sport should be compulsory in schools essay

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Mo Farah wins gold 2012 London Olympic Games

Does competitive sport in school do more harm than good?

With so much of the curriculum already target driven, journalist Matthew Jenkin questions whether the incentive to win in PE is either necessary or effective

D ouble Olympic champion Mo Farah’s athletic talent was spotted at an early age by his physical education teacher at Feltham community college in west London. Alan Watkinson was instrumental in channelling Farah’s energies into athletics and says this also helped the young athlete focus on his studies.

But not everyone shares Watkinson’s enthusiasm for competitive sports, least of all students. According to a survey by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Chance to Shine charity, almost two thirds (64%) of eight to 16-year-olds said they would be “relieved, not bothered or happier” if winning or losing were not a factor.

Childhood obesity is worryingly high in Britain and it’s hard to find an argument against the need for students to engage in strenuous physical activity during physical education (PE) lessons. But with so much of the curriculum already fiercely target driven, why must these sessions include an element of competition?

The incentive to win gives students the motivation for taking part in the physical activity or games, says Chris Tully, head of PE at a secondary school in west Yorkshire. It’s a belief shared by 22% of parents, questioned in the survey above, who said they would have less interest in watching school sport if it was not competitive.

While Tully sympathises with children who may have less interest in or talent for sport, the answer is not to abolish the competitive element but to apply a more tailored approach to teaching according to each student’s needs.

He explains: “Some children are more introverted and less inclined to want to compete. That doesn’t mean, however, that we should just sit back and let them opt out. There should be careful management to encourage them into some element of competition.”

At Tully’s school, teachers make sure students are matched appropriately and fairly to activities and competitors according to ability. The result is that no girl or boy plays against a peer who is much more physically developed or experienced. It wouldn’t be beneficial for either pupil, he says.

Students are allowed to choose activities that suit them, whether it is team games such as football, netball and hockey or fitness-based things such as boxercise or circuit training. They also offer more creative options such as gymnastics, dance and trampolining.

The competition element, however, does not always involve going up against peers. Tully is keen to encourage the idea of personal bests, asking students to reflect on their own performance and how well they did in this lesson compared to the last. Making comparisons with others can be demotivating for some pupils.

Gareth Hamer, a PE and maths teacher at Stourport high school and sixth form in Worcestershire, agrees that competition is healthy. He adds that physical education has the ability to offer so much more than the experience of winning and losing. Lessons also look at technical, physical, social and psychological aspects.

Competitive sports, Hamer says, can teach you how to keep your temper and how to respect others: “It helps students become good people who can contribute to the community in a variety of ways, whether that is in leadership roles or supporting others. PE is obviously not the sole contributor to these skills, but it is definitely something that can bring all of those qualities out.”

The key is helping pupils understand why they are playing a particular sport. Students need to understand the point of what they are doing and the value of the lesson. Competition, Hamer insists, is a crucial element in every adult life, whether it’s going for a job or buying a house.

Young people need to know what it’s like to succeed, but equally how it feels to fail. Jon Clack, headteacher at Great Ponton primary , in Grantham, Lincolnshire, set up a charity called Inspire Plus to encourage sport in his small rural school and the local community after the government cut its school sports partnership funding. Since then he has been working to ensure PE is a bigger priority.

He recently started a football club and invited children as young as six or seven up to the age of 11 to join. Instead of the older students using it as an opportunity to show off and the younger children crumbling under the weight of failure, he says, the more mature players showed a genuine concern for their junior peers – supporting them and helping them enjoy a fair game.

Failure, Clack reveals, is almost an expectation at his school of just 70 pupils. If you are playing in external competitions against teams which have been chosen from a much wider pool of talent, there is a strong possibility of losing. It’s therefore important that the students set themselves their own individual goals, such as aiming to score at least one goal. Clack says the students recognise that failing is a fact of life and so they see it as a learning experience.

“A little bit of failure is good for you,” says Clack. “In every lesson it is better to give a wrong answer rather than nothing at all. In PE, everyone has to have a go. Competitive sports helps students learn what can go right or wrong and arms them with tactics that they can use to do better in the future.”

He adds that it doesn’t matter about your age or your skill, competitive sports give students the opportunity to explore the standard of their skill versus others’ because many are much better than they think.

“The key thing is developing the whole child who is prepared for life and work,” Clack says. “Win, lose or draw – your life will never pan out like you expect it to, so you need to be prepared.”

The PE and school sports series is funded by the Youth Sport Trust . All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled “brought to you by”. Find out more here .

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IELTS Essay: Compulsory sports in school – agree/disagree?

Writing task 2 You should spend 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Health and fitness levels of children and teenagers are declining these days. Therefore, physical education and sport should be compulsory for all students in all schools. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant example from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer

Most countries across the globe are witnessing an alarming decline in the overall health and fitness levels of school-aged children. Health experts propose that participation in sports and physical education should be mandatory for all able-bodied school students. I completely agree with this idea as this practice will not only develop beneficial exercise habits in students but also mould their personalities.

Sport is a powerful medium which can teach children valuable life lessons. It teaches them concentration, discipline and a good work ethic. We can be successful only if we train hard, stay focused and exercise self-control. Behavioural development in another positive aspect of sports. Students learn how to behave, or how not to behave in defeat. They learn to maintain composure in the face of disappointment, a life skill which is worth mastering. It also improves their ability to recover quickly from setbacks.

Undoubtedly, sport inculcates a competitive spirit but it teaches us restraint too: a player has to stay calm to cope up with the intense pressure to have a chance of winning. This ability can also be very helpful for students in their academic exams. Furthermore, team sports teach children how to work as a team and be respectful to others. Being a ‘team player’ is highly valued by employers and behavioural skills like communication and cooperation not only prepare us for the workplace but for the rest of our lives.

To sum up, sport definitely has a place in the school curriculum. Active participation in school sports will make our children fit and active. They will also learn important life skills. Therefore, the practice of mandatory physical education for all children who are physically able should be introduced.

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Is that required total 5 paras in part 2 that is essay… My tutor said for agree and disagree type essays the format should be like Para 1_Intro and question paraphase Para 2_ passage supporting agree statement Para 3_ same as above Para 4_disgaree statement and Counter statement Para 5_conclusion

Is that mandatory to write it as 5 paras and to include disagree statement even though i agree to the given question

It depands.

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Pros and Cons of School Sports

sport should be compulsory in schools essay

A large, academic-looking building full of the pursuit of knowledge, lies overshadowed by the sprawling gym building. The gigantic football field, surrounded by the track, abruptly interrupts rolling lawns of beautiful green grass. Across the street, the soccer field with its two goal nets sits expectantly, waiting for a crowd of excited students.

This is the picture of America’s schools, where academics and sports coexist.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1991-2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data , about 57% of high school students played on at least one school or community sports team in the past year,” EducationWeekly tells us .

School sports are important to many schools, students, and their families. Surprisingly, they can also be a somewhat controversial topic. For an activity that over 50% of high school students participate in, you would think that school sports would be an accepted part of life.

