Should P.E. Class Be Mandatory?

        Throughout schools nation-wide, physical education is at the core of a comprehensive approach to promoting physical activity. Physical education helps students develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, and confidence needed to be physically active for life, while providing an opportunity for students to be active during the school day. Leading professionals in the field of physical education have developed a new kind of physical education that is fundamentally different from the stereotypical “roll out the balls and play” classes of decades past that featured little meaningful instruction and lots of humiliation for students who were not athletically coordinated. Professional associations, academic experts, and many teachers across the country are promoting and implementing quality physical education programs that emphasize participation in lifelong physical activity among all students.
          Of course, some students are physically unable to participate in physical education. I agree that if a student has a medical condition and a note from their doctor that it is fine for them not to participate. However, all students capable of participating should do so. Not only will students stay active for the majority of the class time, but physical activity teaches self-management skills, such as goal-setting and self-monitoring. Perhaps most importantly, gym class focuses, at the high school level, on helping adolescents make the transition to a physically active adult lifestyle. Also, many students do not wish to participate in physical education classes because they worry about developing injuries. They believe children participating in physical activity are at a higher risk of injury than those who are in academic classes. By not being physically active, a student is at greater risk for sustaining an injury. However, injuries can certainly be prevented, and people are more likely to develop unhealthy habits by not exercising than by exercising. It is important to stretch and warm up before starting any work out. Students learn these safety techniques from their participation in physical education class.  Particularly in the spine, shoulder, and hip areas, stretching helps develop flexibility.
         All children, from prekindergarten through grade twelve, should participate in quality physical education classes every school day. It is a known fact that physical activity improves overall health.  Not only does it improve circulation, increase blood flow to the brain, and raise endorphin levels, which all help to reduce stress, improve mood and attitude, and calm children, physically active students may also achieve more academically.  Physically fit students are less likely to miss school, partake in risky behaviors, get pregnant, or attempt suicide, which are all associated with better outcomes in school. 
          The importance of making physical education fun was illustrated by a national survey of students in grades 4–12, which found that enjoyment of physical education class was one of the most powerful factors associated with participation in physical activity outside of school. To provide opportunities for health-enhancing physical activity, physical education should be offered every day to all students from prekindergarten through grade 12. Unfortunately, most US students do not participate in daily exercise, and the proportion of students with daily physical education has been declining over the years. In 1994, only 17 percent of junior high schools and 2 percent of high schools required physical education five days per week each year. Additionally, the majority of high school students take physical education for only a single year.
         In conclusion, all schools should make it mandatory for students to have physical education classes every year. Society becomes more unhealthy each year due to students' lack of exercise. Therefore, these students need to be educated in physical fitness. To achieve this, students can participate in physical education classes, learning how to warm up, stretch, and exercise. Through exercising daily, the rate of obesity will decrease, and people will become healthier individuals, thus resulting in happier human beings. If we continue with the lack of physical education in schools, we will continue to contribute to the poor health of students.




Works Cited

Garcia, Rob. "Should P.E. Be Mandatory?" Chicago Tribune. N.p., 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-01-15/news/0901160054_1_gym-class-education-segment-physical-education>.

Toporak, Bryan. "Should Schools Make Physical Education Mandatory?" Edweek. Education Week, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. <http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/schooled_in_sports/2011/01/should_schools_make_physical_education_mandatory.html>.

Woo, Yen Yen. "Should Physical Education Be Mandatory in Schools? By Shayna, Michael & Nichele." NY Teachers. N.p., 18 Oct. 2007. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://nyteachers.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/should-physical-education-be-mandatory-in-schools-by-shayna-michael-nichele/>.