Aside from our football fiasco, the athletic teams at Jackson-Reed are a roaring success. However, players on the teams are being forced into the gym for two semesters of their high school experience. Taking PE is a waste of time for the athletes who tirelessly put effort into making these teams as successful as they are.
Though you might often hear “PE is the best way to ensure that students are healthy,” that is simply not the case. The only kids burning calories in that class are the freshman and they already get enough exercise running to their other classes. The only possible benefit of PE would be getting to hang out with your friends, unless of course you’re a junior or a senior and tried to put off taking the class for as long as possible.
No athlete should be required to play line tag when they get actual exercise at 6 in the morning. Even the frisbee kids, who participate in spirit circles, can run a 5k.
Additionally, our school building already smells bad enough as is, we don’t need additional BO in the hallways. The stench has gotten so bad, the school ought to begin handing out free deodorant outside of the gym. (PSA for the aromatically ailing: deodorant is a white stick that one applies to their armpits every day so they don’t smell).
In all seriousness, student-athletes are getting more than enough exercise through their sports. They would benefit more by taking other classes rather than sitting around the gym. However, all the non-athletes should still take PE. Sorry theater kids. PE might not be effective enough to make anyone more coordinated, but it does teach the basic rules of many sports.