The shocker is that it’s not a settled issue.

“Participation in sports offers students a number of benefits,” SportsRec suggests . “Sports helps students stay in shape, learn to work as a team, and enhance their attractiveness as college applicants.”

On the other hand, an opinion piece from the New York Times counters, “Competitive sports is not about exercise. If it were, we’d have the fittest kids in the world. It’s about a fantasy with a short shelf life. If we want to build school spirit and teach kids about grit, hold a pep rally for the debate team. Those kids are training to rule the real world.”

As the debate rages on, what are the pros and cons of school sports?

Those in favor of school-based sports teams and events tend to be rather passionate about the subject, and rightfully so. We Americans love our sports!

What are some benefits of school sports?

1. One obvious item in the “pro” column is student health . Who can deny that exercise has health benefits? Aside from physical health, there are mental and psychological benefits to regular activity.

“As the issue of childhood obesity takes on more prominence, sports provide a way for kids to get the exercise needed to stay in shape,” SportsRec weighs in . “It offers students the opportunity to build confidence and leadership skills, and can encourage students to spend time with other students they don’t otherwise associate with. School sports can also be more affordable than those run by outside organizations, giving more students an opportunity to participate.”

Psychology Today also has some insights . “Too many tweens and teens are unable to handle the rigors of school. They are easily overwhelmed and crumble when they do poorly in class. In fact, parents often protect their children from defeat by fiercely advocating for them….Youth sports provide a nice balance since parents can’t protect athletes from defeat and hardship. It’s good for your kids to learn how to both lose and win.”

2. The Public School Review suggests , “Learning to work as a team is an invaluable skill no matter what your age or occupation. Sports are all about working together as a team to accomplish a common goal—winning the game. Not only must students work together, but they also need to learn how to communicate effectively.”

The community and teamwork inherent in sports offer students real-world skills.

“Kids who play team sports show increased cooperation and teamwork and foster a sense of community.…” explains ActiveKids . “Teammates learn to support each other through good games and bad, something that might be most important during a losing streak.”

3. For many kids, sports are a way to blow off steam, get away from a bad home situation, or even discover themselves . “Football offers kids from difficult economic and social situations a way out,” says Dr. David Gerier .

Students, especially teenagers, experience a lot of growth and changes. Sometimes they need an anchor, something to focus on, and a way to connect to others. Sports can offer that.

“Athletics offers teens a physical outlet to exert their troubles, anger, and emotions,” states the Public School Review , “As hormones alter teens’ moods and thoughts, competition fosters an opportunity for teens to interact with fellow peers, coaches, and mentors, while helping them understand their own abilities and talents.”

4. Studies have consistently shown that athletic pursuits and physical exercise can benefit students academically .

Edsys weighs in on this benefit : “Studies have shown a positive connection between sports activities and improved memory and cognitive functions of the brain. This means that students can perform better in academics if sports are made a part of their routine.”

A recent study by the University of Kansas indicates a link between physical activity and enhanced academic performance, according to the Public School Review .

“…the results of the study showed that student-athletes had higher GPAs and a 10% higher rate for graduating high school,” notes the Public School Review . “It is unclear exactly how physical activity boosted academic performance, but it could be increased blood flow to the brain.”

5. Playing school sports can teach life lessons . School sports offer students the opportunity to learn and practice traits that will come in handy not only in their immediate school life, but also later on in life.

Psychology Today agrees . “Combining sports and school requires an ability to self-regulate. Getting to practice on time with the proper equipment helps student-athletes learn to organize themselves and say no to other activities….Learning when to say no is a great skill to carry over to adulthood.”

Edsys notes that sports teach quality life lessons such as mental, physical, and tactical discipline. Students must learn to follow rules and experience practicing restraint. They also have to master obeying the coach and respecting decisions. All of these are good life lessons that can propel them toward real-life success.

1. School sports dramatically increase the chances of students suffering injuries or other negative sports-related effects .

Azcentral comments on this : “According to the National Center for Sports Safety, over 3 million children under the age of 14 incur some type of injury as a result of sports. These may occur as a result of practice or a competitive event.”

The fact of the matter is that students are young, and their bodies are still developing. Sports Empire notes , “The rigorous cycle of training, workout, and competitions provide stress to the body, leading to bodily injuries. It’s common for athletes to develop injuries because they tend to overwork their muscles and bones. Impact and trauma also play a huge role in obtaining sports injuries.”

2. School sports is mostly an American phenomenon . Other countries prefer students to focus on their academics.

“Sports are a big part of American school culture….” the Mountaineer tells us . “In Europe, sports are not tied in with the school….While here, sports play a major role in our education, social life, sometimes even a student’s future.”

With over 50% of students participating in school sports, American schools heavily invest in their athletic departments. Meanwhile, American students are falling behind on the global academic scene , according to Pew Research.

In the words of The Atlantic , “The United States routinely spends more tax dollars per high-school athlete than per high-school math student—unlike most countries worldwide. And we wonder why we lag in international education rankings?”

3. Many opponents to school sports think they bring the wrong focus to the school atmosphere.

The New York Times explores this idea , saying, “By mixing sports and academics, we tempt kids into believing that it’s O.K. if they don’t like math or writing — that there is another path to glory. Less obvious is that this path ends abruptly, whereupon they get to spend 50 years in an economy that lavishly rewards those with higher-order skills and ruthlessly punishes those without.”

The Times sees it this way : “Imagine if medical schools dedicated hours of every day (and a chunk of their budgets and staff) to the culinary arts — to perfecting tiered wedding cakes and artisan breads. We could argue that this approach keeps med students from dropping out, but we would sound insane.”

4. Many experts are concerned with the undue emotional and mental pressure that school sports can place on children’s minds, especially in their younger years.

Psychology Today explains , “The weight of expectations is a crushing burden on the shoulders of young athletes. Imagine your children having to put on a 50-pound weight vest when they enter the field of play and you’ll get a sense of what they feel and how it will make them perform.”

According to Active Kids, when it comes to school sports, most kids start early . By the age of six, 60% of boys and 47% of girls are on a team. Competition, parental pressure, and the desire to please are driving factors for young athletes. Overuse, or pushing their bodies farther than they should, is becoming a common problem.

“An overuse injury is microtraumatic damage to a bone, muscle, or tendon that has been subjected to repetitive stress without sufficient time to heal or undergo the natural reparative process….The incidence of overuse injuries in the young athlete has paralleled the growth of youth participation in sports. Up to 50% of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine are related to overuse.” This excerpt from a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines the serious concern that medical professionals have concerning this issue.

5. Cost is one of the biggest factors that concerned citizens bring up in relation to school sports. In many districts, the spending for athletics exceeds the budget for other school activities, including classroom time.

A report by Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics found, “Median athletics spending per athlete at institutions in each major athletics conference ranges from 4 to nearly 11 times more than the median spending on education-related activities per student.”

