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As new political and educational leadership emerges at the national, state and local levels, I hope they bring with them new thinking about how to best educate children. Specifically, educational leaders must reconsider the time allotted to physical education in any revision of No Child Left Behind.

Maintaining and measuring progress toward high academic standards should continue. But, research and books like "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain," not only confirm the positive correlation between "play" at school and academic performance but also highlight the higher incidences of obesity among school age children.

If increased physical education is demonstrated to improve academic achievement why are educational leaders not considering ways to increase the time allotted for PE?

America's and Montgomery County's new leaders must have the courage to rethink time-use during the school day. The playing fields provide life-long lessons, unmatched in the traditional classroom setting.

Let's at least double the time students have PE class, for my child that would still be only two times per week, and be brave enough to increase that time when student scores improve because they're playing more.

Glenn Whitman, Potomac