Our school district, facing an ugly 9% reduction in state funding, is proposing to absorb some of the cut with across-the-board elimination of Physical Education in elementary and middle schools. If this were your district how would you argue for or against it, or would you be indifferent? Is PE expendable? Are other core subjects perhaps expendable? Some of the comments coming in:
“I guess if they got rid of anything I would prefer that over music and art because kids still get to run during recess and lunch… I wouldn’t want art or music being cut because those expand the brain so much.”
“PE is not expendable but with the right people you can get creative with alternative things to help keep our kids healthy.”
“Physical movement helps concentration, and is an investment in our children’s health.”
“Current research talks about how the brain needs exercise and for children it reduces attention and behavioural issues. Instead of cutting subject areas what about cutting back on the outcomes or combining subject areas and their outcomes such as science and math together?”
“It seems to me that it is easier for parents to keep their children active and physically engaged than, for instance, to teach them music or art if those aren’t their interests.”
Join the discussion now.
