Members of the Physical Education Club handed out petition forms in front of Yosemite Hall today to protest physical education requirement changes in K-12 schools.

Bills AB 554, 351 and 223 will allow drill teams, ROTC programs and typing classes to replace physical education courses.

Assistant kinesiology professor Julie Kuehl-Kitchen said these changes to courses will be a set back for physical education and teachers who try to educate students on health and exercise.

“It’s at horrendous time in the world right now because adult onset diabetes is so prevalent in children and our obesity is skyrocketing in children,” she said.

She said physical education classes are the only time students are required to learn about health. Students won’t receive that training if they are allowed to take typing classes instead.

“We are preparing them to be skillful so when they leave their school setting, they can go be healthy and not just sit around and choose the sedentary things.”

Bill opponents will head to the Capitol on March 30 to protest the changes to physical education. The bills will go before the legislative floor on April 1.

Senior kinesiology major Holly Shinpen said it will be difficult to get students to come to the Capitol since it will be spring break, but the club will be going into schools and trying to get physical educators involved.

“A lot of the students are involved but it’s also the current educators’ jobs which are on the line,” Shinpen said.

After four hours, the club already had more than 1,000 signatures.

“It’s kinda just been thrown together. But it’s amazing the turnout, and the response we’ve had already,” Shinpen said.

Kuehl-Kitchen said she was supposed to teach class today, but realized petitioning against the bill was more pressing and important.

Chloe Daley can be reached at [email protected]