Because the majority of our youngsters are not going to shape up physically on their own, they are going to need some assistance. The help isn't going to come from the food industry nor are many parents stepping forward to help. The schools, where we house children five days a week for over six hours a day, should be able to take on the challenge, but their hands are tied.

A coalition among the state Legislature, state Board of Education, and the Hawai'i State Teachers Association is needed. When it comes to helping our youth overcome the overweight, out-of-shape obesity problems, these institutions are the Big Three. But, for one reason or another, thus far, they have not come together to devise a plan to curb this life-threatening, coffer-draining epidemic.

There was a time when politicians and school board members would stoically ask for data to support the alleged obesity problems. If data is still needed, it can easily be found — just look around. Hardly a day goes by without a newspaper or magazine article revealing that too many of us are too inactive and getting fat. And if more proof is needed, visit our schools with your eyes open.

Do we know what the problem is? Do we know what is causing the problem? Do we know how to correct it?

All of the answers to these questions are a resounding yes.

So, what is the real problem? The Big Three are playing politics with the health of our most precious resource. Instead of working for a solution — how we can get our schools to lead our youth back to good health — they are waiting for the others to respond first. Because the majority of our children are devoid of motor skills (commonly referred to as PEDs — Physical Education Deprived), they avoid physical activity and become overweight.

The maladies that follow this condition are well documented — heart disease and diabetes to name the most prominent.

Very soon, our society will no longer be able to support the health care costs resulting from this situation. Our present system is engineering the physical demise of our youth. While the public is preoccupied with other issues, our kids are laying the foundation for an array of health problems. As we approach another election year, our politicians and the state Board of Education should be made more accountable to the physical needs of youth and the HSTA has to be willing to work with both groups.

Too many school administrators have been placing their quest for making adequate yearly progress over the physical well-being of their students. Overweight sloths have become the consequence of this administrative trend. They have to realize that physically fit children make for better students.

HSTA leaders have to learn from the common sense fact that when the size of your feet increase, you need to get bigger shoes. The needs of our children can no longer be met in a six and a half hour school day. Is it time to increase the length of the school day? An extended school day would not only accommodate physical education but a host of other electives.

Not to worry HSTA, our politicians will allocate the money to pay for the new school day. Why? The current consequences have become too great. The superintendent and state BOE will also have to revamp their thinking — we will have to "learn how to do more with less."

Let's face it; our kids are our future. All the hodgepodge programs from the acronym groups, DOH, HMSA, AMA, AHA, HAHPERD, and NASPE that are trying to accommodate the kids' physical needs are helpful. But the real solution is in the hands of the Big Three. Until they join hands, we will continue augmenting the obesity problem and spiraling health care costs.

Starting in kindergarten, our youngsters have to be physically educated by professional physical educators. Our kids need to measure up to standards and be held accountable. We have to teach all of our students how to move. They should be exposed to the joy of physical activity and taught the physical skills that will lead them to self-directed free play.

We must nurture the basic instincts to exercise by providing students with the skills, time, place and, equipment to do what used to be the norm in our society. Healthy kids will play, learn and better fit in their social sphere. As a result, fewer children will conceive of the notion to drop out of school.

All of this time spent on and preparing for standardized tests is not the answer. Let's make school schedules conducive to meeting the needs of the whole child. Let's hold schools accountable for their longtime role — to prepare competent citizens to continue our society. Today more so than ever, competent also has to imply healthy.

Parents who vote in this election year must hold our political candidates accountable. Inquire about what your elected officials stand for and what they plan to do for our children, the future adults of Hawai'i.

Chic Hess is a health and physical education teacher at Kailua Intermediate School. Hess also is the president-elect of the Southwest District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.