Before beginning a practice or competition, Marietta High School marching band members not only have to tune their instruments and iron their uniforms — they have to stretch and gear up for a fairly strenuous workout.

“They’re doing calisthenics, endurance training and marching for miles sometimes carrying instruments that weigh up to 20 or 30 pounds,” said Marietta band director Ann Druss. “The physical demands are very extensive. They’re moving the whole time.”

Druss said she has tried for years to get marching band students to get physical education credit for the activity and soon she may have her wish, through legislation passed in Ohio just last month.

The Ohio Core Curriculum, expected to go into place with freshmen entering high school in 2010, would allow local school boards to give students who participate in two seasons of extracurricular activities, including athletics, cheerleading and marching band, to opt out of taking gym.

Read the rest of the article at the Marietta Times.