traditional concept of gym class. The new goal is overall health and wellness as
opposed to sports skills.

                  The cutting-edge program at Madison features exercise equipment and a rock climbing wall. Similar fitness centers exist at the other junior high and high schools, with the exception of the rock climbing wall.

                  The program has been gradually developed over the last 12 years by Lawler, who is also the district's physical education coordinator.

                  For frugal taxpayers, we would note that a lot of money was raised by the community and equipment was
donated for this program by manufacturers.

                  The students all have individualized fitness programs and access to heart monitors.

                  As do a lot of things that happen in Naperville, the program has received national recognition, and in the
past three years representatives from more than 100 schools nationwide have visited Madison to see how it works.

                  Now, the program in Naperville is going to be a model program throughout the nation, thanks to a business partnership Madison Junior High has just reached with a nonprofit organization called PE 4 Life, which is  dedicated to promoting a healthy and fit lifestyle for children.

                  Given the growing problem in this nation with obesity among youngsters, this kind of exercise and wellness program can be of great benefit to District 203 residents, and we endorse it heartily.

                  This is another example of Naperville schools establishing a mark for others, and we applaud the district for doing so.

               10/14/01