Should physical education classes be a required class in college?
Nowadays, people prefer to do things without the need to use too much time, effort and force due to the importance of using time wisely. For children and teenagers, they would prefer to hang at home and play either with their video games or their computers. Outdoor activities are reduced to visiting malls, schools, and family get-togethers rather than have physical activities such as sports played with peers, family or even with community. In some instances, people tend to see sports or other physical activities in television or pictures as some no longer see the need or importance of doing the activities themselves. In this modern day and age, physical activities or education is done by the younger generation in classes up to their tertiary years or in college. While many have noted that college students no longer need physical education classes and make it a required course, some have argued that PE classes are crucial as it would enable college students to understand how their physical lifestyles would influence their health, physical and mental disposition, as well as how a student would settle in their academic ventures.
Opponents to mandatory physical education classes for college students, and for other educational levels, have pointed out several flaws and limitations that not as to how ineffective required physical education classes are in achieving its goals. Known arguments regarding mandatory PE classes include the lack of capacity of mandatory physical education classes to influence states or governments to employ the requirements. The lack of proper decorum and ruling on physical education classes in all levels renders PE mandates to be overlooked or neglected. In the article written by the Huffington Post (2012), a study by Professor Bryan McCullick of University of Georgia noted that only six states around the US had required their schools to implement the required 150 minutes of primary-school based physical education requirements before a student could graduate. The study also noted that only two states require physical education classes for middle school, and no other state had applied the same requirement for high school. McCullick noted that the physical education statues are often interpreted ambiguously by courts, thus the lack of application of its teachings. The government had emphasized that schools must apply physical education classes considering the country’s problem on obesity as it continuous to increase. In the report, McCullick noted that statues itself for physical education are created in such a way that mandatory classes are only recommendations or suggestions. McCullick also noted in his study that while states like New Jersey and Iowa had applied mandating physical education for all levels, there is still the problem on how the mandate is placed. In Iowa, for example, the state required elementary schools to have mandatory physical educations; however, the mandate noted that students must be given recess for 30 minutes each day. McCullick stated “Recess does not guarantee 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Unfortunately, many legislators and school officials think the opposite.” . In consideration to this, making physical education mandatory in collegiate years may find itself either applied in a sedated pace or thoroughly forgotten.
Another issue raised regarding the mandatory physical education classes is the fact that students are reported to be sent to hospitals or treatment centers due to physical education related injuries. According to Nelson, Alhajj, Yard, Comstock and McKenzie (2009), at least 405,305 children and teenagers were rushed to emergency centers due to PE-related injuries. Since 1997 up to 2007, PE-related injuries were reported in students each year, averaging up to 36,846 injuries. The study noted that males had 54% of chances of being taken to the hospital for PE-Related injuries, especially in the lower extremity in the form of sprains with 22.6% of the entire report. Upper extremities have also been recorded by the study, comprising up to 13.5% of all reported PE-related injuries. Patients with PE-related injuries were outpatients and were released immediately. The researchers have noted that almost half of the recorded PE injuries had happened in one of the 6 identified PE activities that constituted 70% of all the injuries recorded: running (25.1%), basketball (20.3%), football (7.8%), volleyball (5.7%), soccer (5.4%) and gymnastics (5.4%). During these 6 activities, the study showcases that lower-extremity injuries is two times riskier than that of the other activities. Concussions were likely to occur when the patient or student plays football. P.E related-injuries are often inflicted due to contact with the playing field, the environment, the structure or equipment, and finally with another person. While there is a need to implement such mandatory physical education classes to stop obesity and foster physical activity in students, the rates of PE-related injuries have increased to a higher number for the past few years and for students to appreciate mandatory PE classes, there must be a revision of guidelines that would foster safe environments for students to be unscathed from PE-related injuries . With college students more