Cost is an issue for students too. The Public School Review points out that some schools require students to buy the uniforms and equipment needed to play. Some families simply can’t afford this. Many concerned citizens think that sports, as a publicly-funded school activity, should be open to all students. U.S. News notes , “Only 30 percent of students in families with annual household incomes of less than $60,000 played school sports, compared with 51 percent of students in families that earned $60,000 or more a year.”

Where We Are

School sports are an incredibly entrenched American institution that will probably not be going anywhere for a while. But, as with many traditions of education, “it’s always been done” isn’t a great reason to include anything in our students’ lives. As we examine the evidence, it’s essential to consider a sensitive topic like this from all angles. To make the best decision for our children, we must set aside our preferences and think objectively.

After all, isn’t all of this for them?

[…] 50% of high school students play team sports. If your child is an athlete, you might want to do some research before they jump into dual credit […]

[…] Pros and Cons of School Sports – NWEF […]

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Essay on Importance of Sports for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of sports.

First of all, Sport refers to an activity involving physical activity and skill . Here, two or more parties compete against each other. Sports are an integral part of human life and there is great importance of sports in all spheres of life. Furthermore, Sports help build the character and personality of a person. It certainly is an excellent tool to keep the body physically fit. Most noteworthy, the benefits of Sports are so many that books can be written. Sports have a massive positive effect on both the mind and body.

Physical Benefits of Sports

First of all, Sports strengthen the heart. Regular Sports certainly make the heart stronger. Hence, Sport is an excellent preventive measure against heart diseases . This certainly increases the life expectancy of individuals. Furthermore, a healthy heart means a healthy blood pressure.

Sports involve physical activity of the body. Due to this physical activity, blood vessels remain clean. Sports reduces the amount of cholesterol and fats in the body. This happens because of the increase of flexibility of the wall of the blood vessels. The flexibility increases due to physical exertion, which is the result of Sports.

Furthermore, the sugar level in blood also gets lower thanks to Sports. The sugar certainly does not accumulate in the blood due to physical activity.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

A person experiences a good quality of breathing because of Sports. Sports strengthen the lungs of the body. Sports certainly escalate the lung capacity and efficiency of the body. Hence, more oxygen enters the blood which is extremely beneficial. Furthermore, there are fewer chances of developing lung diseases due to Sports.

Appropriate body weight is easy to maintain because of sports. A Sports playing person probably does not suffer from obesity or underweight problems. Sports certainly help the body remain fit and slim.

Furthermore, Sports also improves the quality of bones. A person who plays sports will have strong bones even in old age. Several scientific research reports that Sports prevent many diseases. For example, many researchers conclude that Sports prevent the development of cancer.

Other Benefits of Sports

Sport is certainly an excellent tool to build self-confidence . Playing Sports increases confidence to talk properly. A sport certainly improves the skills of communicating with others. Furthermore, the person experiences confidence in sitting, standing, and walking properly. Hence, Sports enriches the social life of an individual.

Sports bring discipline in life. It certainly teaches the values of dedication and patience. Sports also teach people how to handle failure. Furthermore, the importance of following a time schedule is also present in Sports.

Above all, Sports improves the thinking ability of individuals. Sports certainly sharpen the mind. Children who play Sports probably perform better at exams than those who don’t.

Finally, Sports reduces the stress of mind . A Sports playing person would certainly experience less depression. Sports ensure the peace of mind of those playing it. Most noteworthy, Sports brings happiness and joy in the life of individuals.

A sport is an aspect of human life that is of paramount importance. It certainly increases the quality of human life. Sports must be made mandatory in schools. This is because it is as important as education. Everyone must perform at least one Sport activity on a regular basis.

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Why Make Sport Compulsory at School?

Sports professionals, such as AOC president John Coates, advocate the introduction of compulsory sport (excluding PE lessons) in schools, claiming that the lack of emphasis on sport in the curriculum contributed to the disappointing performance of Australian athletes in the 2012 Olympics.

However making School Sport compulsory is not about creating great athletes. It’s about making sport accessible to, and enjoyed by all students. Just because a student is not good at sport does not mean that s/he should not play. Unfortunately the cult of having many professional sports players in Australia can lead to a nation of sport watchers rather than sport players. It is a double edged sword. It’s up to our education system to teach all students to play sports, in the same way we teach them the academic curriculum. We don’t give students the option of dropping out of academic studies simply because they are not good at it.

Mandatory participation in at least one sport is the norm for some schools, such as The Scot’s College and The King’s School in Sydney. The advantage of making Team Sport compulsory is that everyone has to play. There are teams suited to all abilities. Less gifted students are not discouraged by having to compete with more talented students. They succeed at their own level. In Schools in which School team sports are compulsory, students do not have an easy excuse to give up. This avoids students dropping out of team sport because they think they do not measure up, as frequently happens. It’s unfortunate when this happens because these students do not gain the many benefits of playing a team sport.

Students benefit from involvement in physical activities regardless of whether they have the aptitude or inclination for it.

The Benefits

Exercising regularly increases an individual’s fitness level, lowering the risk of medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and obesity. Obesity is on the rise among children and adults – according to a 2016 Courier Mail report, 27% of Queensland children were obese.
People are more likely to get into the habit of playing sport and exercising if you start young, and build those neurone connections that turn repeated experiences into a lifelong fitness habit.
Playing sport develops transferable competencies such as teamwork, a sense of fair play and responsibility, self-esteem, organisational, time management, and leadership skills.
Physical activity and sports teach the value of discipline, commitment, and hard work. Individual progress can be measured and improved upon through training.
Positive, non-judgemental competition encourages respect of others’ abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Compulsory school sport forces you to re-evaluate the misconception that you have to be good at something to enjoy it. This is not necessarily true, particularly in a positive environment where the emphasis is not on victory at all costs, but rather on having fun and improving your skills.
Parents and students may be concerned that less able players risk being bullied for their lack of skill. Coaches need to reinforce that bullying is unacceptable and that every student’s effort and contribution is valued, regardless of skill.
In team sports, if students are matched with players of similar ability, they will feel more confident to extend their sports knowledge and skills.
For those who don’t have sporting ability and who are intimidated by comparing themselves to others, the emphasis can be on achieving personal bests rather than victory over opponents.
Sport helps students develop resilience and coping strategies to face failure and navigate competitive situations which are part of life.
Although students may be introduced to different sports or physical activities in PE class, these lessons are too short for students to discover whether they enjoy them or are good at them. If students choose one sport per term within a compulsory sports programme, and then switch to another one, they will be exposed to a range of activities during their time at school. This broadens their learning experience.
Knowledge of a range of sports can help students connect with others.
Sport creates opportunities for students to interact with their peers and form strong friendships while pursuing common goals.
Compulsory sport reinforces the idea that different types of knowledge and ability are valued, apart from academic ability.
Studies suggest that involvement in sport improves concentration levels and academic achievement. A study of 9700 students aged 14 to 18 conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the University of South Carolina found that adolescents who belong to school sports clubs, rather than drama or debating societies, are more likely to complete their education and go to university.
School Sport encourages teacher-student bonding outside the classroom.
Compulsory participation can make playing sport less expensive for students, as some schools provide equipment, playing spaces, and transport to and from venues at subsidised prices.
Gifted players don’t have to carry the entire responsibility of a match on their shoulders in competitions, because even if their peers are less talented, the less able students can still support them and contribute to the team’s performance.

