Opinion: U.S. schools need to focus more on gym classes
By William E. Simon Jr., USA Today, adapted by Newsela staff
Some kids love getting to run around in gym class. Other kids may not like it as much. Still, all kids should have to take it.
Gym class is also known as physical education. It is called PE for short. PE has many benefits. It puts students' minds and bodies to work. It teaches them how to exercise. Studies show that exercise improves health. That is not all, though. It also improves how students learn.
Students today are exercising less. They are spending more time on phones and computers, instead. Meanwhile, obesity is on the rise. Obesity is when a person has too much body fat. Having too much body fat can lead to health problems later in life. Heart disease is one example.
Kids Aren't Exercising Enough
The U.S. government sets guidelines for exercise. They are kind of like suggestions. They say how much exercise people should get each day. Getting the right amount helps people stay healthy.
In 2018, the government updated their guidelines. The new guidelines say kids should exercise for an hour each day. Not many kids today get this much exercise, though. Experts say only 1 in 5 teenagers do.
Children need PE more than ever. Yet schools are spending less time on PE. They are spending less money on it, too.
Schools Don't Spend Enough On Gym Classes
The Society of Health and Physical Educators is a group of health and PE teachers. This group did a study. They looked at the money spent by American schools. The study found that most schools spend less than $1,000 a year on PE. Some spend as little as $1.50 per student on PE. That is the total per student in a whole year! That is a tiny part of the money schools spend. For example, some schools may spend as much as $12,000 per student in a year.
This is a big problem for all students. It is even worse in low-income areas. There, families may not have a lot of money or time for extra things. It may be too costly to send their kids to sports outside of school. That is one reason why schools should have PE for all students.
Inactivity Is Dangerous
More and more children today are inactive. They do not get as much exercise as they should. Studies show this is dangerous. It puts children at greater risk of getting sick later in life. Exercise helps keep people healthy. It is good for our bodies. It is good for our brains, too. Studies also show that exercising improves learning. It even helps us manage our feelings.
Children need to learn that exercise is important. Not everyone knows the best way to exercise on their own. It is something you need to practice. When PE is taught well, it keeps kids moving. Studies show that children who take PE in school are more likely to be active outside of school. They are also more likely to stay active when they grow up.
Schools play a big role in keeping kids healthy. Students go to school for 12 years. Over this time, schools can provide many things to keep students healthy. They can provide shots. They prevent kids from catching certain illnesses. Schools can serve healthy meals. And they can offer kids the right amount of time in PE.
Schools Need To Make Gym As Important As Math
I know schools have limited time and money. They have to meet many needs for students. Kids need plenty of time to learn at school. They need time to work together. They need time to play, as well. All of this takes time and money.
Still, I think PE is as important as these other needs. It is just as important as math and reading. It should be treated that way by schools and students, too.