Finally, opponents of mandatory physical education for college or any other level also note that time for PE classes should be allotted mostly for other activities or classes, and also use the funding for other needs. While they admit there is a problem on health for the younger generation, the priorities of school administrators would still be placed first. In the article written by Donnelly (2011), there are schools in Ireland that had been reported by the Department of Education to cut classes for PE so that students could focus on other classes. According to the DoE’s mandate in Ireland, students must spend two hours a week or three class periods for PE. The inspections done revealed that some universities, schools, and colleges had either reduced time for students taking Leaving Certification tests while some were seen to have no PE classes at all. According to the inspecting teams of the DoE, the “practice of reducing or withdrawing curricular time for certificate examination students may, inadvertently, create the perception amongst students that physical education and engagement in physical activity are a low priority” Some of the schools inspected by the Irish DoE inspectors were the Kilkenny College, and Loreto Wexford. In Kilkenny, Leaving Cert students were only attending classes that range from 35-40 minutes a week. Its Junior Cert students only get two periods of PE. In the case of Loreto, one class for PE is allotted per week except for students under their first and transition years. Vocational students or the LCVP students had no PE classes . In the United States, Goss (2012) notes that Barnard College is reducing its physical education requirement to save the college’s money for other use. The college’s Committee on Instruction noted that one semester physical education classes is enough to serve the needs of its students. The move done by the Committee could be seen as one of the solutions that could enable Barnard to recover from its financial constraints. As noted by the article, Acting Provost Paul Hertz noted “the change offers cost savings, which will allow for funding of other student and faculty resources”. Some students had noted that while PE is indeed crucial, the college is willing to change to ensure that the tuition fees it receives can be put in the proper place .
However, proponents of mandatory college physical education and also general mandatory physical education classes for all levels have argued that physical education presents high benefits that may affect the student’s overall perception of himself or herself while taking these classes. A principal reason proponents have pointed out is the capacity of mandatory physical education to entice students to have a more balanced and active study habit. According to Sharma (1994) college, or any other educational levels, is to prepare students to enhance and reinforce one’s mental powers for the future. However, college education would not foster mental improvement if there is a lack of physical activity and wholeness. Sharma notes that a quality physical education in the college level would foster “wholeness” and “oneness” to enable students to prosper in their studies without the physical and emotional discord. A quality physical education program for college would also put their minds and bodies at peace while making sure they could concentrate for their intellectual endeavors. Sharma also noted that if students are exposed to excellent physical education programs from their primary years, college physical education would be necessary to maintain the rate of maturity and enabling efficiency to continue unhindered
In addition to Sharma’s position on the importance of physical education classes for college, supporters of the mandatory physical education classes also point out that having physical education classes would foster positive changes to students. In a study done by Kemper and Welsh (2010), African American students are seen to have a positive outcome expectations for physical education classes considering it could improve their overall outlook. It is noted by various studies that African American students have health disparities that influence their outlook and overall adherence to good health and positive lifestyle. Many of the participants of the study noted that they were prepared to do physical activities in campus and would actively support and promote physical education and activities. The study also noted that African American students who were part of the survey are willing to set aside 30 minutes of their time to exercise. The study also noted that participants had high expectations that physical education classes would enable them to have a good and healthy lifestyle, appearance and would enable them to balance out their stress and concentration. While there are chances those students with high expectations over physical activity may contribute to low adoption rates of physical activity should they find themselves not seeing the benefits of physical activity and exercise, the chances of improvement is still high if the student continues to work on his goal .
In the study done by McVey, Kirsh, Maker, et al. (2010), having physical education classes would enable college or university studies to be able to become satisfied with their own bodies and promote ways to develop their physical attributes while still maintaining studying. Body dissatisfaction is one of the most common issues among university students as it promotes dieting and unhealthy eating habits, which they foster eating disorders. Female university students are often noted to develop eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa due to their physical dissatisfaction. Some students often develop unhealthy eating practices such as induced vomiting, use of laxatives, excessive exercise and diet pill use. It is noted that university or college life promotes to students a setting that would enable them to develop their values, self-confidence and even relationships. Students often work on boosting their self-esteem in various means; however a few would find themselves stuck in improving their body satisfaction. Physical education classes would be beneficial to foster body satisfaction and also divert university students’ unhealthy lifestyles while in school. Physical education programs would also aid in reducing disordered eating and promote positive health lifestyles in college .
