On an average week in the fall, I dedicate 10 hours to cross country practice, not counting early morning meets each Saturday.
This is the reality for many other high school athletes; with the football team practicing before the sun comes up some days due to the heat, and track and field returning from school meets as late as midnight.
In addition to an extracurricular sport, school athletes, like all other students, are required to take a semester-long PE credit to graduate. I believe students who participate in a school sport should be exempt from this requirement.
PE classes are valuable and definitely should be offered, as they are a great way to introduce students into different aspects of physical activity. But the question is not if PE classes are good or not, it’s what this requirement is taking away from other electives one might want to take.
Since I already spend so much of my time participating in athletics at school, the PE half-credit just feels like another box to check off on the list to graduate.
In my opinion, the best thing about high school is the many different things you get the opportunity to try. Since LHS prides itself on having students who participate in a wide range of different activities, I believe requiring school athletes to take a PE class, and in doing so barring them from trying out another elective they are interested in, is not in line with the school’s values.
Additionally, many athletes suffer from over exertion during their sport season, and having an additional PE class on top of practices can lead to injury.
Participating in a season of a school sport should be an alternative to taking a half-credit of PE. This would almost surely boost the low numbers of no-cut sports such as cross country and girls golf, for example. It would also encourage students to try something that is out of their comfort zone, and again, open the door for school athletes to take electives they might be interested in, but have not had the opportunity to explore.
