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Physical Education In America

Physical Education In America and how it Enhances Education In Schooling and a Longer
Life.
Jerminic Anthony
Ottawa University

Physical Education In America

Abstract
This Paper Explores different researchers evidence and opinions on how Physical
Education in America can enhance grades within the classroom throughout grade school. Also
how Physical Education can help the younger generation from becoming over weight at a young
age and can keep the percentage of obesity from uprising. This paper will just prove and argue
why healthy living and having physical activity can help live a longer life, also how to succeed in
school. All of my resources are scholarly, and really tells why Physical Education is important
and a couple of them also provides evidence.

Physical Education In America

Numerous of studies such as (Sparkepe) have shown that Physical Education In America
can help young students do better in the classroom and also prevent obesity. But the issue is
should it be a part of the school system or should it be a required course in the school systems?
Some parents or outside reporters believe time is wasted when teaching children about health or
teaching them games. Luke Richards(2014) Maybe their time should be spent more in a
classroom setting learning more about the world problems or how to become the next president
or something.
According to (niddk.health.gov 2012) about one third children from the ages 6-19 are
overweight or obese in America, this is kids we are talking about, and they are at risk of diabetes
if some of them do not have them already. Life expectancy in America is 77.6, but when obese
what is your expectancy? It is amazing what a little of physical activity can do to a childs mind,
even an adult, it can release stress, make you think clear or improve your cardiovascular system.
According to Wallhead (2015) Physical Education can boost a child confidence (P. 8899) After reading this article I agree, just for an example. As a child in a physical education class
when doing an activity, or event, you try your hardest just to get noticed from the coach/teacher
so you can hear that good job after hearing that your confidence goes up and you tend to go
harder or do everything you can just to improve yourself and take it to the next level. This
example is not only for physical activity it can be a life example also. P.E can help kids with
social issues or who has problems talking to people. Physical Education has a lot of team sports
which requires you to talk to your peers, a good way to make friends easily. Motivation helps a
lot with someone confidence, I just feel as if P.E can make a huge difference in someone life,

Physical Education In America

especially with the world we live in today, it is a class to get out of the classroom setting and to
be able to be free and to put the pencil down for a couple of minutes. According to 1.

Garn,

A. C., & Wallhead, T. (2015). Social goals and basic psychological needs in high school physical
education. Sport, Exercise, And Performance Psychology, 4(2), 88-99.
Any type of structure activity or game can be helpful to a young person life, requires
them to follow direction and the rules of the game. If you do the wrong thing in a game you can
be penalized or even have to sit out for maybe a short period of time, a punishment is basically
what it is, which will happen in life if you were to commit a crime. So attitudes is the big key
here, Physical Education class, you have to have a positive attitude to participate in the game,
which I believe will transfer to the classroom and also your teachers. No child wants to be the
odd man out on the side while their classmates are enjoying their time having fun, one thing that
just popped into my mind that is kind of off track, is that kids have fun not realizing they are
actually getting a workout in. But this is important, improves their health, and can teach them
ways to stay healthy and fit to prevent obesity.
Sullivan (2015) Physical Education is becoming more important to the nation due to
obesity growing throughout the world (p. 102). In this article it shows facts such as numbers of
children under the age of 15 being overweight and not eating healthy. Providing a P.E class
throughout schools in America grades k-12 can help prevent overweight in the country. Helps
children get a free workout in while having fun and being monitored by a teacher/coach. Budget
cuts are the biggest issue when it comes to P.E classes, there is always a excuse of not enough
money for a class or not enough money for equipment. If some school boards look up or do a
research of how many overweight children there are in their state or even their school, maybe
they will find the money somewhere or provide equipment to keep their children healthy. Which

Physical Education In America

brings me to the school lunches, which has improved over time, thanks to Michelle Obama, I
believe what the school feeds the children at breakfast and lunch is very important.
The Triangle
The food triangle is a huge Key when it comes to Physical Education, yes it is about
having fun and playing games but it also knows about what foods to eat and not to eat. Just know
what you are providing your body with. The food pyramid has your grains, vegetables, fruits,
milk, beans and meat all in that order, there is different pictures to show what kind of foods are
classified as each. Nutrition is why this was made; I believe that every Physical Education class
should go over the pyramid so children know how many nutrients they need to take in a day. It
can make a difference.
Some studies show that children that are in shape and fit usually process information
faster than ones that are overweight according to the New York Times. In this NY times article it
states that they did a study this past May with fourth and fifth graders, which they had half of
them run around for 10 minutes and the other half just sit there and talk. Of course the children
who ran around made the better grades across the board. Reducing or eliminating Physical
Education in schoolmay not be the best way to ensure educational success among our young
people Charles Hillman(author) stated. Drilling the kids with just school work all day and not
giving them at least a hour or even 45 minutes of free play or any type of physical activity can
fry their brain I believe, giving the children some time out of the classroom and being able to
interact outside the class setting can give their brain time to reset and rest and be ready to go
when returning to the classroom. P.E enhances brains, takes away some of the stress that is put

Physical Education In America

on it, gives it a little time to relax. There are of studies out there that proves my point, I have just
given you one from the New York Times.
Shape America has passed a law for children with disabilities to be able to participate in
Physical Education activities, also has provided 1.6 million pools to fund equipment or whatever
is needed. This is an important law that got passed with no doubt, nothing makes a kid that has
disabilities feel more better then feeling like an normal kid. They feel a part of something, also
be able to smile. Being able to part take in an activity with the kids who are not challenged
makes them feel apart of the class, also children with disabilities should be active, anyone can be
obese.
After all the research and some points pointed out in this paper I believe that physical
education is important to our lives, both academically and fitness wise.

