By Elice Giorgione
Staff Writer
The high school memories of that unavoidable, dreaded physical education class are far from forgotten for most college students. In spite of every conceivable effort, it’s actually quite hard to erase those loathed recollections of forced running and push-ups, unflattering gym clothes and disturbing locker room showers.
During this hellacious time, we foolishly thought that it was an experience we would only have to endure once.
Enter Pepperdine University.
Since general education requirements have recently been revised and still include P.E. as a required course, it is important that students realize the value of a mandatory P.E. program.
A recent study by Trimble & Hensley revealed that at least 60 percent of all colleges and universities nationwide offer some type of personal wellness course for a required P.E. credit, and Pepperdine happens to be a part of that statistic.
Many students come to college thinking that they’ll never even have to set foot on the track if they so chose.
The idea of another “P.E. class” just doesn’t seem like a very scholarly pursuit for a big-time college student.
Despite how unappealing it may seem and how grueling the actual course may be, there are in fact many outstanding reasons why this compulsory component of our education can be seen in a positive light.
For one thing, studies have shown that mandatory activity-based programs seem to reflect positively upon a student’s post-graduation physical activity level.
In other words, students who are taught to establish a fitness routine and healthy lifestyle in college tend to adopt a similar regiment later in life.
Also, the guidance that a student receives from such a course, coupled with some degree of physical activity, is advantageous when it comes to developing positive attitudes towards fitness and a healthy knowledge of the wellness spectrum. When someone is well enough informed to establish a healthy lifestyle at a younger age, they will reap the benefits as they grow older and can rely on that firm foundation.
On the other hand, the argument against a compulsory P.E. course contends that colleges should not be overly concerned with non-academic activity, especially if it interferes with other high-priority spheres of learning.
Also, in light of current world affairs and the nation’s economic status, it seems to be a prevailing belief that college students should focus their efforts toward academics so that they might better our country rather than squander misdirected time into developing their personal concept of a healthy lifestyle.
What people on that side of the fence don’t seem to realize is that the prevalence of fast food, obesity, heart disease and other factors associated with an unhealthy lifestyle in today’s society creates a need for young adults to be educated about such issues necessary to lead a healthy and balanced life.
In the January 2000 issue of “Principal” magazine, author Carl Gabbard said that “a combination of physical inactivity and poor diet causes at least 300,000 deaths a year; only the use of tobacco causes more preventable deaths. In addition, there is a strong relationship between obesity and related diseases that cost more than $100 billion every year.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sedentary lifestyle almost doubles the risk for coronary heart disease and increases risks for diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, depression and osteoporosis.”
If our nation’s future – its college students – are allowed to fall into this predictable rut of unhealthy behavior, what hope can we salvage for the prosperity of our country?
Required P.E. courses at a university level can influence student activity beyond their years in school and thus produce healthier, more competent and capable citizens who will ultimately make better workers. Productivity and economic benefits will then inevitably ensue.
So while it is indeed unanimously accepted that physical activity produces health benefits for the individual, the benefits of a healthier and more productive population that a college instituted physical education program can instill are often overlooked.
January 16, 2003