Shawn Johnson is an inspiration: Iowa Congressman, Bruce Braley, introduces the Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act
On December 7, 2011 a new bill was passed in Iowa for the physical fitness of children which doubled as an honourable tribute to the Olympic champion, Shawn Johnson. The bill is titled as the Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act.
The bill was introduced by the gymnast and Iowa congressman, Bruce Braley. The main aim of the act is to battle child obesity with the help of technological innovations and tools.
In 2004, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and Grundy Center School District collaborated to incorporate technology to facilitate customized physical education programs for individual students.
As a result, UNI emphasizes on the use of that technology in its masters’ program curriculum for the physical education discipline.
Students of this program are employed at Grundy Center as PE instructors where they issue practical application of tools such as heart monitors.
Under the Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act, a grant system has been created, which will extend financial aid for the masters’ degree programs in physical education at 10 institutes.
However, any institution expecting the grant is supposed to meet a certain criteria and the use of the grant will be pre-specified to a small extent.
Congressman Braley’s official website has specified the following as requirements that need to be met once a college or university receives the grant:
• Incorporate uses of technology in physical education in the masters’ program curriculum
• Incorporate practical application of the latest teaching methods
• Extend the program to the community
• Improve the school district’s physical education program in terms of quality and scope
• Graduating students (in PE) should devote hours to instructing at the school
The grant money can be utilized by the receivers in making equipment purchases that will further develop physical fitness.
Johnson, who herself was born and bred in Iowa, is excited about the initiative. She sees it as the most logical next step.
Since technology is already such an integral part of children’s lives in the form of entertainment, it is only sensible to introduce it in the context of healthy living now.
“(It is) an opportunity to make exercise more fun for young people. And if we can do that, I think kids and teenagers will be more likely to go to the gym and make it a habit,” Johnson said.
Johnson brought home the Olympic Gold in 2008 for her impeccable routine on the balance beam. She is also a World silver medallist in the all-around and floor exercise.
Johnson is also the eighth season winner of the popular TV reality show ‘Dancing with the Stars’.
Owing to her success as a gymnast, Johnson is a local celebrity and an inspiration to many, including Braley himself, who accredits the athlete for this initiative.
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