Aerobic Instruction

For a growing number of students, working out isn't just for gym class.

By Bruce Buchanan

Richfield Elementary principal Chris Lineberry wants well-rounded students, not well-rounded waistlines. That’s why kids at the rural Stanly County, North Carolina, school take daily breaks from math and reading for a little Tae Bo at their desks or a brisk walk around the campus.

“Testing and accountability are essential, but the purpose of school is not testing,” Lineberry says. “We would like to see healthful living become as common as reading.”

Richfield’s 300 students began their exercise regime last year, and already, Lineberry says, there’s been a drop in the average body mass index (a number calculated using weight and...