There is a debate going around in schools, discussing whether or not students participating in sports should be required to take a physical education class. The common answer from students is no, but by law, in Iowa, it is required. In 2008, the Iowa Department of Education passed a law requiring students in a public school to enroll in a PE class for one semester a year. This was part of the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015. The intent was to give students a healthier lifestyle and a more "rounded schedule." The idea was effective at first in showing a lowering number in obesity rates. However, over the past few years more and more students have been joining sports. This brings up the question, should student-athletes be required to take a PE class?
The biggest complaint from students is that they miss the opportunity to have a study hall or a class they want to take in place of PE. Many students class schedules are too full to have a study hall at all, which will mean that they have to spend more time outside of school studying. As a student-athlete myself, I had to stay up extra late to study for a test and do homework because I got home late. Many other students agree that they would have much rather done this in a study hall in school and have a chance to get sleep. Studies show that, especially for teenagers, getting good sleep at night is crucial to performance in school and sports. it gives them an opportunity to make up tests and catch up on all the work they miss for their sport. During their season, student-athletes tend to miss classes, especially those at the end of the day, for games or meets. With a study hall, it would be easier to catch up and stay on top of everything. And of course, there is always the risk of injury. While it is unlikely, there is always a possibility that someone gets hurt lifting or playing a game. This could end a student-athletes season.
Participating in school sports covers all of the important bases that physical education does. Exempting student-athletes from PE classes does not mean that those classes are not important, it just shows that there is no need for student-athletes to spend time doing things they already do and learning stuff they already know. I agree that students should be required to do some sort of physical activity, but it should be limited to those not participating in sports. Some students like the idea of being required to participate in a sport rather than a PE class. In the end, as long as students are getting some sort of "physical activity" during the school day, I think that both the government and students will be satisfied.
Do you think that student-athletes should have to take a PE class?
Do you think that it would be better to require students to participate in a sport rather than a PE class?
If you had the option as an athlete, would you still take a PE class?
Have you had to stay up extra late to do homework or study after a sporting event?
Replies
I agree that it can be hard to keep up with grades at the end of the year.
I don't think they should have to take a PE class. They are already getting enough excercise depending on what sport they are in. And they could get hurt in PE and be out for the season and that could hurt them if they want to go to college for sports.
I feel like they should not have to take a P.E class. They are alerady doing physical activity, why make them do more. Now if they want to then let them, but having them take a class does not really do much. But I'm not an athlete so I can't really say for sure if they do or dont want to do a P.E class
I don't think that student athletes should have to take a PE class. Some sports practice are like an hour and a half or so long which is longer than a PE class anyway. The students are still getting the exercise that the school wants them to. If I was a student athlete, I wouldn't want to be forced to take PE as well as play my sport.
I agree that it would be better to have more time to do homework.
I don't think that student athletes should have to take a PE class because they are already doing exercise throughout the year and are normally busy trying to do homework. I think that it is better to require students that are not athletes to take a PE class because not everyone likes to be in a sport. I would not take a PE class unless I had enough room in my schedule but I find myself fitting it in somewhere. I have had to stay up late because I missed a class and it can become hard to keep up.
I agree that it would be smart to only take a PE class if there was room in my scedule.
I personally don't think that if you are in a sport since being in a sport takes up a lot of time you don't need to be in a PE class. I don't think a sport should be required but I think it should be either you have to be in a PE class or a sport. If I had the option I would probably not be in a PE class so that I would have room for a study hall.
I agree that it would be smarter to take a study hall instead of a PE class
I think that the semester you are doing a sport you should be able to skip your PE class. I think that you are already doing a sport so the PE class shouldn't be required to take. I think some people might find it more interesting to do a sport than taking a PE class. I wouldn't take a PE class if I was not required.
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