Opinion: Should Athletes be Required to Take Gym?

By Eric Gaudette

Everyone has been there, sitting in gym class wondering, “Why do I have to be here right now?” Because of this, many students, especially athletes, view physical education courses as a waste of time.

Throughout grade school, students are forced to attend physical education classes, and according to a study performed by the Center for Disease Control, over 95 percent of high schools across the United States require all students to attend these courses. In high school, many students participate in varsity sports during the school year, however, and many of these student athletes believe they are wasting their time and should be exempt from physical education classes.

The purpose of gym class is to keep students physically active and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Yet student athletes already perform physical activity during their sports seasons; hence, they do not need gym class to keep them fit. Clearly, it is not fair that a student athlete must participate in a class which offers minimal to zero benefit.

Some students who disagree may argue that it is not fair if they have to take a class that others are exempt from. They believe that playing sports should not grant students special treatment and privileges. However, all students have access to sports at school and anyone can make the decision to join a team.

Parents could also argue that physical education is necessary. They might say that children need time during the day to be physically active and get a metal break. However, physical education is not a necessity for students during the day, so students should have the option to participate in the class or use the time for other purposes. If a student athlete feels that he/she needs the exercise, he can chose to partake in physical education. If not, he should be allowed to pursue his work for other classes.

There is little debate that high school workloads are extremely demanding. Moreover, student athletes are challenged by time management. Athletes may spend two to five hours a day at practice and games, which leaves very little time for homework. If students are overloaded with work, they should have the option to go to the library or another classroom instead of wasting time in the gym. This would be a much more effective use of time that could alleviate stress and allow athletes to get more sleep at night. Also, during this time, they could get help from teachers who they do not have time to meet with after school. Clearly, there are more productive ways to use the time spent in gym.

Injuries can also occur in physical education classes. Nate Eastman, a former South Kingstown High School student, fell during an activity and got a concussion. Eastman was the starting goalkeeper for the soccer team and missed two weeks right before playoffs as a result of his injury. Evidently, gym classes can be dangerous and athletes are risking their well-being in a class that does not benefit their physical health.

If the athletes do not participate in physical education, this will also benefit other students who need more attention. Such a change would allow teachers to focus on the students that might really need help and encouragement. This would also benefit the non-athletes as they would not feel as much pressure as they do when they are competing against the school’s top athletes in gym.

The question is, “should high school student athletes have to take gym?” One must simply weigh the risks vs. rewards. The answer seems very clear: absolutely not.