Kids spending time in nature is on the decline, and that may be detrimental to their overall health and immune system functioning. In reviewing Ming Kuo’s findings regarding the link between experiencing nature and improved immune functioning, I was particularly impressed that a direct link has been found between experiencing nature and increased NK functioning, with a simultaneous decline in inflammatory cytokine activity. The concept of a central pathway that accounts for improved immune functioning instead of the interaction of multiple, independent factors seems counterintuitive, yet the evidence Kuo cites is remarkable. When two-hour walks in the forest can increase the number and activity of NK cells by more than 50% and keep the NK
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In Georgia, legislation changes in 2000 (passage of the “A-Plus Education Reform Act” - http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/Archives/19992000/leg/fulltext/hb1187.htm) reduced PE time for middle school children from 225 minutes per week to zero mandatory hours. For elementary school students, only 90 combined hours of health and PE are recommended per year (although many schools do not adhere to that recommendation), and high school only requires one semester of “personal fitness,” usually consisting of less than an hour-long class of games played inside a gym (Id). Not only is this woefully inadequate and a likely contributor to increasing childhood and adolescent obesity levels, but Kuo’s study and the research she cites in support of her findings leads to the reasonable conclusion that these policies adversely affect student functioning in school as well as long-term immune health. Schools require numerous vaccinations as a way of protecting students from infectious disease and boosting individual immune systems and herd immunity. Policies limiting outside activity and access to nature during the day is likely negatively impacting, if not completely countering, those beneficial effects. Revision of Georgia’s laws and policies to increase access and time in nature for all students should be
In Georgia, legislation changes in 2000 (passage of the “A-Plus Education Reform Act” - http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/Archives/19992000/leg/fulltext/hb1187.htm) reduced PE time for middle school children from 225 minutes per week to zero mandatory hours. For elementary school students, only 90 combined hours of health and PE are recommended per year (although many schools do not adhere to that recommendation), and high school only requires one semester of “personal fitness,” usually consisting of less than an hour-long class of games played inside a gym (Id). Not only is this woefully inadequate and a likely contributor to increasing childhood and adolescent obesity levels, but Kuo’s study and the research she cites in support of her findings leads to the reasonable conclusion that these policies adversely affect student functioning in school as well as long-term immune health. Schools require numerous vaccinations as a way of protecting students from infectious disease and boosting individual immune systems and herd immunity. Policies limiting outside activity and access to nature during the day is likely negatively impacting, if not completely countering, those beneficial effects. Revision of Georgia’s laws and policies to increase access and time in nature for all students should be