Well managed compulsory team sport is a beneficial to the overwhelming number of students, There needs to be elements of choice and a positive approach. Students should be free to discover a sport they enjoy in an atmosphere which encourages them to reach their personal best and respect each other, regardless of skill levels. Sport should be accessible to all students, not only to those with natural sporting ability. Making sport compulsory in Schools removes the hidden inaccessibility.

“ Do Australian schools need more sport? ” The Good Schools Guide . Good Education Group . 2018.

“ Should school sport be compulsory? ” The Scots College Blog . 17 October, 2017.

Jenkin, Matthew. “Does competitive sport in school do more harm than good?” The Guardian . 29 January, 2015. (accessed 23 April, 2018). < https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/jan/29/competitive-school-sport-harm >.

Lang, Kylie. “ Sport should be compulsory in schools. ” The Daily Telegraph . 15 April, 2016.

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Should Schools Suspend Sports? The Debate Is Getting More Tense

Debates are roiling across the country over the role that high school sports should play as schools reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.

Decisions handed down from state capitals and state athletic associations on when and if students should play have created a fractured landscape for high school sports—and a debate over whether schools that opt for distance learning should be playing contact sports.

In states such as New Jersey and Oklahoma, high school sports will be allowed on campuses this fall, when in many cases, classes may not be.

Out West, states such as California and Oregon have postponed all high school sports until at least 2021.

And in Iowa, sports will proceed as usual, for some. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has mandated that students should return to the classroom at least part-time this fall; if school districts defy Reynolds’ order and opt for all-remote learning, sports practices and games will not be allowed.

The National Federation of State High School Associations has encouraged state-level organizations to work alongside governors’ offices and state health departments to guide decisions on when sports should return. However, that has not always worked out.

Tensions have boiled over in Pennsylvania, where Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has recommended that schools suspend high school sports until January. For instruction, the state is allowing individual districts to decide whether to do it remotely, in-person, or a mixture of both.

Leaders of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, a governing body for high school and junior high school sports, are considering authorizing sports against Wolf’s wishes—and the organization has the support of some Republican state lawmakers.

Republican State Rep. Jesse Topper introduced legislation that would allow students to repeat a year of school if they missed out on a year of sports or if their parents think they are dissatisfied with the education they are receiving. Companion legislation would allow local school boards and superintendents to decide whether their schools should play sports.

“There is no foolproof plan. There will be kids who get COVID. There’ll be teachers who get COVID. There will be coaches,” said Topper, an assistant high school coach in Bedford, a small town in southern Pennsylvania. “We understand that. Are we not as a society going to move on with our lives and say, ‘Look, these are the people at risk, and this is how it spreads, but at a certain point, we’re turning the lights on?’”

In Bedford County, where the state health department indicates that there is moderate risk of community coronavirus spread, classes will begin this fall with a hybrid schedule, with students splitting their time between in-person and online classes.

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics released earlier this month indicates that severe illness due to COVID-19 is rare among children, but the relationship between children and the spread of the disease remains unclear.

Return-to-school guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued in early August recommends limiting or canceling participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities where social distancing is not feasible.

Playing it Safe?

At least 17 states and the District of Columbia have canceled the fall high school football season with hopes to resume practices and games in the winter or spring of 2021.

Twenty states have taken less drastic steps, pushing back the start of all fall sports even as COVID-19 cases surge in some communities.

In 14 states, spread across the Southeast, Midwest, and Rocky Mountain regions, high school sports will proceed as planned.

One of those states, Utah, hosted its first week of sanctioned high school football games with fans during the pandemic—with temperature checks at the gates and masks and social distancing in the stands. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop in the state, but some schools fared better than others as the season got underway.

Herriman High, a 3,200-student school in Salt Lake County—where the mayor instituted a public mask mandate—hosted the first football game without a hitch. The school used an online lottery to determine which students won the chance to buy tickets to the football games.

“We’re trying to do what’s best by the kids and for the kids,” said Stewart Hudnall, an assistant principal at Herriman High. “There are only so many hours in the day that we can try to facilitate the unknown. In this new world we live in, are there going to be mistakes? Absolutely.”

Six miles away in the same school district, Bingham High, was forced to cancel its first game after three players tested positive for COVID-19.

Both schools are in the 56,000-student Jordan School District, which will have in-person classes on campuses Mondays through Thursdays starting next week, with online instruction on Fridays. But about 1 in 5 families in the district have opted for all-online learning.

In Oregon, state department of education guidance urges schools to carefully weigh public health recommendations when deciding how to return to school. Ten percent of COVID-19 cases in the state are in children. The state has postponed sports until January, but guidelines allow for schools in communities with low transmission rates to host in-person practices and training sessions.

“If we can’t invite these students into our schools for a full day of learning, maybe we should really think hard about whether it’s safe for them to be out there, especially with those full-contact sports,” said Peter Weber, the executive director of the Oregon School Activities Association.

“How do you balance those opportunities? In some of our districts, a family would be questioning ‘Why am I not able to have my students come in for math class?’ Yet, we’re having practices and things like that. Those are difficult conversations.”

‘A Lot of Uncertainty’

The National Federation of State High School Associations’ Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, a 15-member panel of medical doctors, certified athletic trainers, high school coaches, state athletic association executives, and officials, released guidelines that identify the potential infection risk by sports, labeling the most common high school sports as lower-, intermediate, or higher-risk. Football is considered a higher-risk sport, for example, while golf is deemed a lower-risk sport.

Two major college athletic conferences, the Big Ten and Pac 12, ruled out all fall sports because cardiologists are concerned that coronavirus infections could cause heart complications that lead to abnormal health rhythms or sudden cardiac death in athletes.

Over the summer, schools in dozens of states temporarily suspended sports activities after players or coaches tested positive for COVID-19 during training sessions, but the push to find ways to play did not let up.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty,” said Topper, the Pennsylvania state representative. “There’s no magic pill out there that’s going to be ready or a vaccine of some kind that’s just on the horizon. If we’re talking three years down the road, what happens to these kids if we don’t come up with a way to make sure” they have the opportunity to play sports.

Texas is among the states pressing ahead with fall sports amid questions about safety and COVID-19’s long-term health effects on youth athletes.

Bob Wager, the head football coach at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, has hosted roughly 400 students each weekday for strength and conditioning camps since early June. Students worked out in 12-person pods with the same coach supervising them daily. Over the past two months, the school recorded two positive coronavirus cases—and Wager required the students and coaches in the same practice pod to quarantine for two weeks.

The Arlington school system began classes online this week. Health authorities in Tarrant County, where Arlington is located, announced this month that all public schools there must go to online-only classes for the first six weeks of the school year, until at least Sept. 28, because of a spike in coronavirus cases.

