Frank Tighe

Also participating in the news conference were Dr. Tom Tenner, president of American Heart Association Texas Affiliate, Marilyn Bayless, executive director Texas Parent-Teacher Association, and Frank Tighe, PE teacher from Round Rock ISD.

AUSTIN ñ Elementary physical education teacher Frank Tighe says he's fed up that so many Texans kids would rather flop down in front of their computers or TVs than work up a sweat playing outdoors.

Members of the Jacksonville 1956 state championship basketball team were honored Tuesday night at the JHS gym, with a sign erected in their honor.

"We are creating more and more reasons to just sit," said Frank Tighe, physical education teacher at Canyon Creek Elementary School in the Round Rock district."And yet, the body was designed to thrive on daily physical activity."

Under policies established by the Texas Legislature, public school children should get 135 minutes of physical activity a week.Tighe said his students from all grades get at least 25 minutes of physical training a day.Some days, his classes last 20 to 50 minutes.

He said children can exercise indoors by jumping rope or using balls made out of socks or a balloon to play volleyball with a couch as the net, or by kicking jar lids across kitchen floors with the insides of their feet in a form of soccer that provides healthful activity without endangering furniture.

"You can also exercise at home by using garage areas or back porches," said Tighe, 59, who has spent 37 years as a physical education teacher and coach.

He said physical education should be part of a national initiative similar to the No Child Left Behind program for academic rigor established under the current presidential administration.

"It should be called No Child Left on His Behind," Tighe said.