Like many questions regarding law and legislation, the answers can vary across territories and countries. In many countries however, Physical Education or ‘P.E’ is compulsory in schools for a few reasons. Here’s a few of them:
• Improved physical fitness
• Self-discipline
• Strengthened peer relationships
• Improvement of self-esteem and self-confidence
Improved physical fitness will obviously come about after a few hours a week of active, varied exercise. Introducing physical education at a relatively early age sets a lifelong precedent. A child who partakes regularly in physical education during their developing years is far more likely to continue to incorporate an exercise regime into their adult lifestyle.
Self-discipline is an admirable personal trait, and physical education encourages this. Team games and other sports constrained by rules allow a person’s sense of self discipline to grow, by allowing them to become accustomed to following a set of regulations. Playing in a team also allows a person to interact in a friendly and professional way with other people, and encourages selflessness and lending a helping hand towards others.
Strengthened peer relationships are also another benefit of physical education. Again, working in a team expands communication skills, respect towards others, and is generally a lot of fun and provides a good talking point for a group of friends. Friendly competition is also seen as a good factor to have, especially during the teenage years of a person’s life, and can lead to an aspirational attitude and a desire to do well later in life.
Improvement of self-esteem and self-confidence are also greatly helped by the participation in physical education and team games. It can be a great feeling, placing the winning shot in a game of football – or any other team game – and this can boost a person’s confidence no end. These factors signify that physical education is very important in a young person’s development, and explains is compulsoriness in many states in territories.
For example, in Singapore from primary school through to junior college, pupils are required to participate in physical education for at least two hours a week, and important NAPFA examinations are taken at the end of each to gauge pupils’ fitness. In the UK, pupils are expected to do two hours a week of P.E between the ages of 11-14, and one hour a week from 14-16. In Poland, three hours a week are compulsory for pupils in primary and secondary schools, and even in university, a minimum of sixty hours per year is required.
So, physical education’s importance is such that it makes it legally compulsory in most cultures, as it develops character, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and sets a person up for a happy and fruitful adult life.
The United States Department of Education has a legal section dedicated to the explanation of the legal basis of physical education which can be found in http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg76.html. It is also referred to as the Carol M. White Physical Education Program and outlines the requirements of the country when it comes to physical education in schools, which encompasses kindergarten to 12th grade.
• The physical education curriculum in the United States is created to expose the pupils to a wide range of opportunities as well as various sports and many drills and exercises. Some of them make use of the GPS and pedometers as well as state of the art machines. Martial arts classes are also offered to give the students an experience in self-Defense. However, there is a minimum requirement for all physical education classes in the US, which means that students should be educated in conditioning activities, aquatics, team sports, gymnastics, dance, and rhythms. Based on the US legal requirements, the different states have adopted their own physical education policies for local public schools.
• The benefits of physical education has been proven to help students gain the discipline and knowledge that they require for a lifetime of physical activity, which is why it's extremely important to immerse them in vigorous activity at a young age. Childhood obesity has become a national concern, which is why the government has regulated this aspect through agencies and schools.
• The national health objectives also include the increase of adolescents who participate in physical education as well as those who spend a majority of their school PE time being active.
Physical education contributes largely to the overall success of each student in their lifetimes, because when they learn to value the importance of health and a good diet at an early age, they will take this on with them to their adult years.
• Improved physical fitness
• Self-discipline
• Strengthened peer relationships
• Improvement of self-esteem and self-confidence
Improved physical fitness will obviously come about after a few hours a week of active, varied exercise. Introducing physical education at a relatively early age sets a lifelong precedent. A child who partakes regularly in physical education during their developing years is far more likely to continue to incorporate an exercise regime into their adult lifestyle.
Self-discipline is an admirable personal trait, and physical education encourages this. Team games and other sports constrained by rules allow a person’s sense of self discipline to grow, by allowing them to become accustomed to following a set of regulations. Playing in a team also allows a person to interact in a friendly and professional way with other people, and encourages selflessness and lending a helping hand towards others.
Strengthened peer relationships are also another benefit of physical education. Again, working in a team expands communication skills, respect towards others, and is generally a lot of fun and provides a good talking point for a group of friends. Friendly competition is also seen as a good factor to have, especially during the teenage years of a person’s life, and can lead to an aspirational attitude and a desire to do well later in life.
Improvement of self-esteem and self-confidence are also greatly helped by the participation in physical education and team games. It can be a great feeling, placing the winning shot in a game of football – or any other team game – and this can boost a person’s confidence no end. These factors signify that physical education is very important in a young person’s development, and explains is compulsoriness in many states in territories.
For example, in Singapore from primary school through to junior college, pupils are required to participate in physical education for at least two hours a week, and important NAPFA examinations are taken at the end of each to gauge pupils’ fitness. In the UK, pupils are expected to do two hours a week of P.E between the ages of 11-14, and one hour a week from 14-16. In Poland, three hours a week are compulsory for pupils in primary and secondary schools, and even in university, a minimum of sixty hours per year is required.
So, physical education’s importance is such that it makes it legally compulsory in most cultures, as it develops character, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and sets a person up for a happy and fruitful adult life.
The United States Department of Education has a legal section dedicated to the explanation of the legal basis of physical education which can be found in http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg76.html. It is also referred to as the Carol M. White Physical Education Program and outlines the requirements of the country when it comes to physical education in schools, which encompasses kindergarten to 12th grade.
• The physical education curriculum in the United States is created to expose the pupils to a wide range of opportunities as well as various sports and many drills and exercises. Some of them make use of the GPS and pedometers as well as state of the art machines. Martial arts classes are also offered to give the students an experience in self-Defense. However, there is a minimum requirement for all physical education classes in the US, which means that students should be educated in conditioning activities, aquatics, team sports, gymnastics, dance, and rhythms. Based on the US legal requirements, the different states have adopted their own physical education policies for local public schools.
• The benefits of physical education has been proven to help students gain the discipline and knowledge that they require for a lifetime of physical activity, which is why it's extremely important to immerse them in vigorous activity at a young age. Childhood obesity has become a national concern, which is why the government has regulated this aspect through agencies and schools.
• The national health objectives also include the increase of adolescents who participate in physical education as well as those who spend a majority of their school PE time being active.
Physical education contributes largely to the overall success of each student in their lifetimes, because when they learn to value the importance of health and a good diet at an early age, they will take this on with them to their adult years.