The state, which has about 170,000 students play football each fall, has pushed back the start of football for its largest schools until late September, the weekend before students are scheduled return for in-person classes.

“The risks and concern over COVID-19 and running a huge camp during a pandemic aren’t lost on me,” Wager said. “I don’t claim to be an expert on viruses. What I do claim is to be an expert on high school kids and what I’ve seen is happy kids for two hours a day.”

In Utah, where the first football game was held, sports such as cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball started weeks ago. Under state guidelines, schools must notify their county health department when students test positive for COVID-19.

The state is also taking other precautions to prevent another widespread shutdown of sports: Schools in counties with the highest risk of coronavirus transmission will not host home football games. Officials in two neighboring states, Colorado and Nevada, have pushed football to the spring, with Nevada shutting down all sports until January.

“We still have contingency plans in place because things could change hour by hour,” said Rob Cuff, the executive director of the Utah High School Activities Association. “Our message to schools is, ‘Don’t let down your guard. Stay attentive. Make sure that we’re ensuring safety every way we can.’ We definitely want the reward to outweigh the risk.”

A version of this article appeared in the September 02, 2020 edition of Education Week as Should Schools Suspend Sports? The Debate Is Getting More Tense

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Ielts exam preparation for a higher band score., games and sports should be made compulsory for students.

IELTS Essay Topic:

Do you believe games and sports should be made compulsory for students? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.

Model Essay: I am quite positive that physical activities and brain teasing games should be made mandatory for students. One of the reasons that I have this opinion is because physical exercise helps students to make better and faster decisions. A related reason is because exercise has an effect on the overall health of the brain. Most physical exercise involves games and other activities that require action, and sometimes performing a task or answering a question.

Sometimes, we participate in activities that require a strong memory and the use of intelligence. For example, games such as puzzles are a good way to start the day. The brain will start to work properly with the aid of these types of games. It will work to full capacity while solving puzzles and will then be ready to move on to something else, like lectures or other academic activities. “A healthy mind is a healthy brain.” This is a quote that we often hear from the elderly. If we immediately start the day with academic activities, it will be difficult for the brain to properly function.

However, if we begin the day with physical exercise, it will be easier for us to switch from enjoyable activities to more serious study. A perfect way to start the day at school would be to begin with 20-30 minutes of physical activity. After participating in some games involving exercise, students will be more relaxed and ready to apply themselves to their studies. They will learn faster and will be able to retain knowledge better.

Just as the body requires physical exercise in order to perform to its optimum level, the brain also benefits from regular physical activity. It is my firm belief that students must give equal importance to the value of the effect that physical exercise has on the brain as well as it does on the body.

[ Written by – Busra Cangut ]

17 thoughts on “ Games and sports should be made compulsory for students ”

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In general, it is believed that being physically fit is good for health, especially for children and teenagers. Hence sports and physical education should be a part of the educational curriculum in all schools. This essay would discuss the pros and cons of it and emphasis on why exercise is very important for children and teenagers.

Introducing physical education and sports into the course is an excellent approach towards creating that habit in the young blood. Having said this, making is compulsory for all can disrupt the purpose. As generally accepted, forcing something to children might make them hate those things the most. Sports and related education can be an optional activity with a merit attached to it. For instance, achievers to get 15 marks bonus in the final mark sheet could be an excellent way to motivate students to take part in physical activities while they are on schools premises. This would not only encourage them but would push them to put in their best at sports also.

Regular exercises not only keep a person fit but also make them confident, energetic and fresh for the rest of the day. It keeps the body flexible and the heart healthy. This would in a way be beneficial during their older years. Besides, team sports teach pupils how to work in a group and achieve a common goal. Furthermore, many sports and games help children develop their cognitive abilities. This is why undoubtedly sports and games should be a part of a complete education in schools.

In conclusion, it is a great idea to exercise regularly. But, to achieve that, compulsion may not be a correct route. Instead, building that willingness and passion for doing well in sports also should be the alternative and that should start tight from the early stages in a person’s life.

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Motivates the children that learn by enjoying.

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Very bad thing.

Why Sports Should Be Made Mandatory for All Students

Weren’t those days the best when children used to play in the park, giggling with happiness and their faces glowing with energy? Nowadays, technology is overpowering the fun time of our children. Video games and smartphones are making them inactive in their daily routine. It not just hampers their overall health but also affects academic performance.

In such a backdrop, sports is one such thing that can aid in offering a holistic development of students. In fact, as per our philosophy, all students should take active participation in sports activities. Sports education in India is now a big thing, and everyone should adopt it as a tool to make students active individuals.

Here are some reasons why sports should be made an integral part of the school’s curriculum:

Teaches Essential Life Skills

Students may learn about the great poets of English Literature or how force is directly proportional to acceleration, but these things won’t teach them essential life skills. They will not learn how to interact with people or feel confident while giving a presentation. However, if they play sports, opportunities to learn these things will knock on their door every day.

While participating in sports, they will get the chance to develop their reactions to a situation and must act quickly by analysing and examining the facts. All such activities tend to improve and build strong life skills that can be of great help in the future. Some common skills that get a boost when students play sports include:

Social Skills
Self-Esteem
Strong Memory

Improves Academic Performance

‘ How sports benefits education ?’ – This is one of the most common questions that parents ask when we talk about sports in school. Well, studies have suggested that physical activities play a vital role in the development of the brain. Sports not only reduce stress but also lead to improved creativity and better concentration power among students which automatically is reflected in their academic performance.

If students constantly focus on studying and do not involve themselves in stress-busting activities, it can affect their academic performance and also exhaust their mind.

Boosts Health

Modern day’s lifestyle has made our kids inactive. They are so used to comfort that even picking up the TV remote seems a big task for them. Such inactiveness and sluggish behaviour leads to health issues – with obesity topping the list.

By playing sports, students can achieve a healthy lifestyle that further improves their overall health and maintains body weight too.

Bigger Opportunities

While many people still don’t understand what is sports education , we at Genesis Global School realise its potential and help our scholars make most of the available opportunities. Be it Delhi Olympic Games, Jaypee Open Tennis Tournament or Fox Golf Junior Tournament; our scholars have participated in various national and international tournaments.

To name one such achievement , our talented scholar Samayara Panwar recently achieved the first rank in Under 13 Girls Badminton and will now receive training from National Badminton Coach, Gopichand. Safe to say, sports not only improve students’ health but also offers them golden opportunities to achieve success in life.

“Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honourably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble.”

Whoever said these words certainly understood why sports education is important . At our school premises, we offer a wide range of sports activities to cater to the diverse interests of our scholars. We offer world-class facilities in 21 different games and sports such as shooting, horse riding, fencing, golf, football and others. To know more, visit our campus soon.

On 28-01-2019 0 16427

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Physical Education In Schools Should Be Compulsory

Should Physical Education in schools be compulsory?

