Should PE Classes be Mandatory?

[3Dani]

Physical Education is something that is required for every student at Harlan Community to take every single year in high school, but is it really necessary? The CDC explains that taking some sort of physically educating class provides cognitive content and helps develop motor skills. There are so many benefits to taking a PE class, but there are also a few disadvantages. For example, some students want to take more academic classes and have an academic waiver, excluding them from PE, so that they can take far more classes. But in order to get that academic waiver, a student cannot have any study halls throughout the school day.

 

Benefits to having a PE class include: increasing every student's level of physical activity, improving their overall focus abilities in classes, and enhancing their grades and even standardized test scores, all according to the CDC. Taking a physical education class does not affect a student’s academic achievement negatively in any way. On the other hand, students who do not want to partake in a PE class, who are in other sports, find it ridiculous that they don’t have the choice whether they want to take that class or not.

 

Personally I think that PE is a nice class to take when you have a busy schedule and need a break, but I don’t think it should be forced upon all students. It’s important for everyone to be somewhat physically active for their health, but enforcing that in schools and not allowing students to opt out, unless they choose to have absolutely no study halls, gets to be a little over the board crazy. I think a physical education class should be very highly recommended to everyone, but it should not be mandatory in schools.

 

Do you think PE should be mandatory?

Do you have an academic waiver?

Do you like PE?

 

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/physical-education.htm#:~:text=Physical%20education%20provides%20cognitive%20content,physical%20activity%20and%20physical%20fitness.&text=Supporting%20schools%20to%20establish%20physical,physically%20active%20for%20a%20lifetime. 

[7DanieI]

I've never seen the value in PE classes.  This year and last year, I actually skipped half of PE each day. Next year, I will make sure to get an academic waver. Another semester of PE will just be a waste of my time if id doesn't work towards accademic credis.

[3Dani]

I think this is a solid point right here because people who don't like PE, and are forced to take it, find ways around going to class (like skipping the hour), and then there really is no point in requiring it.

[4Keagen]

I believe that if you are not doing a sport you should not be required to take a P.E class. Now if you are not in any sport I believe you should be required to take some sort of P.E class. P.E isn't hard if you do something like games and activities, and you only have to do it for a semester, and then it's over with until next year.

[3Dani]

I agree with you to an extent, but I feel that students shouldn't be forced to take a PE class if they absolutely do not want to.

[3Kara]

I think that PE should be mandatory unless you are in a sport. I would love to have a study hall all year but I can't because of PE. I am in three sports and it is dumb that I'm required to take a PE class. I obviously get enough exercise from my sports and I would benefit more from a study hall.

[3Dani]

I agree, first semester I had no study hall and also had no time for homework because of my sport.

[3 Josh Zimmerman]

I definitely think PE should be mandatory because America is the most obese country in the world. I think people should be forced to do PE because no one knows if they like something without trying it. I think people need to do PE if they are not in any sports and this way they stay fit.

[3Taylor]

I can understand why schools feel the need to give mandatory PE classes, although it is hard being in specific positions. I choose to be active on my own through sports and lifting, and I wish I could make that decision on my own. On the other hand, some people will not have any sort of physical activity in their day which definitely makes a difference.

[3Dani]

I agree, I think it should be a choice overall though because people are a lot more likely to be active when given the option.

[3Noah]

I think madatory PE class is a good idea unless you are in sports all year around or atleast 3/4 of the year, then I don't see why its needed. A lot of people NEED the excercise and even just standing up and walking around is plenty for a lot of people in our school.