Finally, the most prominent argument raised by proponents of mandatory physical education classes is the fact that physical education classes could promote and reduce changes of students developing highly severe health conditions or complications. In the US and other parts of the globe, the biggest problem for students of any age group is the possibility of acquiring obesity. According to Sparling (2007), obese students have been rising for the past couple of years, and the increase itself should be given much attention given the risks obesity entails. As noted in the past researches regarding obesity, obesity fosters type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia, and it is highly likely to see them in patients on their teenage years or in their 20s. Since there is still yet a cure regarding obesity, physical education classes and food regulation are the best ways to foster improvement for obese students in terms of their health. With college enabling students to reexamine their decisions and exercise their freedom from their parents, obesity becomes a big risk as some students would become active to try out various foods that are high in fat content that may foster body growth and complications. Administrators and health workers could capitalize on students’ right to challenge and change their lifestyles by encouraging them to improve their eating and exercise rituals that would be appropriate to improve their health and physical strength through physical education classes and activities.
Universities and colleges nowadays also offer students free access to its gym facilities – pools, football or basketball fields, and gym equipment, so that they could decrease the chances of acquiring or succumbing to obesity. However, for any action that must be taken regarding health improvement in the campus, there must be support from the administration. Aside from pushing for mandatory physical education classes, University and college administrations could aid students by promoting campus wide team activities that are connected to their physical education classes that would enable students to participate in campus recreation and competition, which would highlight sports activities, gym exercises, and other health-friendly physical activities that would aid in healthy weight management. Campus wide physical education approach, according to Sparling, has high possibilities for success considering it reveals the possible flaws that would influence the result of the activity and study. If the university or college administrators do not promote physical education classes and activities in their universities, it is likely that the overall well-being and future of students would be compromised due to the health complications they could acquire while in campus .
Although college students or even the government would argue against mandatory physical education classes due to a variety of complications – from funding, application to its priority-, it is notable that a mandatory physical education class for college students and all levels are crucial to ensure that the next generation’s future would not be compromised in any form. On the one hand, it is acceptable that there will be chances that schools would need to sacrifice time and money for mandatory PE classes. Whether it may be for other important school needs or due to the conflicts inside the university, it is up to the school to consider all options if it would be beneficial for the school; thus making people accept their decision despite the risks involved. However, with the increasing lack of physical activity in the younger generation, the inclusion of body dissatisfaction and the increasing rate of health risks such as obesity; the need for physical activity is crucial to ensure that college students, as well as other students, would develop positive outlooks regarding themselves, their health and their lifestyles as physical education fosters a balance between mental and physical growth, improves self-confidence and reduces the risk of health risks.
Donnelly, K. (2011, January 13). Schools cut PE classes for points despite rise in obesity. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from Independent: http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/latest-news/schools-cut-pe-classes-for-points-despite-rise-in-obesity-2494390.html
Goss, E. (2012, April 13). Barnard reduces P.E requirements to cut costs. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from Columbia Spectator: http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2012/04/13/barnard-reduces-pe-requirements-cut-costs
Huffington Post. (2012, July 9). Physical Education Programs in School Not Enoguh to Combat Obesity in Most States: Study. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from Huffington Post: Education: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/study-school-based-physic_n_1659579.html
Kemper, K., & Welsh, R. (2010). Physical Activity Behaviors of Students of a Rural Historically Black College. Journal of American College Health, 58(4), 327-334.
McVey, G., Kirsh, G., Maker, D., Walker, K., Mullane, J., Laliberte, M., et al. (2010). Promoting positive body image amongst university students: A collaborative pilot study. Body Image, 7(3), 200-204.
Nelson, N., Alhajj, M., Yard, E., Comstock, D., & McKenzie, L. (2009, September 1). Physical Education Class Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments in the US in 1997-2007. Pediatrics, 124(918), 918-925.
Sharma, S. (1994). Encyclopedia of Sports Health and Physical Education. New Delhi: Mittal Publications.
Sparling, P. (2007). Obesity on Campus. Preventing Chronic Disease, 4(3), 1-4.
