Poor attention to physical
education in schools is bad for school children’s academic performance health
status and their future. Some of the impact of poor attention to physical
education in schools as highlighted by Best and Kaln (2006) include:
education in schools is bad for school children’s academic performance health
status and their future. Some of the impact of poor attention to physical
education in schools as highlighted by Best and Kaln (2006) include:
·
Poor academic
performance
Poor academic
performance
·
Poor health
status
Poor health
status
·
Increased
health care spending
Increased
health care spending
i.
Poor academic performance: As many
schools are backing away from physical education classes in favour of rigorous
academic focus which may seem like a reasonable and necessary thing to do, it
does more harm than good. Attending physical education classes is directly
related to better academic performance and attitude toward school. Physical
activity promotes brain function and psychological well-being, reduces anxiety,
and increases overall energy and attention span. Additionally, a report
released by the World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) as cited in Gatman
(2007) concludes that physical activity as taught in physical education classes and school sports can help prevent
risky behaviours like smoking, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, and unhealthy
eating; antisocial behaviours and violence; and teenage pregnancy. The report
concludes that “There is a clear consensus that children and youth should be
involved in physical activity on a regular basis, and that teaching/reward
systems should encourage active participation and enjoyment by all students,
not just the highly skilled.”
Poor academic performance: As many
schools are backing away from physical education classes in favour of rigorous
academic focus which may seem like a reasonable and necessary thing to do, it
does more harm than good. Attending physical education classes is directly
related to better academic performance and attitude toward school. Physical
activity promotes brain function and psychological well-being, reduces anxiety,
and increases overall energy and attention span. Additionally, a report
released by the World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) as cited in Gatman
(2007) concludes that physical activity as taught in physical education classes and school sports can help prevent
risky behaviours like smoking, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, and unhealthy
eating; antisocial behaviours and violence; and teenage pregnancy. The report
concludes that “There is a clear consensus that children and youth should be
involved in physical activity on a regular basis, and that teaching/reward
systems should encourage active participation and enjoyment by all students,
not just the highly skilled.”
ii.
Poor health status: In all
of this, the obvious deduction is that less physical activity equals more
unhealthy children. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) (2012)
reports that 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. This
figure has tripled since 1980. Almost 34 percent of adults are obese. Overweight
and obese children are at high risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, low self-esteem, joint, bone, and muscle
problems, and more.
Poor health status: In all
of this, the obvious deduction is that less physical activity equals more
unhealthy children. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) (2012)
reports that 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. This
figure has tripled since 1980. Almost 34 percent of adults are obese. Overweight
and obese children are at high risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, low self-esteem, joint, bone, and muscle
problems, and more.
iii.
Increased health care spending: State
and federal government may think slashing physical education programs will save
money. Perhaps this is true of short-term, narrow thinking. In the long term,
however, decreased physical education in school means fewer healthy lifestyle
choices. This leads to more sedentary lifestyles, an increased prevalence of
heart disease and other weight-related health issues, and higher health
care costs for a nation.
Increased health care spending: State
and federal government may think slashing physical education programs will save
money. Perhaps this is true of short-term, narrow thinking. In the long term,
however, decreased physical education in school means fewer healthy lifestyle
choices. This leads to more sedentary lifestyles, an increased prevalence of
heart disease and other weight-related health issues, and higher health
care costs for a nation.