Should they have mandatory PE for the overweight kids?

Question

I live in the south and there are a lot of overweight kids blocking the hallways. In my high school, they only require Physical Education for 2 years, however, I believe that anyone above a certain BMI should have PE until they get their BMI down to an acceptable level, because health is more important than anything they will learn in the classroom. I am in the process of petitioning the school board. Thank you and good day.

If the overweight kids had their own class, they probably wouldn't get teased so much.

Here's some inspiration that is relevant:
Put down the moon pies and be a fitness star.

Answer 1

Good health is important for everyone not just the overweight.P.E. classes benefit everyone, it may be the only physical activity some young people get.Typing fast on the computor is not physical activity.I think that it must be very difficult for those who don't have an "ideal body type" to want to participate in P.E. classes due to teasing and taunting.It costs absolutely nothing to be kind to others.People who tease are not showing any character but a gross lack of it.No, overweight people should not have their own class. They are are not contagious but kindness towards others can be infectious.

Answer 2

Here's how I feel.

PE is one of those classes where everyone is supposed to be told that, no matter what their size or shape or athletic prowess, if they try, they will learn.

That's what they want you to think.

PE is code, where I am, for "make the girls who can't play feel like #$%? and if you're good, monopolize the court." I disagree very much with this, because, though I am physically active, I have never played a team sport (you have to know my family and it makes sense) and I just can't do it. I'm always left out.

The other problem is that effort means nothing. You have to be good to pass PE nowadays. It just bugs me.

Before you go calling me overweight: I'm normal. Nowhere near overweight. My gym teacher doesn't really like me, and the kids are really rude to me.

There are very few overweight kids that I know, though the numbers nationwide are growing.

I think that if less emphasis was placed on teams and success and more was placed on individual sports (did you know that an hour of skating burns 360 calories??) and just trying, more kids would not only have an interest in trying, but the ability to try. Because in some cases, if a kid stinks at the sport, other kids will not pass to that person on purpose because it spells "loss." This is also true if teams are too large.

So therefore, PE for 4 years wouldn't be necessary if they corrected the system in earlier years.

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Answer 3

Up North, PE is mandatory in all grades. There are still overweight people, so that is not necessarily the answer.

Of course, it really disturbs me that my first grader does speed stacking in gym class. You know, the game where you stack and unstack cups? Ridiculous.

There is more to weight control than bmi (it's just the popular thing to focus on these days). Schools are already offering more healthy choices for lunches, and teaching about nutrition in kindergarten (around here at least).

Before you go petitioning the school, do some research (more than asking people on Yahoo Answers) about health and nutrition. At University I took a class "Psychology of Eating" and it really opened my eyes to the fact that there is more to weight control than bmi.

Personally, (and my kids are skinny) if the school wanted to check bmi or weight (for more than the yearly physicals) I would refuse. It really isn't the school's responsibility, it is the PARENT'S responsibility. PE every year isn't bad, but purely on the basis of bmi is absurd.

My 2 cents
G

Answer 4

You will have better luck asking the school board to make all 4 years (9-12) required, whether or not the child is overweight. You will have opposition to your proposal for a few reasons. Many people think that public schools have no business in diagnosing students as obese or overweight. Also, I imagine that many of your parents will oppose this policy especially if some students are being singled out and some are not.

Answer 5

Regardless of weight, all schools need to have this option as it was presented at my old high school. We had a choice of either band or Phys. Ed. In PE they of course did psychical stuff aand in band, we marched and learned the proper way to breathe. Surprisingly there were more fat kids in PE than in band. And you couldn't take both because they were both during 2nd hour. All schools need a health class and the kids need to at least try to follow the rules of healthy eating and exercising. I have seen 1 too many obese child at my kids' schools and it personally makes me sick what those kids must put up with. Fat people are always in the way. Just beep. Don't tease or ridicule, just beep. Either they'll get out of the way or they'll ignore you. I know as a small, skinny person how it is to be disgusted by this. But I also have a soft spot for these people too. I'd hate it if my boys were teased by anyone so I don't tease. The health of our country is seriously deteriorated because of morbidly obese people. It is literally and physically weighing us all down.

or just switch schools.

Answer 6

Weight should have nothing to do with it. If they are going to make PE mandatory all four years, it should be for everyone, not just the overweight students. That would be discrimination. Also, being healthy is about much more than having a healthy weight. Just because you have a healthy weight, doesn't necessarily mean you are healthy. Everyone should have the opportunity to be exposed to instruction on how to live a healthy life.

Answer 7

I believe that all students K-12 should have mandatory P.E. regardless of their weight or fitness level. P.E. helps to develop intrapersonal skills, such as getting along and working as a team; develops self-esteem; and promotes an active lifestyle. There are studies that link the amount of P.E. a child had to how active they are as adults. I do not think it is right to single out students due to their weight, if anything this will cause a larger separation between those who are overweight and those who have lower BMIs.

Answer 8

I think it should be mandatory no matter how much someone weighs.
It makes them active and helps them try new things, new sports, go to another level of being active because that one girl is right, this century most of the kids aren't as active as they used to, and it's ashame because now there's so much technology for us to gain with our minds and not with going outside in the fresh air which is so unhealthy for everyone.
That's why it's good to share what we can do in the outdoors and it can help them lose weight too.

Answer 9

It should be required for all ages no matter how heavy they are. There should be no discriminating against kids just because they weigh more than other kids. That would be setting a bad example. Especially since weight is sometimes based on genetics.

Answer 10

I think that all kids should have to be active in PE. It is important for kids to get active to keep their bodies healthy. In regards to overweight kids, I think they should try to lose weight on their own for their own safety. I mean, we can't all help them lose weight. They have to do it on their own too. But no, I don't think that they should have mandatory PE for overweight kids.