clipped from www.poststar.com

In a room next to the gym, another small group of students gathered in front of TV screens to take part in their physical activities.

One engaged in a boxing match with a virtual opponent. Another swung a "bat" at a "baseball" hurled by a computerized pitcher and a pair of "bicycles" stood in a nearby corner, awaiting riders to pedal across a make-believe road to nowhere.

"They didn't teach us this in college -- video 101," said school instructor Kevin Dayton.

With video games receiving a lot of blame for kids' sedentary lifestyles, and their resulting obesity, Dayton sees the irony of including them in gym class.

"There is a need to get kids away from video games, but -- everything in moderation. You wouldn't want them doing this 14 hours a day," he said.

Dayton said that, since so many students have the game systems in their homes, he is hoping to "bridge the gap" between school and home and instill in students good fitness habits that go beyond gym class.