The Need for Physical Education in Our Culture

Most people recognize that physical education is important to stay healthy and live a balanced lifestyle. However, our culture’s focus on this truth is rapidly diminishing. Over hundreds of years ago, the ancient Greeks held physical education superior to many other things. According to Encyclopedia Americana (2014), the article about the history of physical education, states that the Greeks “strove for physical perfection and the total development of the body.” Years later, in 2008, a study done by the Center for Disease Control states that “only 19% of high school students were active for 20 min or more in physical education classes” (Osness, 2014, p. 1). The amount of physical activity has been rapidly diminishing over the years, causing severe health conditions and problems in the lives of many sedentary individuals. Being physically active used to be a focus in our nation, yet now it seems that society is discouraging physical activity. School systems are currently cutting physical education out of their curriculum, not requiring students to participate in these classes. It is important that physical education classes are mandatory especially at a high school level, because it benefits the students both academically and physically helping encourage lifelong fitness, cognitive skills, attitude, and academic performance.

Regular physical education is crucial because of the health benefits it carries. According to Health and Human Services (2003), “physical activity contributes to several long term health benefits, notably decreased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, and diabetes” (Portman, 2003, p. 1). By providing physical education in school systems, the amount of physical activity to stay h...

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...ical Education classes encouraging students to be physically active? : Experiences of Ninth Graders in their last semester of required physical education. Physical Educator, 60 (3), 150-161. The experiences of high school students in physical education was studied and observed by Portman, the author of the physical educator article. This article answers the question if physical education encourages the students to be physically active. Many opinions and suggestions of students were taken and recorded in this article. Students have very varied opinions on this issue. Some students say if physical education is not successful then the class is not needed. Many other students agree that physical education classes are enjoyable and they learn new things. To sum up the article, participating in physical exercise and physical education, new opportunities will be opening.