PE – Unnecessary or Beneficial?
The pros and cons of daily physical education
PHIT America uses this graphic showing increased brain activity after a 20-minute walk to advocate for P.E. in schools.
Student athletes go home both physically and mentally exhausted from the day’s work only to attend to the hours of homework awaiting them.
Life is undeniably hectic for today’s teens, but is there a helpful solution? Could gym exemptions be beneficial to these already active students?
Senior Kyle Heinzmann plays varsity football, track, and lifts weights regularly. “I believe while in season, athletes deserve gym exemption so they can get worry less about getting homework done at midnight…They don’t need to be working out during school if they are busting their butt during practice,” said Kyle.
Senior Haylee Giffels plays basketball and soccer with the school as well as a rec soccer league in the fall.“I believe being able to be exempt from gym would increase my GPA because most days after practice, I am just way too tired to do any of my homework, which affects my grades. The extra commons period would help so much,” shared Haylee.
Senior Meghan Maglente is a busy ballet dancer at the Judith Svalander School of Ballet. “If [students] are already doing a sport they shouldn’t have to do extra physical activity for a grade” and an extra commons period during the day would help students because “they can’t do that stuff when they get home, they have to go to their extracurricular activity,” said Meghan.
Student athletes here at Prairie Ridge seem to believe that an extra commons period would ultimately be more beneficial to academic success rather than added physical activity each day.
But what do the gym teachers think?
Coach Card, PE teacher and varsity basketball coach, shared that “enhanced P.E. programs…improve students’ academic achievements…when they are incorporated during the class day” and that athletes are “not being educated on the benefits of activity but rather are being instructed on a specific skill or team movement” during their practices, producing different outcomes than those of physical education classes.
Although the active students within Prairie Ridge would appreciate an extra study hall, PE class has been proven to increase academic success when performed during the school day, an added benefit to even the strongest of athletes.
What do you think, PR?
Should student athletes receive PE exemption?
- YES (78%, 32 Votes)
- NO (22%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 41
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Emily Eriksen • Mar 1, 2016 at 11:47 am
I think that high school gym at PR should be an option. In this article, I agree with what the students were saying about PE; If you do extracurricular activities in or out of school that take time away from homework or studying, then you should be able to relieve your stress by switching your gym period to a free period. Students at PR, that are at school for most of the day, should not be expected to go to an activity, and finally go home and also complete hours of homework. If students do activities in or out of school, they should should have the option of switching gym to a free period so they can get their work done.
JohnM • Feb 29, 2016 at 11:03 am
think that PE should be an option for students in a sport. And i disagree with the research after i get out if gym i am still tired. Prairie ridge; a high performing school should realise that students are under a lot of stress. Scence PR requires PE, students are struggling to find time to do homework. students are under a lot of stress now;make it an option.
Student • Nov 22, 2015 at 9:37 pm
If PR’s trying to increase its state and national ranking based on grades, test scores, and number of AP classes, then I’d say PE exemptions for student athletes should certainly be considered. We work hard enough as it is- especially since gym is being turned into just another exertion of power over students.