The importance of PE in public schools

If you were athletic in high school, you would probably agree that physical education is a must.  If you were not athletic by any means, P.E. class in school may conjure up horrible memories. Or, if you’re like me and never had to experience it, you may not be inclined one way or the other. But regardless of beliefs, according to research, physical education plays a beneficial role in the physical, motivational and social health of students young or old.

P.E. tends to receive a negative reputation in movies because it is usually tied to the poor experiences of the unathletic — like Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries.” There are a few primary considerations for determining whether P.E. should be required in high school. According to the American Heart Association, physical activity positively affects physical, mental and social health, as well as personal motivation. P.E. brings more benefits than negative aspects. It is highly important to maintain physicality into high school and beyond.

Physical health is the most obvious benefit of physical education. An article published in the Journal of Preventative Medicine and Hygiene titled “Physical Activity for Health” states that regular physical activity strengthens the body’s functions and reduces the risk of various diseases. It improves quality of life and the way your body feels. P.E. classes teach students to be active and help them adopt healthy activity habits. Habits and skills formed in adolescence have a greater chance of persisting through adulthood, according to Psychology Today.

P.E. trains personal motivation and enjoyment in exercise. According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine called “Analysis of Motivational Profiles of Satisfaction and Importance of Physical Education in High School Adolescents,” there is a level of satisfaction involved, as P.E.’s social environment prompts internal motivation and task-orientation. Students are presented with opportunities to enhance their physical ability in a way that bolsters mental capability. P.E. encourages students who are goal-oriented — whether they are athletically inclined or not — to participate. When P.E. caters to internal motivation, it becomes enjoyable for students. Why deny students an opportunity to improve cognition and physical well-being?

In a P.E. classroom setting, some students have goals for improving social standing. Because student-to-student interactions are higher in a P.E. class than in the typical classroom, there are unique opportunities for interacting with peers. The social ladder is ripe for climbing. Or it can be a time of insecurity, when students do not want to feel the discomfort of comparison. These goals drive motivation and athletic performance, according to a study by Alex Garn, David Ware and Melinda Solmon. If organized properly, P.E. classes can be positive social climates that use the social drives of the students for good.   

P.E plays a very important role in students’ health. It forces students to be physically active in their adolescent years, which can greatly impact the rest of their lives. School education should not only be about intellectual learning, but it should also teach people about their own bodies and how to treat them. P.E. is a hands-on method of education that impacts the personal well-being of students more than other school subjects. Even if you relate to the athletic ability of Mia Thermopolis in high school, I hope you can recognize the benefits of P.E.

Westling is an opinion writer for the Liberty Champion.