Is P.E. Class Pointless?
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By Lindsay Goldenberg
As a former geek who used to use doctor’s notes to get out of school P.E. classes, data released last week from the European Congress on Obesity tugs right at my heartstrings.
A team of researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in the U.K. measured the physical activity of 206 children, one set that got an average of 9.2 hours per week of scheduled Physical Education, and another that got just 2.4 hours and 1.7 hours per week, respectively.
The findings were music to non-P.E. loving children everywhere. The researchers discovered that regardless of how much P.E. the children got during school hours, by the end of the day the children had the same amount of physical activity (and the same intensity).
So why is so much federal money being funneled into school for more P.E. classes (to the tune of $320 million)? Maybe that money should be spent on feeding our children healthier lunches with fruits and vegetables.
Do you think that P.E. classes are good for school? Leave your comments below!
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Comment by Steph (Resident Mom) on May 14 2009 06:42:24:
P.E. stands for Physical Education. That means the class is teaching students how to be physically educated. They should learn how their body functions, how to properly take care of their body as well as train it to function more efficiently. Students need to be taught different types of skills and activities to achieve this goal. Assessment is the key to a successful Physical Education program. Are the students achieving the goals of the curriculum or are they just “busy, happy, and good?” Physical Education is no longer the dodgeball and kick ball games of the past where children are eliminated and left out of the activity. It is our job to make sure subject areas like Physical Education are taught by trained, certified educators. It is not just exercise our children need but the knowledge to take care of their bodies for a lifetime.
Comment by Regina on May 15 2009 09:08:32:
When I was in school our P.E. teachers were teachers from other programs like science or music. I am sorry but what does these teachers know about P.E.? I think P.E. is good don’t get me wrong because my 6 year old is very active and she needs to burn off energy, but I feel the teachers are not teaching them the education of P.E. maybe they do in other areas, but not in the schools around me. The government spends so much money, but I don’t think they keep very good tabs on how the money is being spent. They just throw money around and hope it lands in the right hands even when it might not.
Comment by Lynne on May 16 2009 05:44:26:
I think kids these days are in so many activities after school that they do not need physical education. I would not like to see the money go to better lunches as stated in the article, that sounds great but the reality is kids won’t eat the veggies and what ever else deemed good for you. The money could be put somewhere else…
Comment by Leigh Ann Self on May 18 2009 09:41:14:
I am a teacher adn I thin k PE is vital and important. Too many kids are expected to just sit for way too long. I am also a parent of two boys and I think PE is vital and important. I want my boys to be able to get their wiggles out but also have a teacher who can teach them how to play a game or work as a team! It needs to be in the schools and it is a shame that people want to take it out. It helps all the kids!!!