The Importance Of Physical Education?

Register to read the introduction… The U.S. department of health and human services recommends that young people aged 6-17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. However, devoting five hours to physical activity in the term of physical education is not realistic in schools it is important to keep in mind other sources of physical activity like after school activities and recess. However, it is important that students get some time devoted to physical education everyday because some students do not receive physical activity after school due to changes in social norms. According to the Center of Disease Control (2013), in 2011, 29% for high school students surveyed had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity on all 7 days before the survey, and only 31% attended physical education class daily. Due to the decline in outside physical activity participation outside of school, such as money constraints and safety precautions, it is important to give these children a set amount of daily exercise through the schooling system where they spend most of the day. According to Center of Disease Control (2013), schools can promote physical activity through comprehensive school physical activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity, intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical education. Schools should ensure that physical education is provided to all students in all grades and it taught by qualified teachers. Physical education programs are not allowing enough time for the students to get the healthy response through the activities they are …show more content…
However, our student’s health should be emphasized throughout the public school systems throughout every state. Education policymakers are beginning to understand that physical education is an important academic discipline. Physical education gives students some of the most critical skills they need to be productive, healthy individuals in society. According to Lee, Wechsler, & Balling (2006), quality physical education requires education time, per week, at least 150 minutes for elementary school students and 225 minutes for secondary schools. Sadly this is where physical education is at an all-time low. Having physical education once or twice a week for 50 minutes is not enough to teach kids the importance of health and physical activity. What if a child only has math or social studies for 50 minutes a week? Physical education needs to be integrated more, especially since obesity and unhealthy lifestyles are being implemented into these kid’s lives every day. Another point, schools have drastically changed the cafeteria food across America because of the concerns for student’s health (Center of Disease Control, 2012). The policymakers are aware of the dangers and risk of children’s health and change what the kids are consuming at school, but they are not allowing physical activity and curriculum about living a healthy lifestyle. That is an oxymoron. Physical education policy should prioritize quality while, simultaneously and subsequently, trying to increase the amount of time physical education is offered in