When Columbia County middle school pupils return after the winter break, some might escape the rigors of physical education.

School officials are considering a policy that would allow middle school pupils to skip P.E. in favor of music and remediation classes.

"What it boils down to is in order for the student to take remediation, the student could not be in physical education classes or could not take band," said Mike Lindsey, the school system's director of middle school student learning.

Officials started remediation-acceleration courses in middle schools this year to help pupils in danger of failing the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test, which is used to determine advancement and a school's success in meeting No Child Left Behind goals.

Remediation acceleration is offered as an elective course. Other elective courses include band, chorus and P.E. Though considered an elective, P.E. and health have become required courses in recent years as child obesity rates have skyrocketed.

Middle school principals were worried that pupils with a musical bent might forgo needed remediation classes to remain in band and still meet the P.E. requirement, Mr. Lindsey said.

"We're kind of dealing with a two-edged sword," said Riverside Middle School Principal Chris Segraves. "It's been a concern to keep kids active, but I also know that we've got to have them performing academically."

The school board gave tentative approval during a recent meeting to allowing pupils in need of remediation to supplant P.E. with band or chorus. They likely will take a final vote on the issue at a Dec. 9 meeting.

But even those pupils must still take a required health course, where they learn about issues of drug abuse, alcohol and sex, Mr. Lindsey said.

"Not that we don't feel that physical education is not important; we feel that the health classes are critical for our kids to receive that instruction," he said.

Health courses typically take about six weeks and will be offered to students in remediation and band after the administration of the CRCT in April, Mr. Lindsey said.

Not all middle school educators agree with the board's early decision.

"They're placing more of an emphasis on band and chorus," said Harlem Middle School football coach Benjie Moore. "I think anything physical should be required nowadays with the shape this country is in."

Since the early 1980s, the number of obese children ages 6 to 11 has doubled, and rates of teen obesity have tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

However, Mr. Lindsey said, just 4.6 percent of middle school pupils will be affected should the board approve the new policy.

Also, he said, it is difficult to deny a child a fine arts education. To do so might hinder a pupil's desire to perform well in school.

"There are some kids who are heavily into music and fine arts, and that's where they find success," Mr. Lindsey said. "We don't necessarily want to take that away from them."

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.