APBP Article Oasis

Is Physical Education Necessary?

Physical education is a hot button issue for many schools, not only because of the challenges in continuing to fund programs at the expense of more academically oriented pursuits, but from the issues that arise when students are unwilling or unable to participate for a variety of reasons.

Indeed, there are enough problems associated with students learning together in a classroom, much less a gymnasium or outdoors. This is especially true in a child’s formative years when students are less accepting of each other’s differences, physically in particular. It can also be effectively argued that environments where students are forced to congregate with less supervision are conducive to disagreements and foster less than desirable behavior which can manifest itself more dangerously outside of school.

On the other hand, physical education seems even more necessary than ever, as we are fast becoming the most obese nation in the world. Though our society seems to be obsessed with physical fitness, our eating habits are overwhelming the benefits. For children in particular, the combination of healthy eating habits and the importance of physical fitness can be a source of life long healthiness provided they are introduced to both during their formative years. Physical education should ideally cover both, although the exercise is usually the primary focus.

Perhaps it’s time to overhaul the way in which we teach physical education, with a little more emphasis on the education aspect. After all, physical fitness isn’t a pursuit that should be limited to one class period three times per week, especially for children who haven’t yet faced the pressures of adulthood. By teaching children the importance of physical fitness, they’ll possess the knowledge to stay fit in their own way, and can develop an appreciation for a particular physical fitness pursuit.

Surprisingly, the change has to start both at the federal level where physical fitness standards and curriculum are developed as well as at the collegiate level, where physical education degree programs are the source physical education faculty. While federal guidelines must be adhered to by public schools, the right teacher can make all the difference in whether physical education is a learning experience where students grow to appreciate its benefits or an angst filled journey to be avoided at any cost for those who can benefit from the information the most.