Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Four years of HS Physical Education?

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Constituent Question: "Is it true that HS students will now be required to take four years of Phys Ed instead of two?"

Answer: No. According to the Virginia Department of Education, this is just a rumor.

LCPS staff tells me that a similar rumor surfaces every year that the driving age is increasing to 18. The rumors are similar because they probably start with upperclassmen yanking some upcoming freshman's chain.
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8 comments:

  1. When I was in high school in New Jersey, we were required to take four years of phys ed. 9th & 10th graders had a semester of health and a semester of gym each year. 11th graders had a marking period of health, a marking period of drivers ed (written portion) and a semester of gym. 12th graders had two semesters of gym.

    Every semester, you could choose four different sports to try and one had to be "fitness" which was either jogging, aerobics or weight training.

    I despised the health portions (sex ed and very boring) but really liked having the opportunity to get physical activity every day, especially as a senior. I wouldn't be against four years of this subject in Virginia.
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  2. Not sure I understand what's wrong with 4 years of PE? Why shouldn't we be encouraging our kids to get out and move, especially with the obesity problem we have? I think part of the problem is the block scheduling, as a block in the upper grades prevents an elective vs. 50 min periods every day, so one could have PE 2 times a week without interfering with electives. We had 4 years of PE growing up, 2 x weekly (in the 80s), and we had a year of health (2 x weekly, 10th grade).
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  3. We had PE every year in high school during the 70's in Pennsylvania.

    Also, each newer high school was required to be built with a swimming pool, and we all had to take a year of swimming and pass a lifesaving course. The teacher would jump on you in the pool and you had to get away from her and then pull her to the side and "save" her. We were all required to take "communal" showers, which were a real treat in the self-conscious teen years. Just another example of how today's high school experience has changed.
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  4. I forgot to also say in the first comment that we had every class every day - no block scheduling like today. Loved it.
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  5. Just a reminder, not everyone (like myself) is gung-ho about PE, and can't wait until they finish their second year of it. Two years is fine the way it is.
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  6. We believe there should be four years of PE. The habit of physical exercise needs to be stressed - even if the activity is only walking an hour at 3 mph, jogging, or in place aerobics. Our doctors stress the importance of cardio-vascular exercise at every visit. We would vote a tax increase to get a 4 year PE requirement.
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  7. Completely agree with most of the other posters on this thread. I think there should be 4 years of phys ed.
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  8. I think students should have Ph. Ed.during all 4 years of HS.It will be a tremendous benefit for their physical and psychological health.
    " Mens sana in corpore sanum"
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