Why PE?

In a previous blog, the topic discussed was about the health-related diseases, that could be prevented through introduction to both healthy eating habits and a variety of physical activities. Despite childhood obesity, physical education classes and recess are being reduced. Physical activity is important to the overall success of students. With PE programs being cut, it is causing parents to become concerned.

Importance of Physical Activity

Physical education classes and recess have a numerous amount of positive effects on students. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.2 It is healthy for students to be able to get up and move around for at least 60 minutes of their day.

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Cutting PE Programs

Although physical education programs are beneficial to the health of students, they are being reduced significantly. 44 percent of the nation’s school administrators have cut significant amounts of time from physical education, arts and recess so that more time could be devoted to reading and mathematics since the passage of No Child Left Behind in 2001.3 Parents are starting to become concerned as this trend continues.

Parent Concerns

School administrations across the nation feel that reducing physical education class times would have a positive impact on academics, but the parents do not share that mutual feeling. With the troubling statistics regarding childhood obesity, health experts, educators, and parents are expressing concern that cutting recess will further contribute to weight and health problems without actually improving academic performance.2 Until school administrators find an alternate solution for increasing academic performance, parents will continue to be concerned about the reduction of PE time.       

Closing

Despite physical education classes being important for the health of students, PE class times are still being reduced, and parents are becoming concerned. Next to be discussed  is how physical education helps academics.

References

1Lue, E. (2013). Cutting physical education and recess: troubling trends and how you can help. Retrieved from:

http://www.learningfirst.org/cutting-physical-education-and-recess-troubling-trends-and-how-you-can-help

2NA. (2015). Physical activity facts. Retrieved from:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm

3Patterson, J. (2013). Many schools cutting back on physical education. Retrieved from:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/education/many-schools-cutting-back-physical-education