Katie Morris English Ingram Research Essay A Healthier Student: Body and Mind In recent years the United

States education system has taken many hits from funding to teacher shortages. Reports have shown the impact in students test scores compared to other countries. The United States came in 23rd or 24th in most subjects. We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that were being out-educated, said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan (Lee). Reports show that American students are severely behind other nations in math and science. We rank 31st in math, 17th in reading, and 23rd in science amongst other countries (Lee). These shocking studies have led administrative officials to try to come up with a solution to help raise test scores. One proposal is the cutting back or the removal of physical education programs in schooling. This thought process assumes that the removal of PE classes will save more time for core curriculum, resulting in higher test scores. Although educational reform is an issue needed to be addressed, this is an ineffective, and dangerous, way to solve the problem. As the obesity epidemic continues to rise, the removal of physical activity among our youth will be devastating. Also, a careful examination of case studies will show that removing physical activity from school can cause a negative impact on educational health and actually hinder academic achievement. First we must look at the physical health problems that can come with this proposal of removing PE from schools. Statistics show, In the last twenty-five years, the number of overweight and obese preschoolers ages two to five and adolescents ages twelve to nineteen in

the U.S. has doubled (Harell). Obesity among children has become a serious epidemic in America with severe physical health problems. Physical education programs not only get young children active but also target the right audience to teach how to live a healthy lifestyle. In 1989, ninety percent of elementary schools had recess and scheduled PE time. Recent studies show that forty percent of elementary schools have reduced or deleted scheduled recess times. (Harell). As funding continues to be a problem within our education system, schools have no choice to cut art, music, and now PE programs from schooling without thinking about the effects this will have on students health. The Physical Education in Public Schools Bill, which would eliminate requirements for PE in middle schools, is up for debate among representatives in Florida. Their main reason behind this push is the fact that American students test scores in math and science are behind students in parts of Asia and Europ (Colon). Cutting physical education classes would not only save money but also provide more instructional time to raise students test scores. However, a recent study in the Journal Of Sports Science & Medicine suggests this will be an ineffective way to solve the problem. A study was conducted to compare students academic achievement with the number of PE classes they were taking. The study showed that Korean adolescents attending more than three PE classes per week was positively correlated with school performance. Meanwhile Korean adolescents attending less than three PE classes per week was negatively correlated with school performance(Sang). This study suggests that PE classes actually helps increase cognitive and memory functions of the brain. Students who attended more PE classes actually did better than the students who attended less than three PE classes. Everyone understands that physical activity is beneficial for physical health but many still have trouble believing exercise has any positive effects on the brain. According to Dr. Douglas, a

neurobiologist, physical activity stimulates the birth of new neurons in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain critical for memory (Fields). An article in Science daily looks at a study that makes the claim that more physical education in schools leads to better grades. The study follows two hundred students for nine years. The study shows a distinct difference for the students who underwent expanded teaching in physical education. Ninety-six percent of the expanded PE group, compared to eighty-nine percent of the regular group, were eligible to go to upper secondary school (More Physical Education). This study is unique because the researchers found two hundred students with very similar environmental factors (same age, school, income, and have parents with comparable education). This is important because it shows that the difference in physical education classes was the pushing factor in different grades. In the concluding comments Ingegerd Ericsson states, "Physical education has been pared down from three lessons a week to one or two. We scientifically confirm here that daily timetabled physical education and adapted motor skills training not only improves motor skills but also school achievement. With more physical education and health considerably more students attain passing grades" (More Physical Education). As school systems strive to attain better test scores they may become unaware that their new ideas are actually hurting students learning. Removing physical education is a quick fix, something that seems right at the time. But through my research I am certain that in the long run this will severely hurt students physical as well as educational health. We must remember the value of physical education. The program promotes physical health something that is increasingly important in todays overweight youth. The program also promotes academic achievement as case studies have shown. I completely agree that students falling test scores are a problem. Reports show that we fall dramatically behind other countries. However, physical

education cannot take the blame for our students academic test scores. We cannot punish students and take away PE in hopes that this will solve the issue. I push that PE isnt the problem in schooling. Through my research I have established that PE could be the solution to poor grades. More physical education would be beneficial for our students physical and educational health.

Works Cited Colon, Dalia. Gym Class Villains? The Case For Removing PE From Middle School. HealthyState.org a Florida Health News. N.p., 16 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2012

Fields, Dr. Douglas. "Brain Health: How Exercise Can Stimulate the Birth of New Neurons." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 04 Dec. 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Harrell, Baker, and Terry Todd. "A Perfect Storm: An Analysis Of The American Youth Obesity Epidemic." Iron Game History 10.1 (2007): 14-22. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Lee, Kurtis. "Math, Science, Reading Scores Show US Schools Slipping Behind." PBS. PBS, 10 Dec. 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

"More Physical Education in Schools Leads to Better Grades, Study Suggests." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 May 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Sang-Yeob, Kim, and So Wi-Young. "The Relationship Between School Performance And The Number Of Physical Education Classes Attended By Korean Adolescent Students." Journal Of Sports Science & Medicine 11.2 (2012): 226-230.