Education systems around the world are similar in some ways, and very different in others. These differences can spark debates on a wide range of subjects, the need or lack thereof of Physical Education classes is one of them.
There are many arguments for the inclusion of Physical Education in school curricula. First, PE classes can aid children’s development of social skills as it is more challenging to promote interaction in a more academic situation. This becomes particularly important for children after being quarantined for almost 2 years and being deprived of interaction entirely. The isolation that came with quarantine has also shown the high levels of stress that children can develop when focusing only on academic matters. Physical Education classes allow for stress relief and are therefore considered as essential by many, specially when trying to build a healthy academic experience for children.
When it comes to arguments against PE classes the first one that comes to mind is the fact that the world is becoming more competitive by the second. Because of this, parents and teachers are becoming increasingly worried that PE classes can distract children from their studies and reduce their competitiveness when applying for higher education institutions. On the other hand, many parents believe that it is not the school’s responsibility to promote an active lifestyle, and as a result, they view PE as a waste of time and a deflection of responsibility by other parents.
When arguing for or against Physical Education classes, we need to remember that children’s cognitive development can not come exclusively from academic subjects, nor can it come from exclusively physical subjects. That is why, in my opinion, a balance needs to be found between both, and while this balance does not necessarily mean equal time dedicated to each, it does mean at least some time dedicated to both.
Education
systems around the world are similar in
some
ways, and
very
different
in others. These differences can spark debates on a wide range of subjects, the need or lack thereof of
Physical
Education
classes
is one of them.
There are
many
arguments for the inclusion of
Physical
Education
in school curricula.
First
, PE
classes
can aid
children’s
development of social
skills
as it is more challenging
to promote
interaction in a more
academic
situation. This becomes
particularly
important
for
children
after
being quarantined
for almost 2 years and
being deprived
of interaction
entirely
. The isolation that came with quarantine has
also
shown the high levels of
stress
that
children
can develop when focusing
only
on
academic
matters.
Physical
Education
classes
allow
for
stress
relief and are
therefore
considered as essential by
many
,
specially
when trying to build a healthy
academic
experience for children.
When
it
comes
to arguments against PE
classes
the
first
one that
comes
to mind is the fact that the world is becoming more competitive by the second.
Because of this
, parents and teachers are becoming
increasingly
worried that PE
classes
can distract
children
from their studies and
reduce
their competitiveness when applying for higher
education
institutions.
On the other hand
,
many
parents believe that it is not the school’s responsibility to promote an active lifestyle, and
as a result
, they view PE as a waste of time and a deflection of responsibility by other parents.
When arguing for or against
Physical
Education
classes
, we need to remember that
children’s
cognitive development can not
come
exclusively from
academic
subjects, nor can it
come
from exclusively
physical
subjects.
That is
why, in my opinion, a balance needs to
be found
between both, and while this balance does not
necessarily
mean equal time dedicated to each, it does mean at least
some
time dedicated to both.