Changing Society: Declining physical ed classes (2024)

FAQs

Changing Society: Declining physical ed classes? ›

They found that 56.2% of institutions did not require PE; 31.7% fully required all undergraduates to complete a PE course to graduate; and 12.1% had a partial requirement. The most common requirements mandated students complete both an activity-based and a conceptual-based course or a conceptual-only course.

But even before the pandemic, some districts were cutting back on PE as a way to save money. Some eliminated elementary school PE teachers and assigned classroom teachers to lead PE with their students, which is allowed by their credentials, but which some teachers say they have little time for.

The continuing decline in required PE courses comes at a time when children and youth in the U.S. are also engaging in less and less physical activity, according to the Physical Activity Alliance's 2022 Report Card, which bases its rubric on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

Cuts to physical education (PE) programs, as well as exemptions that allow high school students to skip up to two years of PE, have contributed to declining participation in these school-based programs, the brief's authors noted.

When asked to name what they like about physical education class, teens' top mentions are: the opportunity to have exercise (20%), getting fit (18%), it's fun (16%) and the activities offered (16%). Only 5% said they don't like anything about it.

It creates a sense of hierarchy that creates the impression that athletic children are superior to the unathletic. Children who play sports often dominate the scrimmages and activities, leaving the rest of the children feeling uneasy.

Increasing demands to raise test scores and to teach more challenging curricula are among the reasons cited by school districts for eliminating recess. Schools are beginning to implement "no recess" policies under the belief that recess wastes time that would be better spent on academics (Johnson, 1998).

Supporting schools to establish physical education daily can provide students with the ability and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. There are many benefits of physical education in schools. When students get physical education, they can^5-7: Increase their level of physical activity.

A startling 22 percent of schools in America do not have physical education classes at all, according to the Washington Post.

The drop in physical activity is partly due to inaction during leisure time and sedentary behaviour on the job and at home. Likewise, an increase in the use of "passive" modes of transportation also contributes to insufficient physical activity.

Why shouldn't PE be a required class? ›

With all of the students participating in some form of physical activity, physical education isn't a necessary class because a large majority of students are already receiving the physical activity they need, so they shouldn't waste the time in school.

Cardiorespiratory activities can be repetitive and boring

This may cause students to develop negative feelings about PE. When kids at an early age develop negative feelings about running or any form of exercise, they are less likely to engage in physical fitness activities when they become adults.

Negative experiences: Previous negative experiences with PE, such as being picked last for teams or experiencing bullying, can lead to negative attitudes towards the subject.

Although the minimum instructional minutes for PE have been waived, PE requirements have not changed. LEAs will still be required to provide PE instruction and should provide distance learning options in alignment with local policy.

In an interview, Packham explained that while PE is fine for kids at elementary school ages, by the kids start moving into puberty, PE can create a difficult atmosphere for kids who are slower to develop. “Middle school students are at a prime time in their lives for bullying,” said Packham.

Causes. The causes of lack of physical education vary from country to country. These include a shortage in facilities and equipment, a paucity of physical education teachers, large class sizes, and budgetary constraints.

Physical activity is important for kids to be healthy and to reduce obesity risks, but PE also provides focus and helps increase academic achievement, it teaches students about teamwork and sportsmanship, and it increases attention and brain function through regular exercise.

Students in grades one through six, inclusive, must be provided with PE instruction with an "emphasis upon the physical activities for the pupils that may be conducive to health and vigor of body and mind, for a total period of time of not less than 200 minutes each 10 schooldays, exclusive of recesses and the lunch ...