All the Yes points:

Participation in sport promotes health., physical education is an important part of holistic schooling., school sport is about discovering gifts., the quest for national sporting achievement begins in schools., without school support, sports will collapse., sports encompasses life choices., if not forced to exercise in youth, many will never think to do it in adulthood., sport helps to forge character., participation in sport promotes a healthy lifestyle, physical education helps to forge skills that will prove invaluable in later life, schools can punish students who do not participate in the classes with further pe lessons, all the no points:, individuals should have the right to control their own bodies, students should have the right to choose which subjects they complete at school, compulsory physical education risks unnecessary and costly injury, physical education is best taught to selected groups, sport is a waste of school time and resources, yes because….

Participation in sport promotes health. Government is, or should be, concerned with the health of its citizens. Encouraging physical activity in the young through compulsory PE fights child obesity and contributes to forming lifelong habits of exercise. This doesn’t have to be through traditional team sports; increasingly schools are able to offer exercise in the form of swimming, gymnastics, dance, weight training, use of a multigym, aerobics, etc.

No because…

Students should be allowed a choice. Lots of children don’t want to do this. If their parents agree, why should they be forced to (or forced to lie in producing a sick note)? It is different from any other lesson – it is about what one does with one’s body. In any case, it is a red herring to say that PE makes any serious difference to people’s health. There are plenty of more effective ways of ensuring a healthy population than pushing children round a freezing sports pitch once a week; not least would be addressing the disgusting diets our young have today, and encouraging walking or cycling to school rather than total reliance on the car.

Physical Education is an important part of holistic schooling. PE is an aspect of school being about more than just book learning – it is about educating the whole person, a holistic education that betters us in an all-round sense, rather than a merely academic experience. Some aspects of physical education are vital for future wellbeing, e.g. being able to swim, learning to lift heavy weights safely. Arguments about cost seem petty when compared to this aim – and also misguided, since PE departments would continue to exist to serve those that chose to study PE voluntarily, even if the subject were no longer to be compulsory. Arguments about the size of classes may well be correct, but these suggest better funding for PE rather than abandonment of the commitment to public health.

Sport is a waste of school time and resources. One or two PE lessons a week make very little difference to an individual’s health – but a huge difference to a school’s budget. It creates a whole extra department in schools, wasting a great deal of money and time that could be better spent on academic lessons. It also requires schools buildings to be surrounded by a large amount of land for playing fields, making it prohibitively expensive to build new schools in urban areas. The quality of teaching is low, as students are taught in huge classes. On the other hand, the quality of teaching and of equipment goes up if there are fewer (but keener) students taking the subject. Frankly, given the average current pupil-teacher ration, the subject is not merely without positive purpose – it may be dangerous to students who are normally not properly supervised.

School sport is about discovering gifts. If not driven by PE, many in society wouldn’t find out that they had a talent for a sport, or even that they enjoyed it. Once experienced, sport can be enjoyed for life, while for some it will provide the possibility of a college scholarship and even a career. Individuals are not humiliated in PE – if they are, the schools concerned should be brought to task just as they would be with regard to humiliation of students in any subject. Rather, as UNESCO says, the student should be helped to fulfil a level of attainment in sport that corresponds to his gifts.

Students can ‘discover’ these delights outside of school, without ‘discovering’ the bullying that comes with PE more than with any other lesson. They are more likely to obtain specialist coaching at sports clubs. Furthermore, for every child that ‘discovers a gift,’ there are many that suffer. PE is unique, in that ‘failure’ in its lessons involves physical humiliation. This is bad for children and especially bad for adolescents, who have more than enough body issues without this.

The quest for national sporting achievement begins in schools. If we don’t have compulsory PE, it is much harder to pick out athletes to represent our country on a wider stage. Even with a ‘sports academy’ model run along Australian lines, it’s much easier to find suitable individuals with a full sports program in every school. State education is not just about aiding the individual – it’s also about the state getting a good return on its investment – in a well-educated populace to drive business and entrepreneurialism etc. This applies equally in sports, too.

Schools aren’t supposed to be about fostering achievers for the state – that smacks of Stalinism. Schools should be tailored to the individual – if the individual student doesn’t want to participate in sports, they shouldn’t have to. If we allowed such national aims to be considered in schools, would we consent to humiliation of those that did badly in maths lessons, to encourage their achievement in maths (and thus business skills?) Of course not. But we allow that in PE.

Without school support, sports will collapse. If full classes aren’t made up, then team activities will end by sheer lack of numbers, no matter if several very talented individuals are at the school (or even potentially talented – they’ll never know without the program). If voluntary take-up of sport in schools is too low, then schools will shut down PE programmes so that there is no choice at all. Not everyone is academic: why deprive those talented sports students of their one chance to shine?

Forcing children that don’t want to play to make up teams in order to allow others to shine smacks of rigid education from a bygone era. In any case, in an increasingly litigious age, a compulsory rather than voluntary sports program is a liability. More and more schools are avoiding the very team games (e.g. rugby, soccer, hockey, football) the proposition discusses here, due to the (realistic) fear of lawsuits.

Sport is different to, say Latin – it encompasses life choices (most importantly, a concern for physical fitness, but also working in a team etc) that ought to be encouraged in all students. Extra classes for interested students can take place separately, and often do in the form of fixtures with other schools, championships etc. Sport shouldn’t be seen as an alternative to academia, an either/or – it should be a part of every student’s life in addition to their other studies. If the opposition is correct about the heavy workload involved in schools, then students are that much more likely not to choose PE in an environment where it is voluntary, and the quality of our children’s health will be even worse. Much better to keep being healthy compulsory, and reform the pressures elsewhere in the curriculum.

Successful sporting nations like Australia realise that sports, like any other specialised subjects, are best taught to selected groups that display both talent and interest in the field – forcing all to compete holds back the able and punishes the less able. The right way to go is to liberate those that don’t want to participate, and allow those that are extremely keen to go to academies that focus their talents more efficiently than a regular school ever could. Furthermore, our children are burdened enough in schools already, especially at the older end of the system, with multiple examinations. PE simply adds, needlessly, to this hectic schedule.

If not forced to exercise in youth, many will never think to do it in adulthood. This is no idle question: obesity in the UK is rising rapidly. Individuals have no right to ‘choice’ about this: they’re being compelled to attend school, to take the lessons the state says they should take. The state doesn’t just impose a curricular compulsion, since physical attendance is forced – so there’s nothing unique in principle about enforced PE. Indeed, what can be more important as an aim for our schools than to encourage public health? It is in recognition of that fact, that in 1978 UNESCO recognised PE as ‘as essential element of lifelong education.’ If PE is made voluntary, it seems obvious that many students – against their long term interests, and the long term interests of society – will choose not to. That will damage this essential element of education, and damage public health. It is true that the health of society is not perfect even with compulsory PE – but how much worse might it be without it?

We acknowledge the right of individuals (or their parents) to control their own bodies – when they have an operation, where they go, what they do. Why is this any different? This discussion should be held in the real world: students actually aren’t compelled to attend PE classes, as ‘sick notes’ are produced with alarming regularity by parents complicit in their child’s wish to avoid this lesson. The aim of ‘compulsory PE’ isn’t being fulfilled at present in any case, and greater efforts to enforce it will only result in more deceit, or children missing school for the entire day – or, in the most extreme cases, being withdrawn from state education by parents unwilling to allow their children to be forced into something they don’t wish to do. Instead, we should simply abandon the whole exercise and allow PE to become voluntary. The UNESCO charter stresses the right to PE, and was addressed to nations that failed to provide it at all – it was not meant to suggest that individuals should be compelled to do it in nations that do.

