Patty Bromley has been teaching phys-ed for over 14 years and touches on the fact that all of these cost reductions in schools to subjects such as gym class is a contributing factor of “the crisis of childhood obesity and widespread sedentary behaviour.” The Conference Board of Canada, the World Health Organization and UNESCO, as well as many other groups, have all shown concern with the amount of time and quality of physical education students’ are getting. Mental health is a unit that comes up in phys-ed class. For some students, having real physical activity give them a way to deal with academic pressures. In May, the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated that only 27 percent of kids between the ages of two and 17 are overweight or obese. Again, it is stated that less than one in ten kids, ages five to 17 get the 60 minutes of recommended heart pumping physical activity each day. Experts also say that even with these concerning trends, phys-ed is still treated as expendable. Queen’s University has already made the announcement that they will be suspending admissions to its physical health and education program for one year starting next fall. Jennifer Forrest, a spokeswoman for PHE Canada, says that when budget cuts need to be made, they generally look to the non-academic subjects, including PE, first. Now, in some provinces, schools have made budget cuts but are allowing senior students to get academic credit for extracurricular activities, such as playing on a sports team. However, extra credit would never be given in an English class if a student merely read a book. Bromley is correct when she says physical education is just as important for a student’s mental health as their fitness. Only 42 percent of elementary schools have a gym teacher, most of whom are only part-time. Manitoba is the only province in which it is mandatory for all students to take PE class through grade 12. Everywhere else in Canada it is only mandatory until grade nine. The amount time spent physical activity around Canada also varies. I agree that physical activity is changing dramatically and there is so little being down about it. People don't seem to see the important role that physical activity has in a person's life. Not being physicall active can lead to health problems. The younger the age that a person becomes physically active the less of a risk they are to possible health issues, however the risk can go down with frequent exercise.. The problem is, if gym classes are taken out of schools, children may not know what they are missing, when it comes to the benefits of exercise and they may not seek it in places other than school. I think this article did a very good job of summing up the issues we have with fitness is today's society.
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