Should Physical Education be a mandatory course throughout highschool?

Here in the north suburbs of the city (Schaumburg/Barrington area, I specifically go to Hoffman Estates High School) you can get gym exemption senior year if you are taking enough AP courses and want to take another.

 

Yes it good for all the fat boys to atleast try to lose some weight. I don't think Music & art classes should be mandatory because they have no benefit at all.

 

Many people can express them selves better in music and art... Plus young children that play an instrument do better on IQ tests... But, I agree they should not be mandatory... I have to do 4 art classes... I already did, but I hated them all... :/

 

Please don't derail my thread with a completely different subject.

 

yeah but a P.E. class does not necessarily help with that.

being active is part of living a healthy lifestyle.

you can't just take a class everyday run a few laps then go on your couch playing Runescape and eating donuts and candy all day.

 

yes, it should be. Obesity is hard to live with and is dangerous to one's health. Also, most obese people do not wish to be obese, but at the same time, lack the energy/motivation (physically and mentally due to states of depression [ you can blame that on the cruel society in America]) to change and a mandatory PE class is a great way to improve self-esteem provided it is being taught the correct way.

I.E. PE should be mandatory as long as it is taught well and people are encouraged as well as complimented in order to bolster their self-confidence as well as build their physical prowess.

 

No, Physical Education fails, it is only three semesters we have to take here and I have it covered by Band, but it's still not something anyone should have to take.

 

Clearly you've always been a jock looking down at people who aren't. Being forced to do something you're not able to do in front of people who can and will laugh at you isn't gonna do jack shit.

 

It lowers the averages of Asians.

In my school, we have mandatory physical education up until grade 10, as well as mandatory after school sports. So far, this has not prevented any sort of obesity, as a number of my fellow peers are in the overweight to obese category.

Physical education should not be mandatory. It has not done much anyways. Unless rigorous physical activity is enforced in that class, physical education will not be even remotely useful to students.

 

phys ed is about teaching the youth ways to stay healthy. Although the mile runs are gay and dont help with physical education, there are other ways teachers try to keep you healthy. I have gym 2x a week, one usually a 40 minute workout at the fitness center and the other is playing a sport. The teachers are supposed to introduce new games and educate you on how to play them. Learning LAX (if you're from the city) is physical education. Playing dodgeball and running is gym class.

 

I don't think that it should be required because many people cannot perform as well as others due to physical conditions or insecurities around other people, but I think that it should be an option for an elective (like it is at the school that I attend). The problem with physical education in some places is that the teachers tend to slack on actually teaching healthy behaviors, and instead set up ping pong tables or let students sit down as their choice and still give them a good grade, which isn't physical education. I think that if you do choose to take it, the teachers should respect your decision to take the class enough to teach you something. And if you choose not to, your decision should be respected as well.

 

Very good explanation, I agree with all of this.

How does his statement imply bullying? He is explaining how Phys. Ed. helps if it is taught correctly, it is good. It being taught correctly means positively. A good Phys. Ed. teacher uses encouragement at the student's level, like if they're having a tough time, they wont scream at them to try harder, but by saying the things that will make the student want to try, and even if they don't succeed in the activity, the teacher will still treat them positively and with respect. A good Phys. Ed. teacher also prevents peers pusing eachother around.

 

Yes, i believe it would be a really good idea if they made it mandatory all through highschool. Think about it, all the obese kids get some exercise and it gives you a bird-class atleast once a year. Gives you somewhat of a break right? :laugh:

 

The Greeks believed that a healthy body would produce healthy thoughts. Exercise is a great stimulant to get the blood running thoughrough your body. Look at any guide that gives tips to being more productive at work, you'll always see at least one activity that involves movement/exercise (a walk, get up and stretch, etc.).

 

No, despite the growing obesity rate in America, I have to advocate the students right to chose whether they want to involve that kind of physical labor into their lifestyles.

 

I wouldn't call it a class because you actually don't learn much more than what you already know (or majority of people know).

But it's very important, I'm pretty sure it's a help and motivation for then overweighted people who want to start a new healthy life.

 

I don't think so. Obviously, if you don't want to do it, you won't try hard.

Lack of interest = minimal work = little/no weight loss

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Gym. I've taken 6 over 5 years.

To me, it's the equivalent of my school board's mandatory 40 hours of community service policy to graduate, they say it's to be a good samaritan. OBVIOUSLY if you're FORCED, you're not a good samaritan, you just want your diploma.

 

No, i dont think it should be mandatory.
At the end of the day its up to yourself whether you want to stay in shape
and if this doesnt appeal to certrain kids then so be it. Also i agree with what
BayBay said, a class of gym a week isnt going to have that much of an affect on a childs health so why make it mandatory?

 

well...its a hard question. i think it should be strongly recommended. most ppl in the U.S are obese.

 

No, I don't think it should be mandatory. I do, however, think Health class should be mandatory.

Actually, it's already mandatory in Illinois, where most schools have excellent PE. Mine was not one of those, but a typical Gym "classroom" will be more like a gym and not an open area to do bullshit "sports". In the school that my I'm in Junior High, and next year, or estimated next year, when we recieve a mass budget increase, I am aware that alot of it will be improving our gym and filling it with weights and treadmills. I hope our PE teacher does get fired - he talks about how important it is to be "fit" and "healthy", when he's around 270lbs and 5'8". I think that's so stupid. He's a complete fatass and he mentors kid's on how to stay healthy and how to prevent from becoming obese. But anyways, no, it should not be mandatory, because most kids just walk and not participate in the sports anyways.


EDIT: Lmfao, I just noticed the title included "throughout highschool". My base answer does not change, though.