Sport helps to forge character. Playing team sports builds character and encourages students to work with others. It teaches children how to win and lose with good grace and builds a strong school spirit through competition with other institutions. It is often the experience of playing on a team together which builds the strongest friendships at school, which endure for years afterwards.

Many say the same benefits derive from the common endurance of prison… In particular, injuries sustained through school sport and the psychological trauma of being bullied for sporting ineptitude can mark people for years after they have left school. Teamwork can be better developed through music, drama, community projects, etc. without the need to encourage an ultra-competitive ethos.

Participation in sport promotes health. The effect on self-esteem and well-being as a product of sport can only be experienced by certain children if forced by their schools to first participate. A recent report to the European Parliament declared ‘physical education is a springboard for involvement in sport and physical activities throughout life’[1]. Government is, or should be, concerned with the health of its citizens. Encouraging physical activity in the young through compulsory PE fights child obesity and contributes to forming lifelong habits of exercise. This doesn’t have to be through traditional team sports; increasingly schools are able to offer exercise in the form of swimming, gymnastics, dance, weight training, use of a multi-gym, aerobics, etc [1] Hardman, K. (2007). Current situation and prospects for physical education in the European Union. European Parliament

It is a red herring to say that PE makes any serious difference to people’s health. There are plenty of more effective ways of ensuring a healthy population than pushing children round a freezing sports pitch once a week; not least would be addressing the disgusting diets our young have today, and encouraging walking or cycling to school rather than total reliance on the car. Both methods would involve promoting a healthy lifestyle without forcing the participation in unpopular physical education classes that do little for one’s education.

Physical education helps to forge character and the mutual respect required to succeed in an adult environment. Playing team sports builds character and encourages students to work with others, as they would be expected to do in most business or sporting environments. Sport teaches children how to win and lose with good grace and builds a strong school spirit through competition with other institutions. It is invaluable to imbue with children the delicate balance between a competitive rivalry that encourages effort and, on the other hand, losing the fairness and respect required to enjoy sport. It is often the experience of playing on a team together which builds the strongest friendships at school, which endure for years afterwards. As was noted in a report to the European Parliament, ‘PE…helps children learn to respect and value their own bodies and abilities, and those of others'[1]. Compulsory physical education is the only means by which all children can be forced to appreciate such advantages. [1]Hardman, K. (2007). Current situation and prospects for physical education in the European Union. European Parliament.

Physical education undermines one’s character as much as it strengthens and forges it. For every future athlete who grows in stature as he becomes comfortable in a team environment, there are a number of academic students who are forced weekly to cope with the brutality and criticisms of others more gifted at specific sports. Values like respect are not taught on a football field, any glance at a professional football match leads inexorably to that conclusion. Furthermore, learning about teamwork and co-operation no longer requires hours spent playing sport; they can be taught just as accurately and effectively in a classroom through music, drama, community projects, etc. without the need to encourage an ultra-competitive ethos.

Compulsory PE lessons can be treated in the same manner an ordinary educational class is treated; if the student refuses to participate and therefore does not do their work, they are punished with extra work of that same class. In this case, that would necessitate added physical education exercises at a later date or immediately after the class. The excuse that the student does not wish to participate in the class should be seen as no different to if it were stated during a maths or English class, where it would not be accepted. The fact that physical education is qualitatively different to those classes is irrespective; once deemed a compulsory subject, and therefore beneficial, it must be accepted and completed.

The intention of advocating a healthy lifestyle and sports is lost if there is a punishment attached to the class. Furthermore, to expect all students to participate in a class that is so overtly embarrassing to the weaker athletes is almost state-sanctioned bullying. In a maths class, the working and answers of the weakest students are not paraded in front of the class for all to see, and if they try to stop this, kept behind for extra work. It is demonstrably unfair to ask students, fragile about their appearance as it is, to compete physically with classmates. It should be encouraged, but maintain voluntary for those who wish to do so. The others can still be taught about healthy living and exercise without being dragged into physical exertion.

If not forced to exercise in youth, many will never think to do it in adulthood. This is no idle question: obesity in the UK is rising rapidly and Dr. David Haslam believes schools are part of the problem[1]. Individuals have no right to ‘choice’ about this: they’re being compelled to attend school, to take the lessons the state says they should take. The state doesn’t just impose a curricular compulsion, since physical attendance is forced – so there’s nothing unique in principle about enforced PE. Indeed, what can be more important as an aim for our schools than to encourage public health? It is in recognition of that fact, that in 1978 UNESCO recognised PE as ‘as essential element of lifelong education.’ [2] If PE is made voluntary, it seems obvious that many students – against their long term interests, and the long term interests of society – will choose not to. That will damage this essential element of education, and damage public health. It is true that the health of society is not perfect even with compulsory PE – but how much worse might it be without it? [1] Batty, D. (2008, February 21). Schools make children more obese, leading doctor says. Retrieved May 18, 2011 [2] UNESCO. (1978, November 21). International Charter of Physical Education and Sport. Retrieved May 18, 2011, from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Students should be allowed a choice with relation to their school subjects, including physical education. Children know, often from early ages, what they want to do with their life from what subjects they enjoy and those they don’t. Lots of children don’t want to do physical education; it is different from any other lesson – it is about what one does with one’s body. For those not confident about their bodies, why should they be forced to go through the embarrassment and stress of a PE class when they could be spending the time most constructively and happily in a classroom? Furthermore, and on the flip side, those who do enjoy PE will still be able to take the class and in an environment surrounded by those who feel similarly. Athletes will no longer be held back by those who force teachers to re-iterate instructions or rules.

Students, unaware of the subjects that will most benefit them in the competitive work environment, have no such right to choose all their subjects at school. Many schools offer students a restricted right to choose subjects at school, but only those which offer comparative advantages. Certain subjects like, in the Western world, English, maths, science and physical education, are not voluntary because they offer advantages to all that form a foundation necessary to excel in other areas. If students were given the right to choose all their subjects, few would do the more difficult subjects like science and maths that, whilst requiring more effort, are more rewarding for society as a whole, and the students themselves.

A compulsory rather than voluntary sports program is a risk for both students and schools. More and more schools are avoiding team games (e.g. rugby, soccer, hockey, football) for the (realistic) fear of lawsuits when injuries and disputes occur. In one example, a defendant was awarded £100,000 by the school of a student who tackled dangerously and caused both neck and ligament injuries to his opponent opponent[1]. Furthermore, injuries sustained through school sport and the psychological trauma of being bullied for sporting ineptitude can mark people for years after they have left school. Furthermore, psychological injuries occur to those who would not otherwise do sport if not forced, these injuries tend to be the longest and most damaging. Voluntary physical education would avoid such traumatic episodes. [1]BBC News (2001, August 8). Rugby injury wins £100,000 damages. Retrieved May 18, 2011.

