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Hayley Tran

Professor Brody

ENG 301

17 April 2019

The Endangerment of Future Generations

With some understanding of the contributed factors toward the causes of diabetes, it is

significant to consider the benefits of physical education towards one’s health. What will the

future generation be without the importance of physical education? Sitting in the classroom

while gaining knowledge and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is tough to decide on which is more

important. Schools across the country do not consider the importance of physical education on

students' overall health. The discontinuation of physical education seems to be the option that

many individuals agreed upon. Many agree that having mandatory physical education decreases

the risk of diabetes and other diseases while others state that leads to severe injuries. Due to the

injuries that happen while students are engaging in physical education class, physical education

is to be reconsidered whether it should be mandatory or be students’ choice. With regard to the

minor injuries that made the finality of physical education to be inessential, it conveys the

insignificant of children's health – take away the only accessible way of diabetes prevention in

school.

The prevention of injuries in physical education is the cause of many health-related

diseases. Many believe that physical education is responsible for injuries hence the reason why

students should not be required to engage in taking the class as credits fulfillment. Different

types of injuries involved in physical education are concussions, sprains, lacerations, lower

extremities and more. Due to the overuse of physical inactivity in physical education, it promotes
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an unsafe environment for students to be involved due to the occurrence of various injuries. With

infinite activities in PE classes, it leads students to an emergency room and possible treatments.

Suzan Ayers, a professor that specializes in Human Performance and Health Education, mentions

statistics-based injuries, “Based on the data, an estimated 405,305 students across the nation

were treated in emergency rooms during this 11-year period for injuries related to physical

education" (Ayers). On the contrary, PE does not associate with injuries because students tend to

be competitive to acknowledge their surroundings, therefore, incidents happen. “Overuse injuries

have been reported to account for up to 50% of all injuries in children and adolescents. Growth-

related overuse (GRO) injuries are a major subgroup of injuries in growing individuals”

(Trifonov). This illustrates the negative effects of overuse activities have on the encounter of

students with injuries. Additionally, students are not aware of their instincts and their actions

hence a higher chance of being injured. The most common injury that students have is a sprain

meaning it is not severe to cause inconvenience. To prevent non-major injuries, students should

be more aware of their actions to not cause any disturbances towards their classmates and avoid

possible injuries.

The results of students’ unawareness towards their actions cause discomfort and damages

on their classmates. Not having set limits on the performed activities result in greater injuries on

oneself. Students are required to participate in specific activity in order to pass the class,

however, students unknowingly being injured by pushing their limits and exceeding the

expectations. For example, running is mandatory for students and for athletic students that

participate in sports. Statistically speaking, the case of running-related injuries increased by 34%

and one-third of the injuries occurred at school portrays the overuse injuries and exhaustion that

students experience during their performance in PE (Mehl). In this case, it is not ideal to assume
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that class requirements led to injuries without mentioning students’ current state of well-being.

To contrast with the idea that activities within PE cause injuries and the need for students to be

sent to an emergency room, students are bound to experience pain. For instance, students might

not have a proper posture in running hence a higher possibility of getting their knee sprained,

“Sprains and strains accounted for more than one half (51.5%) of all injuries" (Mehl). Getting a

sprain is not a big deal hence individuals should not be worried about injuries in PE prevent

students from gaining knowledge. Additionally, not having a proper pair of shoes will have a

negative impact on students' performance. It is the students' responsibility to wear proper attire;

looking into shoes that are for running purposes will reduce the risk of one spraining their legs.

Others not only state that the result of injuries in physical education class based on

overuse of activities, but also due to improper supervision in students doing. In the time that

teachers cannot be present in class, substitute teachers take over and watch the class. However,

not many substitute teachers are credential to take over the class full of active and competitive

students. The roles of supervisors are to promote safety and prevent injury in physical education,

however, not many of them are able to prevent the incidents from occurring (Miele-Pascoe). For

instance, many of the staffs without a credential in PE are taken the role of PE teachers in a short

time noticed. The safety of students is in danger due to a non-specialize PE teacher since they do

not know how to handle certain situations. On the contrary, students are mature enough to take

care of themselves. Most importantly, substitute teachers need a certificate in order for the school

to allow their supervision in PE class. The article uses ad hominem fallacy in which it directs all

the issues toward the lack of improper supervision that the school allowed, therefore, severe

injuries happened. The result of injuries needs to be reflected upon students’ actions and

behaviors instead of directing all the blame towards the substitute teachers.
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As a result of improper supervisor in PE class, many objects to the idea that PE should be

mandatory for the well-being of students. It is believed that an unexpected environment triggers

health hence students' well-being will not be safe. Because PE causes unwanted injuries in

students, individuals should not be considered as graduation requirements, “Sports injuries are

highly disadvantageous for Physical Education (PE) students, because they can lead to physical

discomfort" (Beijsterveldt). For individuals, PE simply associates with injuries due to students

are physically engage in activities instead of sitting in a classroom with air conditioning.

