Should You Be Required to Take Physical Education?

Have you worked up a sweat playing basketball or another sport in gym class today? Many kids your age haven’t. In fact, fewer than one in four young people get the recommended 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

That’s a problem, health experts say, because exercise is important for teens’ developing minds and bodies. Being inactive can lead to heart disease and other health issues later in life. 

Some people think that requiring students to take physical education (PE) at school is the solution. PE was once a regular part of school in the United States. Today most states require less than 90 minutes of PE a week in middle school—if any at all. 

Yet a recent survey by GENYOUth found that school-based PE is the top source of physical activity for middle school and high school students. That’s a compelling reason for more schools to make gym class mandatory, health advocates say.

But not everyone thinks PE should be required. Some students dislike having to participate in sports they don’t enjoy. Others would rather take different electives, like art or robotics. 

What do you think? Consider both sides of the debate, then propose a solution. 

Being active keeps students healthier both physically and mentally. It also helps them develop good habits and reduces the risk of long-term health conditions, CDC officials say.

Seventh-grader Zachary Kumar is required to take gym or a sport daily at his school in New York City. He thinks the rule is a great way to make sure all kids keep fit. “It helps those who don’t do athletics outside of school stay in shape,” he says. “Plus, it improves the abilities of those who do sports.” 

But PE is about more than exercising and learning new sports, supporters say. Studies show that students who are physically active focus better in class and feel energized. And gym builds social skills and teaches valuable lessons in teamwork, Zachary points out. “It prepares you for having to work with other people,” he adds. “That’s very important.”

Gym also gives middle schoolers a chance to unwind from the pressure of their schoolwork. Sixth-grader Ella Sopic from Curwensville, Pennsylvania, is required to take PE. She looks forward to it because she can relax and play games, like Wiffle Ball and dodgeball, with her friends. “I like having a break from doing work,” she says. “It’s good for kids to just move around instead of sitting at a desk all day and staring at a computer.”

Some students, however, dread PE because it makes them anxious—especially if they’re not athletic. Seventh-grader Madelyn Jarosh from Door County, Wisconsin, says that some kids don’t like participating in PE if they’re not picked right away for teams. “They might feel like they’re being judged by other kids,” she explains. 

In addition, there are a limited number of hours in a school day, so adding PE could require cutting back on something else, some people say. That could be core subjects, like science and math, or electives, like music or art. “Although PE is a great elective, it should be encouraged but never required,” says Violet Hans, a seventh-grader from Naples, Florida. 

Many students also point out that they are already physically active outside of school. Madelyn, for one, is required to take gym every other day even though she plays volleyball after school. She likes gym class but says students should have the choice to participate—with the option to read or do homework in another room instead of running laps. “PE is supposed to be fun,” she says. “If you’re forced to do it, it becomes a bad part of your day.”