Do you think gym class should be a (manditory) part of school?

[DataDoxy]

There are many recent studies in neuroscience that report movement and exercise are imperative for brain functions and for learning in general.

Traditionally, schools have provided opportunities for kids to get some exercise through participation in gym class. However, with new visions of what 21st Century schools might look like, some people are asking if a traditional gym class still needs to be part of a regular school day. The argument is that schools should concentrate on academic skills and leave things like gym class out because kids can get enough exercise outside of school by playing with friends, participating in organized sports, and doing things like skateboarding, skiing or dancing.

Personally, I always loved gym class and enjoyed playing various school sports so I would be sad to see it go.

What are your thoughts... Should gym class stay in schools? If so, should all kids take it or should it be a choice?

[TSXCman]

Any reduction further than we already have in physical activity will turn a large portion of the population into tech-savvy slug-people.

[DownhillGoat]

Yes, it should be mandatory, but I've always thought it shouldn't be part of the grade average.

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

As a teacher, absolutely!!

I see a HUGE difference in my students ability to work immediately after phys ed or lunch recess.

Also, exercise outside of school is also on the decline. So if they don't do it in school, many kids wont at all.

[Dion]

Gym class should be manditory every day school is in session. Students should be taught the health benefits of exercise and how it will improve the other parts of their lives. More importantly, encourage them to find activities they will enjoy and will keep on doing.

Back in my HS years (late 70's) intramural sports activities were always going on during the lunch hour. Anything from basketball, floor hockey, etc was open to any student who wanted to play.

The biggest hinderance to attaining the above is computers, social media etc. Having grown up in an age where computers weren't around we spent most of our time outdoors doing some sort of physcal activity.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Definitely mandatory until HS. Gym class provided exposure to a ton of different activities that I ended up loving that I NEVER would have experienced otherwise.

People worried about kids not learning enough / focusing on academics at school should target the four day weeks that have become the norm (no firsthand experience, just what I hear).

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Yes, it should be mandatory, but I've always thought it shouldn't be part of the grade average.

I'd say the issue is with how it is graded, not that it is part of the average. It should be about effort, not results. I was never quite as good as many other kids in sports, and struggled to even get a bronze in the Participaction challenge. (Flexed arm hang ring a bell with anybody?)

I would say that I pretty much gave up trying by the middle of elementary, and then didn't play much sports in junior high and high school. However if students were rewarded based upon their effort, maybe I would have tried harder.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'd say the issue is with how it is graded, not that it is part of the average.

That would likely be a better solution. The only issue I'd see with that is that grading on effort is somewhat objective, but I think that's better than the way it stands now.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

Definitely mandatory until HS. Gym class provided exposure to a ton of different activities that I ended up loving that I NEVER would have experienced otherwise.

People worried about kids not learning enough / focusing on academics at school should target the four day weeks that have become the norm (no firsthand experience, just what I hear).

I would suggest that HS is as good a time as any for gym to be mandatory.

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'd say the issue is with how it is graded, not that it is part of the average. It should be about effort, not results.

That's pretty much what the grades are being based on. Those students "failing" gym are the students who refuse to participate and sit on the side with a negative attitude.

I'd say 90% of phys ed teachers grade based purely on attitude and effort.

[Azure]

Absolutely.

But, forcing kids to work on technique 80% of the class, and allowing them to actually play the sport the other 20% isn't exactly a good way of getting them moving either.

Best gym class I remember being part of was an all boys class in grade 11 where for 2 weeks we played lacrosse. Got pretty intense, but we spent 90 min running our asses off.

The other problem is lack of weight lifting training. There is no reason the basic movements can't be taught. Deadlift, squat, bench press. These 3 movements can be staples for any workout program the rest of someone's life. And face it, 90% of us won't have time to be involved in sports, and the only time we have is the 30 min training session 5x per week. We should be building that foundation.

[Thor]

Exactly what Azure said, please and thank you.

I think it's beneficial that my daughter will get a chance to try sports that I sure as heck won't be playing with her... basketball, volleyball, lacrosse. Any dryland sport is beyond my knowledge. But I think she will grow up to have the body for sports like that. And if she can get a scholarship? Less money I have to fork out for her edjumacation.

[skudr248]

Definitely.. and Highschool as well... This was my favourite class of highschool. Keeps you fit, builds leadership and teamwork skills, a stress releiver and our camping trip of my last year was the highlight of my 3 years.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Azure

Absolutely.

But, forcing kids to work on technique 80% of the class, and allowing them to actually play the sport the other 20% isn't exactly a good way of getting them moving either.

Best gym class I remember being part of was an all boys class in grade 11 where for 2 weeks we played lacrosse. Got pretty intense, but we spent 90 min running our asses off.

The other problem is lack of weight lifting training. There is no reason the basic movements can't be taught. Deadlift, squat, bench press. These 3 movements can be staples for any workout program the rest of someone's life. And face it, 90% of us won't have time to be involved in sports, and the only time we have is the 30 min training session 5x per week. We should be building that foundation.

There were some PE teachers at Beaverbrook that clearly had no idea what a weightroom was.......



Also, i agree with you.


PE should be about learning lifelong activities/sports/movements.

[calgarygeologist]

I love sports and being active and I think it is should be a very important aspects of everyone's lives.

That being said some things certainly need to go away and some things need to be added to the program. Dance needs to go away. More racquet sports need to be added (tennis, squash, racquetball, etc.)

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Azure

Absolutely.

But, forcing kids to work on technique 80% of the class, and allowing them to actually play the sport the other 20% isn't exactly a good way of getting them moving either.

Best gym class I remember being part of was an all boys class in grade 11 where for 2 weeks we played lacrosse. Got pretty intense, but we spent 90 min running our asses off.

The other problem is lack of weight lifting training. There is no reason the basic movements can't be taught. Deadlift, squat, bench press. These 3 movements can be staples for any workout program the rest of someone's life. And face it, 90% of us won't have time to be involved in sports, and the only time we have is the 30 min training session 5x per week. We should be building that foundation.

Agreed. If I could give 15 year old me advice, I'd tell him that Deadlift, Squat and Press are the holy trinity of weight lifting and are keys to the promised land.

[stormwolf]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Definitely.. and Highschool as well... This was my favourite class of highschool. Keeps you fit, builds leadership and teamwork skills, a stress releiver and our camping trip of my last year was the highlight of my 3 years.

I went to Western Canada HS, and the majority of the IB population stopped taking gym after the mandatory grade 10 one. Unhealthiest bunch I've ever seen (pretty sure not exercising makes the academic stress that much worse)

Physical education needs to be mandatory all the way until first year uni

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Dion

Gym class should be manditory every day school is in session. Students should be taught the health benefits of exercise and how it will improve the other parts of their lives. More importantly, encourage them to find activities they will enjoy and will keep on doing.

Back in my HS years (late 70's) intramural sports activities were always going on during the lunch hour. Anything from basketball, floor hockey, etc was open to any student who wanted to play.

The biggest hinderance to attaining the above is computers, social media etc. Having grown up in an age where computers weren't around we spent most of our time outdoors doing some sort of physcal activity.

I support gym class being taught and having as much importance being put on it as English. Both could benefit from a greater importance being placed on them.

[stampsx2]

Gym should be removed and replaced with an hour of a competitive sport, with a full league, division and stats. Your grade will be based on how well you and your team does.