However, the article uses hasty generalization that does not statistically explain how

sports injuries specifically lead to students suffering discomfort. While many individuals thought

that the environmental conditions contribute to possible injuries in PE, teachers are well aware of

the conditions to prevent students from exposing to the heat. People found the current health

status more important than the future and what is up ahead. Instead of focusing on the current,

individuals should focus on the future to prevent manageable diseases. Not only does physical

activity gains students’ knowledge, but it also develops cognitive and motor skills, “Physical

education provides cognitive content and instruction designed to develop motor skills,

knowledge, and behaviors for physical activity and physical fitness … provide students with the

ability and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime" (CDC Healthy Schools). Teachers

and parents should encourage students to be more active rather than encouraging them to stay

indoors. With the thoughts of many possible diseases and for the future healthy lifestyles,

individuals should not let minor injuries from achieving a healthy life.

Expanding more on the improper supervision in PE class, it correlates to the excessive

activities required in order to fulfill the class requirements. “The court went on to explain that

physical education classes involve dangerous activities and therefore, the school must minimize
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the risk by the exercise of care in instructing, preparing, and supervising the students" (Sanders)

illustrates the high risk of injuries in physical education class hence the reason why PE should

not be compulsory. On the contrary, students are well aware and are mature enough to take care

of themselves and to take full responsibility for their actions. Their injuries cannot be blamed on

the teachers due to their maturity; accepting pain and failure are a milestone into success rather

than blaming the faults to the teachers. Additionally, it is near impossible to keep watch of more

than fifty students with everyone moving around all at once. To prevent future injuries from

happening, the school should reconsider having two supervisors to keep watch of students.

With many negative thoughts regarding physical education and injuries that come with it,

people are less likely to enroll their children in a class that causes them discomfort and days that

are spent in the emergency room. It is argued that students’ injuries are the cause of physical

education and inadequate school supervision; forcing students to do what they do not desire can

lead to severe consequences such as concussion (Wahowiak). However, others do not come

across that physical education plays a part in uncovering students’ hidden talents that they would

never think they could excel. Moreover, substitute teachers are not capable of leading the class,

“Additionally, the substitute art teacher chose to participate in the game himself rather than

supervise the students” (Sanders). Participating with the students not only creates the spirit, but it

also encourages students to feel comfortable and engage in the activity without hesitance. Also,

being watched by teachers does not bring an enjoyable vibe, therefore, teacher participating with

the students increases the chance of students getting involved.

The means of promoting healthy living in physical education class do not seem possible

due to all the various injuries that students experienced. Because of the aspects of overuse of

activities, class requirements, improper supervision, and environmental condition, physical

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education has negative connotations such as injuries and emergency room. Individuals believe

that PE should not be compulsory hence the health of the future generation will be at risk with

several developed diseases. For the well-being of the future generation, physical education

should be mandatory to prevent the peak point in their lives with the so-called diseases. The

goals of physical education are to encourage students to maintain a healthy lifestyle and for them

to discover their hidden talents.

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Works Cited

Ayers, Suzan F. “Serious Injuries in Physical Education Class.” Journal of Physical Education,

Recreation & Dance, vol. 81, no. 3, 2010, p. 8.

Beijsterveldt, AM van, et al. “INJURIES AND RISK FACTORS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION

STUDENTS.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British

Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, 1 Apr. 2014,

bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/7/565.2.info.

CDC Healthy Schools. “CDC | Physical Activity | Facts | Healthy Schools.” Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 May 2018,

www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm.

Miele-Pascoe, Laura M. “Gym Class Injuries – Expert Article on Physical Education & Student Safety.”

Robson Forensic, 8 Feb. 2017,

Mehl, Ann J, et al. “Running-Related Injuries in School-Age Children and Adolescents Treated in

Emergency Departments From 1994 Through 2007.” Clinical Pediatrics, vol. 50, no. 2, 2011, pp.

126–132.

Sanders, Heather. “School Liability: The Danger of Mandatory Physical Education Classes.” Journal of

Law and Education, vol. 37, no. 3, 2008, pp. 443–451.

Trifonov Rexen, Christina Bo, et al. “Injuries in Children with Extra Physical Education in Primary

Schools.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 46, no. 4, 2014, pp. 745–752.

Wahowiak, Lindsey. "Kids at high risk for head injury in gym." The Nation's Health, Feb.-Mar. 2018, p.

19. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A528328429/OVIC?u=csuf_main&sid=OVIC&xid=c1fba77

d. Accessed 20 Mar. 2019.

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