Getting physical with physical education

Every year there is a debate within the student body at Bradford. The debate is about whether or not students involved in sports should be required to take 1.5 credits of gym class to graduate.

Students debate that athletes should not be required to take gym because they are already athletic and in shape. They argue that most major sports require year round training that is even more beneficial than gym. They also argue that without taking a gym class there would be more room for these students to take academic classes.

Even students who are not involved with sports agree with these arguments. A Bradford student explained that “it’s unfair to the athletes, they practice in the season and even in the off-season they work. I see them in the weight room every day on my way out the door.”

There are also reasons for every student to take gym class. Gym class is needed to keep students physically fit. Gym also teaches students about other sports that they might not otherwise be exposed to. For example, a soccer player could learn how to play basketball and really like it. Some people even think that students at Bradford aren’t taking enough gym, and that students should take a gym every semester.

Another student argued, “it’s not fair for the rest of us if they didn’t have to take gym. I work harder in gym class than some sports. So why should they get credit for hardly any work? Also, what if a student isn’t good enough to play sports, it’s obviously not fair to them.”

What these students don’t know is that Bradford is not in charge of this rule. In my interview with Mrs. Nelson I learned that it is the Department of Public of Instruction, not Bradford, who decided that every student should take 1.5 credits of gym. For students to take action and change the current gym requirements, they would have to contact the Department of Public of Instruction, and do research about other schools who have different gym requirements.

There is, however, an alternative to either of these views. Mrs. Nelson had a good idea. “Lets say a student makes it thorough the entire season, they should also write a paper or two about their experiences. This would be a way to substitute the tests you take in gym,” she says.

This new idea could be an equalizer in the current debate. This would allow student athletes to take academics instead of a gym class while still getting a gym credit. Currently, the 1.5 gym credit requirement rule for Bradford still stands, and until a student or administrator takes action, it’s here to stay.

 

by Greg Capelli