Nicholas W.R.

Haner

College Composition I

Mrs. Cramer

March 16 2017

Gym Class: A Major Key to Success

Love it or hate it, throwing around the dodgeball with a whistle ringing in your ear during

5th period may play a more important role than you think. Physical Education, gym

class,1develops motor skills, reduces stress, and improves self-confidence and self-esteem. PE

paves the way for success later in life, by teaching cooperation, teamwork, and encouraging a fit

and active lifestyle. Academics can also see improvement with a physical education program in

place. Something as small as a class period a day can help slow the growth of Americas

waistline, and speed up the growth of its future.

The benefits of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are well documented around the

world. Whether its 45 minutes of walking, 30 minutes of lawn mowing, or 20 minutes of playing

dodgeball, physical activity in general has countless positive health effects. Bone strength,

vascular health, and heightened motor skills, just to name a few. PE once a day opens the door to

all these benefits and more. Today, about one in five school-aged children (ages 619) has

obesity. A large percentage of these children also lack the federal recommended PE exposure in

their schools. Oregon and the District of Columbia are the only states that require this amount of

about 200 minutes per week of schooling. In high and middle schools across the country, only

29% percent require any minimum amount of PE, and that number is only slightly better in

1 Apposition - two words or phrases are placed beside each other in a sentence so
that one describes or defines the other.
elementary schools at 37%. (Physical)The federal government sets the bar for the healthy student,

but the school doesnt always follow through. This is all at the cost of the student. Many mental

health benefits come from a daily PE session. These include reduced stress, improved self-

confidence and self-esteem. The exertion that a student applies to PE can reduce energy that

might be normally spent fidgeting in class. Some students also have mental health conditions like

ADD or ADHD that can be suppressed with physical activity that PE provides. According to the

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of the U.S. students are overweight. (Physical)

Many of the students who arent involved in scholastic sports, or arent physically active at home

derive the most benefit from the presence of a physical education program.

Many will argue that physical education in schools can be a nuisance. Properly conducted

physical education programs that take up a period or two a day also take away from other forms

of education. There is only so much time in a school day, and some want to change the focus of

the classroom to sciences and math. This is also evident at the federal and state level.

Standardized testing is becoming ever popular across the country, and with these tests comes a

more rigorous curriculum. Time spent in the classroom and away from the gym, some argue, is a

great way to improve our academic performance. However, what most fail to realize are the

benefits of a physical education program in our schools. It has often brought up that students

only have the ability to learn at school, and they can stay active at home if they want to. This

simply is not true. School now more than ever is involved in the home. The power of the internet

brings the class and home together. Students perform homework assignments at home, watch

educational videos, and even interact directly with educators. For a lot of students, getting the

recommended amount of physical activity daily can be a challenge. They might not have access

to open spaces to kick a ball, or exercise equipment, and many cannot afford costly gym
memberships. All of this, on top of the fact that most are kids, with no drivers license and no

regular independence.

Children who experience a form of physical education in school and who are physically

fit have an easier time learning and retaining new information. A study performed by researchers

partnered with The Journal of Pediatrics showed a significant correlation between the success of

a student academically and the level of physical fitness they fall into. (Berman) A total of twelve-

thousand Nebraskan schoolchildren were involved in the study. The researchers measured a

timed run, body mass index, and academic achievement at the local and federal level.

Standardized testing also played a large role in the determination of the study. The students who

excelled in the physical fitness testing also performed the most exceptionally on their schools

tests and even the state's standardized testing. (P.E.) For years, schools have cut down on breaks

to squeeze in more classroom time, believing it improves academic performance. Weve learned

that the opposite is trueadding more time for physical activity can radically transform students

academic performance and test scores, explains Paul Roetert, Ph.D., CEO of SHAPE America,

the association of health and physical educators that sets the national standards for K-12 physical

education. The finding of most of these studies concludes that higher levels of fitness have the

most benefit as far as academics is concerned. The CDC states, physical activity can have an

impact on cognitive skills and attitudes and academic behavior, all of which are important

components of improved academic performance. (Childhood) These include enhanced

concentration and attention as well as improved classroom behavior. Charles Basch of

Columbia University is a leading figure on the topic of physical education in schools. (Boyce) He

is a strong advocate of providing physical education programs across the country.2 He

2 Ethos - an appeal to ethics

social connectedness. According to a Columbia University essay. In fact, a growing body of

evidence shows that increased time for physical education and other school-based physical

activity programs is associated with either a neutral or positive impact on academic outcomes.

Unfortunately, many schools are cutting their physical education in order to make room

in the budget for better textbooks or other programs. All of this could be for good reason as well.

Upkeep costs for a single gymnasium can be too much for smaller schools to handle. Then add

exercise equipment to the mix, and things can get pricey. When a school terminates its physical

education program, it is at the unfortunate cost of the students. Physical education teaches more

than dodgeball or weightlifting. It teaches leadership, motivational skills, and communication

skills.3 Students can take these skills and use them later in life. The recently passed 'Every

Student Succeeds' act ensures that physical education is considered a vital part of a well-rounded

education. (Key) When schools cut their PE programs, they take away one of the most

underappreciated forms of education in any form of schooling. Physical education began in the

1820's with the goal of providing a better education experience to all students. Abolishing such a

great achievement for newer textbooks of the same content, or increased wages, has detrimental

effects that extend beyond just K-12. (Brief)

Overall, physical education holds a greater value than most realize. It develops motor

skills, reduces stress, and improves self-confidence and self-esteem. PE harnesses potential for

success later in life, by teaching cooperation, teamwork, and encouraging a fit and active

lifestyle. Academics see substantial growth with a physical education program in place. Physical

3 Epizeuxis - words or phrases are repeated in a quick succession after each other
for emphasis.
education has grown and evolved since its implementation, and it will only continue to change.

Underappreciated but wildly successful, physical education must remain in our school systems

for the future of America.

(Physical) "Physical Education; '2016 Shape of the Nation'." Education Week 11 May 2016: 5. Student Resources in

Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

(P.E.) "Should students have more P.E. time?" Scholastic News/Weekly Reader Edition 5/6 14 Mar. 2016: 7. Student

Resources in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

(Boyce) BOYCE, B. ANN, and MURRAY MITCHELL. "Physical Education." Encyclopedia of Education. Ed.

James W. Guthrie. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1886-1894. Opposing

Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

(Berman) Berman, Richard. "A Lack of Physical Activity Causes Obesity." Food. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. Detroit:

Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Sloth, Not Ads, Is Responsible for Fat Kids."

Advertising Age 76 (18 Apr. 2005): 30. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

(Activity) "How Physical Activity Affects Academic Performance." SPARK PE. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

(Childhood) "Childhood Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, 25 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

(Brief) "Brief History of Physical Education, Physical Education History." Excite Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar.

2017.

(Key) "Could Physical Education Hold the Key to Success in the Classroom?" Could Physical Education Hold the

Key to Success in the Classroom? - Education and Career News. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.