Another group is coming out against part of the so-called grand bargain, meant to end Illinois’ budget impasse. Several retired military generals say relaxing physical education requirements is a threat to national security.
Retired Brigadier General Mark Rabin of the Air National Guard says a quarter of Americans between 17 and 24 years old are not fit enough to join the military. The most common problem, he says, is being overweight.
“The Army, the Air Force the Navy, the Marines, can’t take somebody who is not physically fit, and in the eight or 10 or 12 weeks of basic training bring them up to where they need to be.”
Right now Illinois says students have to take P.E. five days a week, but many schools struggle to meet those standards. A proposal in the state Senate would knock it down to 3 days.
The “grand bargain” would also let schools privatize driver’s education, food service, and janitorial work.
