Given the lack of exercise, should PE be mandatory for all students, even those taking band/other activities?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question. Since the upswing of childhood diabetes is undeniable and can be traced back to a lack of exercise and poor diets, I think that PE should definitely be a routine part of every child's day. Studies have shown physical activity matched with mental activity produce more effective learning than simple mental activity alone. In young children, especially, who learn through play a rigorous PE regimen will pay huge dividends in the long term.

There are a plethora of other questions that can be heaped upon your original: What about funding, what about scheduling, what about children's rights... I can't answer any of those with any semblance of alacrity so I won't. Insofar as relating PE to band, I'll assume you mean Marching Band. Marching band, while physically taxing at times generally doesn't get one's heart rate up to the optimum levels for the desired length of time to count as adequate PE. I know, I know, there are some bands out there who really get down (the Ohio University Marching 110 for example) but the vast majority walk around in interesting patterns while playing an instrument. Is PE for everyone? Obviously there are jocks, pseudo-jocks, and non-jocks but everyone needs the opportunity to LEARN how to live a healthy lifestyle. PE isn't just about playing dodgeball and figuring who the non-jocks are by the pink and purple welts on their bodies. PE is about learning a healthy lifestyle to include diet, exercise, and, yes, mental health as well. So, my ultimate answer to your question is, yes, a PROPERLY run PE program should be mandatory for ALL students.

Answer 2

Sounds like a plan. Exercise is such a known benefit to the human body that it should be obligatory for everyone from bight to death.

In some cases, death may be being postponed for those who are regular exercisers. The frail and old do not need to feel that exercise is out of the question for them. Any muscle in any body will increase in volume and potential if given exercise.

In an elementary school in England a teacher had the kids run around their desks 3 times every hour. The output increase was phenomenal. Our brains need the oxygen that is available after short bursts of exercise, and this teacher found a way to get it.

Ssssoooooo, yes PE should be mandatory.

Answer 3

I think marching band should count for a PE credit. I was in marching band for four years in high school. We would be out on the football field for 2 hours at the beginning of every school day, and at least one evening a week, plus the game on Friday night. We would see the PE classes come out and walk around the track for about 20 minutes, while we had to march at a fast pace, and then run back to our starting positions and repeat the whole process. We definitely got more exercise in marching band than I ever got in a PE class, and the color guard got even more exercise because they had to run to different ends of the field as part of the program, so rehearsal gave them quite a work-out.

We might not have been running all the time, or keeping really high heart rates, but walking quickly is good exercise, and doing it for a couple of hours every day will keep you in shape.

Answer 4

OMG YES. PE wasn't my most favorite day of the week or day but I feel it helped keep me active. Children today are far less active then the previous generations, and the effects are proven by the high numbers of obese children. By making PE mandatory is will ensure that children recieve some kind of physical activity.

Answer 5

Hard for me to answer, because I was HORRIBLE at sports as a kid, and found PE to be embarassing since I was never picked for teams, always the last one. I had terrible coordination and no one explained how to even play baseball - so I was pitiful and found it really embarassing. I flunked almost evey year and HATED that I was forced to do something that was so scary for me, being shy especially. I have spoken to a lot of people who say the exact same thing, that it was humiliating. I can't imagine overweight kids being made to run, with their fat jiggling, it probably makes them cringe at the thought. I think that if the kids' parents choose fatty foods, and don't do activities with their kids that they enjoy such as hiking, skiing, skating, dog walking, then it should not fall on the schools to force it on kids. Most of this is as a result of the hormones and chemicals in the foods given to kids, letting them eat junk food such as fries, chips, sodas - and giving them no chores whatsoever around the house - if I came home and just flopped down in front of the tv each night or the computer, I would get fat too! I don't get why people keep putting stuff like this on the schools - it is the parent's responsibility to keep the kids healthy, not the schools!

Answer 6

band has nothing to do with gym. band is not physical exercise which many children need. lets put it this way, if there wasnt any gym, you would have a lot of obese kids who love to eat candy all day and have no way to burn the sugar out of them.

Answer 7

Absolutely!

Answer 8

definitely. It should be required for everybody, even kids who are on sports teams and marching band- those are just extra activities. otherwise it wouldn't be fair.

Answer 9

yes! come on now ... bodies have been created to work just as our minds have been made to solve. dont be lazy.

Answer 10

yes