Keeping Physical Education in Schools

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Physical Education Aids in Significant Health Benefits
Physical Education Improves Academic Performance
Physical Education Is Not Hard To Maintain
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Physical education is a process geared towards physical development through exercise instructions which one applies to achieve a healthy lifestyle. These exercises range from sports, games, dance, aerobics and other gymnastic programs. Both quality and quantity of physical education programs are important in schools in forming an all-rounded student.

Schools should incorporate effective physical education programs for all learners on a daily basis to ensure fitness in the students. Young children require creative exercises to avoid boredom, and the trainers should involve the children in coming up with the programs to ensure that their ideas are incorporated in the regimen. This will make the physical exercises fun to carry out.

Apart from participating in the physical education programs, the students need to be taught on the importance of the various exercises so that they inculcate the culture of physical fitness into their life-time fitness programs.

Most health experts recommend an average of one hour of moderate to strenuous exercises for school going children (Marion, 2009). Physical education is an important activity in the public schools and should be allowed to remain an integral part of the curriculum.

Physical Education Aids in Significant Health Benefits

Physical education is an important aspect of a child’s comprehensive growth process. The incorporation of the program into the school curriculum will impact positively the school children and help them adopt the activities taught as an integral part of their endeavor to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Regular physical activities have been found to result in healthier life with lowered risk of preventable conditions such as high blood pressure, some forms of cancers and diabetes. Physical exercises on a regular basis lead to a better cardiovascular endurance and also lower blood pressure to normal homeostatic levels.

With the emergence of new modern forms of entertainment such as computer games, play stations and internet based games, many children have neglected the physically demanding entertainment programs. This has increased the number of those with cases of child obesity to epidemic levels in America and other European countries (Marx & Wooley, 1998).

It would be advisable to incorporate a culture of involvement in physical exercises in young children to avert such disasters as chronic, cardiovascular diseases and disabilities. Many studies have shown that exercise helps greatly reduce unnecessary body fat and a corresponding increase in lean muscle mass which being elements of good health.

As schools aim to achieve high academic success, they should also focus on improving the welfare of the learners by encouraging healthy lifestyles which is achievable through physical activities and healthy diets. Physically fit learners have low incidences of depression, anxiety and also show high levels of self-esteem as well as improved socialization ability in comparison to their peers (Carlie, 2011).

Physical Education Improves Academic Performance

According to research carried out by Active Living Research group, on how policies and environmental factors affect the performance of learners in schools, the less the time is allocated for physical education, the lower the academic performance is recorded. All schools under the study which had comprehensive exercise and physical training programs had a better performance in academics even with less instruction time in class work.

There is a wide range of exercise models learners can use that do not require expensive facilities. For instance, learners can involve in activities such as aerobics, running and playing. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) needs to be reviewed to ensure learners have adequate time for exercise as opposed to long hours in classwork (University of Michigan Health System, 2011).

The NCLB completely failed to capture the importance of exercise in the general development of school going children. The anticipated improvement in academics has not been realized. This has been attributed to academic fatigue and decreased physical fitness in children among other factors, which always improve concentration capacity.

A controlled exercise program by adults or trained instructors ensures the school going children carry out their exercises in well protected environments and only according to outlined guidelines.

As numerous studies have shown a link between good academic performance and exercising, schools should strive to invest in physical education. Furthermore, many talents in children such as football skills and athletics prowess are discovered through these programs (Stewart, &Mars, 2010).

Apart from the improved academic performance, physical education contributes to developing responsible citizens. Many studies have indicated a drop in cases of indiscipline in children involved in physical fitness programs in comparison to those who do not.

Drug abuse is also rampant among idle students as compared to those who take part in exercise programs. The benefits accrued from physical activity go beyond academic performance and positive results have been recorded in psychosocial component of life, too (University of Michigan Health System, 2011).

Physical Education Is Not Hard To Maintain

The No Child Left behind Act (NCLB) is one of the reasons the physical education program has received little attention. This has in turn resulted in higher rates of obesity in the country with the government spending billions of dollars to counter obesity-related complications in school going children. It is estimated that by 2018, the United States will have spent up to $344 billion to counter obesity related complications.

This constitutes about twenty one percent of the health sector’s budgets. This can be effectively avoided by investing in physical education among the school going children who make up the greatest percentage of obesity cases. Ironically it would only cost $ 500, 000 to reintroduce the physical education programs in schools.

Schools facing budgetary constraints to purchase physical education facilities could easily overcome this challenge by soliciting for funds from well wishers or organize fund raisers (Marion, 2009). The government needs to allocate funds for physical education in schools in addition to constituting legislation that would make physical education as part of the curriculum.

In the United States, deaths arising from poor diet and inactivity hit the 300,000 mark annually. Studies indicated that this problem begins in early childhood and adolescents stages of life. This is the time most people are schooling and, therefore, investing in physical education as an integral part of the curriculum, would have tremendous impact on changing the lifestyles of millions of American citizens.

The government should prioritize in areas of creating awareness among school going children, teachers, parents and guardians to inculcate a culture of healthy living among all people. The government should also involve medical and physical fitness experts in formulating policies and making recommendations regarding physical education programs in schools.

As has been indicated by the united states department of health and human services, physical activeness would lead to lowered expenditures by the government in matters health since the benefits accrued from it reduce the risks of disease incidences.

In one swing, a constant physical activity which is apparently an enjoyable experience has numerous health benefits that only a fool can ignore. Improved strength and endurance, controlled weight, healthy bones and muscles, reduced anxiety and stress as well as improved self-esteem, maintenance of low levels of cholesterol and blood pressure (Marx & Wooley, 1998).

Conclusion

The benefits associated with physical activities surpass the disadvantages. From improved health to improved academic performance and the improved socialization powers, the advantages of physical education are limitless. It is the prerogative of the parents and guardians to ensure that the children involve in responsible physical activities and remove the fear of injuries or time wasting from the element of physical education.

It is wrong to presume that for effective physical fitness, one has to own state of the art facilities as there are many forms of physical exercises. To also assume that for better academic performance, a learner requires long study hours is wrong and as the old adage goes “All work without play makes Jack a dull boy”

The importance of physical education can not be underestimated. There is a need to ensure both quality and quantity of physical education in school programs. The government should also formulate policies and legislation geared towards promotion of physical fitness. Guidelines given by expatriate bodies should be followed since their advice is based on reliable studies.

For instance, the American Heart Association and the National Association of State Boards of Education recommend no less than two hours of physical education each week. The government ought to offer training techniques to instructors and post them to all schools.

In addition it should avail any necessary facilities to ensure successful physical training programs. Owing to the reluctance displayed by both school administrations and the learners themselves in matters of physical education, the government could make it compulsory and examinable.

References

Carlie, D. (2011). Physical Education (P.E.).Education/Budget Cuts. Web.

Marion, S.C. (2009). OTL: PE Left Behind. Web.

Marx, E. & Wooley, S. (1998). Health Is Academic: A Guide to Coordinated School Health Programs. New York: Teacher’s College Press.

Stewart, G.T.&Mars, H. (2010). Why We Should Not Cut P.E. Educational Leadership. 67(4). pp.60-65.

University of Michigan Health System (2011). Gym gone but not forgotten? Parents want more physical activity at school for kids. Web.

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