Physical Education In America

Work Cited

1.

Garn, A. C., & Wallhead, T. (2015). Social goals and basic psychological needs in high

school physical education. Sport, Exercise, And Performance Psychology, 4(2), 88-99.
doi:10.1037/spy0000029
Physical education can be a motivator for some kids with social issues or for kids who are not
very good interacting with others, if a child is good at a sport or an activity, that can boost their
confidence up tremendously.
This article supports that kids use sports for competition and to feel good about them
selfs, also children hardly gives up if they fail at a sport, practice makes perfect is the saying.
Once a child is good at something, their confidence raises.

2.

umanovi, M., Tomac, Z., & Rastovski, D. (2015). Evaluating Physical Education

Teaching in Higher Grades of Primary School. Croatian Journal Educational / Hrvatski Casopis
Za Odgoj I Obrazovanje, 17(1), 121-149. doi:10.15516/cje.v17i1.998
Physical Education can help form a positive attitude or bring structure to someones life.
Learning a game with rules acquires you to follow directions, and play the right way,
Article talks about attitudes within the students and the teachers, even took a survey to
see numbers.

Physical Education In America

3.

Clapham, E. D., Sullivan, E. C., & Ciccomascolo, L. E. (2015). Effects of a Physical

Education Supportive Curriculum and Technological Devices on Physical Activity. Physical

Educator, 72(1), 102-116
Physical education is becoming more important to the nation due to the obesity growing
throughout the world. P.E reduces likely hood of children getting to over weight.
Article states facts about obesity and why physical; education is important to our world.
Also gives facts and numbers to show obesity rates.

4.

SHAPE AMERICAS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 114TH CONGRESS FOR

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. (2015).

Palaestra, 29(3), 6-7 2p.
Shape America has passed a Law for Children with disabilities to be able to participate in
some form of physical education, I believe its only fair that they have do have something for
children that are more challenged, just so they are able to feel free.
Shape America article states that the disabilities students are required to learn just as
much as the regular kids also the senator has provided pools at the cost of 1.6 billon.

Stein, J. (2010). Das Arnold-Schonberg-Institut in Los Angeles. Appeals Court Rules

That California Public Schools Must Comply with Physical Education Law, (1).

Physical Education In America

In this article, California passed a law that elementary students must complete 200hours of
physical education every 10 days, there is no slacking off up there. Middle school and High
school students have to perform even more then that.
This is a great law to follow; this prevents obesity around the world. Well at least slows it
down, Kids are forced to work out or at least be active and get a little sweat in. It is all about
living a healthy life.
6.Physical Education A weighty subject. (2002). Los Angeles Times, 1-1
Studies have found that 26 percent of kids are overweight, no middle school kid should weigh
over 200 pounds or be able to eat 3 big macs from McDonalds.
This article is a opinion of someone who created an article and sent it to the LA times, which he
as a point though, kids in this generation are lazy and eat unhealthy.
7.How Physical Fitness May Promote School Success. (2013, September 18). Retrieved October
21, 2015.
Children that are usually in shape and fit, process information faster, and remember important
stuff more than kids that are not in shape or that are overweight, according to the New York
times. Researchers have tried everything to prove that kids that are fit are naturally smarter, even
bringing in kids and having them work out and take a test.
This article provides so much information, information that have b=never came across before,
this is useful and helpful for a paper.
8.Hellmich, N. (2013, May 23). Report: More PE, activity programs needed in schools.
Retrieved October 21, 2015.

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Physical Education In America

Article starts off by saying kids need to break a sweat Children should be doing at least 60
minutes of physical activity at school, also learning about healthy eating habits. Estimates and
researchers say that half of U.S kids meets the government Physical Activity guideline, which is
terrible.
There should be an after school program for kids to do their homework, and be able to play
some type of sport after all their work is done. This just helps kid stay fit. Thre is a lot of
different approaches the government can take, but do they really care about children fitness?
9.The Case for Physical Education. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2015.
A lot of schools are under budget cuts which make it hard to get Physical Education a big focus
throughout the school, because equipment is needed, also PE coaches. Some schools believe that
kids can work on their fitness at home, but some parents do not enforce it.
This article will be a good article to fight an argument of why or why not to keep pe in schools,
because of money and how important really is PE
10.The Case for Physical Education. Physical Benefits (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2015.
Physical Education supports the body and the mind, children tend to learn better and function
better while being in shaped and not over weight, test scores will improve and learning abilities.
Also life expectancy of the world is 77.6. But is that the same age for someone over weight? This
article just shows how fitness plays a major role in the classroom.

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Physical Education In America