Physical Education Should Be Graded on Effort, Not Ability

942 Words2 Pages

How would you feel if you were judged on your physical abilities and just because you were not as fast or strong as the other people you got punished for it? This is how certain kids may feel during gym class. Physical education was first influenced in the late 1700s to the mid- 1800s by three nations, Germany, Sweden, and England. German immigrants who supported a strong system of gymnastics training introduced the Turner Societies. They used heavy equipment including a side horse as well as parallel and horizontal bars. The Swedish threw in their part by having a system of exercise promoting health through performance with light equipment such as wands and climbing ropes. The English however brought sports and games to America through physical activities and participation. These three nations influenced sports and physical education foundations in America. We all know the importance of physical activity and health not in just America, but around the world. Having a special class devoted to physical education is a great thing when taught the right way. Physical education should be graded on the students’ effort and improvement in class, not just their physical ability.

While it is true that teachers have to have set scores to grade off of, physical education should be graded on effort and improvements. Not every student is a star athlete. Not every kid can run under a seven-minute mile. Physical education teachers have a set time kids need to reach on the physical fitness tests. It may be that kids have to get less than a seven-minute mile time, or do a certain amount of pull-ups and sit ups to get an A. There are kids out there who may be good at art or singing, but aren’t physically talented. These kids t...

... middle of paper ...

... limits they can push themselves too. That’s why physical education should be graded on their effort and improvement, not their physical ability.

Work Cited

"Northside Independent School District." Recommended Grading Policy for Physical Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

"Bullying Keeps Overweight Kids Off The Field." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 Apr. 2006. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

"P.E. History - T.O.A.S.T. Physical Education." T.O.A.S.T. Physical Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2013.

"Pass/Fail." Pass/Fail. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

"National Standards for Physical Education Teacher Education." National Standards for Physical Education Teacher Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/pestandards.pdf

"The Problem with Linking Phys Ed to Academics." The Answer Sheet -. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.

Open Document