Compulsory physical education does not risk unnecessary and costly injury. Injuries that occur in physical education are firstly more advisable than injuries that occur in the classroom or playground for PE teachers tend to be trained in first-aid. Furthermore, the psychological bullying occurring in physical education classes is only a small subset of bullying that is rife among schools as a whole. The prowess, or lack of it, that leads to bullying in PE classes is no different to the lack of ‘prowess’ in looks, or name, or spelling that will drive bullying in other educational environments.

Successful sporting nations realise that sports, like any other specialised subjects, are best taught to selected groups that display both talent and interest in the field – forcing all to compete holds back the able and punishes the less able. The right way to go is to liberate those that don’t want to participate, and allow those that are extremely keen to go to academies that focus their talents more efficiently than a regular school ever could. Furthermore, our children are burdened enough in schools already, especially at the older end of the system, with multiple examinations. PE simply adds, needlessly, to this hectic schedule.

Sport is different to, say Latin – it encompasses life choices (most importantly, a concern for physical fitness, but also working in a team etc.) that ought to be encouraged in all students. As Ken Hardman argues, ‘physical education makes a unique contribution to the education of all pupils’[1]. Extra classes for interested students can take place separately, and often do in the form of fixtures with other schools, championships etc. Sport shouldn’t be seen as an alternative to academia, an either/or – it should be a part of every student’s life in addition to their other studies. If the opposition is correct about the heavy workload involved in schools, then students are that much more likely not to choose PE in an environment where it is voluntary, and the quality of our children’s health will be even worse. Much better to keep being healthy compulsory, and reform the pressures elsewhere in the curriculum. [1] Hardman, K. (2007). Current situation and prospects for physical education in the European Union. European Parliament.

Sport is a waste of school time and resources. One or two PE lessons a week make very little difference to an individual’s health– but a huge difference to a school’s budget. It creates a whole extra department in schools, wasting a great deal of money and time that could be better spent on academic lessons[1] It also requires schools buildings to be surrounded by a large amount of land for playing fields, making it prohibitively expensive to build new schools in urban areas. The quality of teaching is low, as students are taught in huge classes. On the other hand, the quality of teaching and of equipment goes up if there are fewer (but keener) students taking the subject. One Californian student asked to comment stated PE ‘doesn’t help me in any way…it’s really a waste of time. I don’t learn anything here.’[2] [1] Active Living Research. (2007). Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity and Academic Performance. San Diego. [2] Marshall, J., & Hardman, K. (2000). The State and Status of Physical Education in Schools in International Context. European Physical Education Review, 203-229.

Physical Education is an important part of holistic schooling. PE is an aspect of school being about more than just book learning – it is about educating the whole person, a holistic education that betters us in an all-round sense, rather than a merely academic experience. Some aspects of physical education are vital for future wellbeing, e.g. being able to swim, learning to lift heavy weights safely. Furthermore, ‘kids who are more physically active tend to perform better academically’[1]. Arguments about cost seem petty when compared to this aim – and also misguided, since PE departments would continue to exist to serve those that chose to study PE voluntarily, even if the subject were no longer to be compulsory. Arguments about the size of classes may well be correct, but these suggest better funding for PE rather than abandonment of the commitment to public health. [1] Active Living Research. (2007). Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity and Academic Performance. San Diego.

In the P.E. class, when the student is not good at P.E., some students could get bullied. Because in some schools, the person who is good at P.E., is the most popular person. But, if the student is not good at P.E., they could get bullied and that could make a trauma. That can make a mental disease.

PE Is humiliating as well as unnecessary, Now I´m not an expert on this topic, but isn´t Hauling around a heavy backpack all day enough?

wow, just how lazy are you…

“Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind…” as quoted by famous American writer Sylvia Plath. I think this quote justifies my point of argument that physical education should not at all be compulsory in school….

physical education in school is not at all compulsory for it is a total waste of time for those children who are not at all interested ….. and therefore spontaneously put no effort in it. It is better if it is made an elective issue as this will not only save the time of those who are interested in other school extra- curricular activities but also make the ones who are efficient in it…

Readers’ Blog

Sports should be made compulsory in schools

The advantages sports has on kids and adolescents are various. Frequencies of the way of life maladies, for example, weight and diabetes are increasing at a disturbing rate, because of the absence of customary exercise and wrong dietary patterns. As I would like to think, one of the key approaches to improve wellbeing and by and large wellness is to make physical education and game required in schools.

Medical advantages are the main motivation to make sports compulsory. Kids who don’t play are frequently seen as corpulent. Weight carries with it a large group of different illnesses. The vast majority of the stout kids need confidence and are unreliable about their wellness and looks. This might be one of the reasons for discouragement among youngsters. By making physical education and sports mandatory in schools, the administration can urge understudies to participate in a physical movement which will profit them over the long haul.

By taking part in sports, young people get genuinely necessary exercise as well as learn abilities forever. For instance, a large portion of the games require the colleagues to co-ordinate and urge individual mates to accomplish the shared objective of dominating the match). Associating with colleagues and passing on their assessments and thoughts will permit them to think and express openly. These aptitudes will, in the long run, make the individual an outgoing person and help in creating authority characteristics.

Making sport compulsory will specifically profit those understudies who have a characteristic ability for it. By remembering sport for the educational plan, the legislature can urge capable understudies to assemble a vacation out of it. Since youngsters get the opportunity to give their hands a shot different sorts of sports at school, they can pick the one they feel great at. There are numerous occasions, where youngsters from monetarily temperamental families discovered their bringing in sports while at school. Some of them have exceeded expectations in it and become amazingly effective.

Interest in sport advances wellbeing. Government is, or ought to be, worried about the soundness of its residents. Empowering physical action in the youthful through obligatory PE battles kid corpulence and adds to framing long lasting propensities for work out. This doesn’t need to be through customary group activities; progressively schools can offer exercise through swimming, tumbling, move, weight preparing, utilization of a multigym, high impact exercise, and so forth.

The journey for national wearing accomplishment starts in schools. If we don’t have obligatory PE, it is a lot harder to select competitors to speak to our nation on a more extensive stage. Indeed, even with a ‘sports institute’ model run along Australian lines, it’s a lot simpler to discover appropriate people with a full games program in each school. State education isn’t just about supporting the individual – it’s likewise about the state getting a decent profit for its speculation – in an accomplished masses to drive business and entrepreneurialism and so on. This applies similarly to sports, as well. People reserve no privilege to ‘decision’ about this: they’re being constrained to go to class, to take the exercises the state says they should take. The state doesn’t simply force a curricular impulse since physical participation is constrained – so there’s nothing extraordinary on a basic level about authorized PE. Without a doubt, what can be progressively significant as a focus on our schools than to support general wellbeing?

It is in acknowledgement of that reality, that in 1978 UNESCO perceived PE ‘as a basic component of long-lasting training.’

Physical education assists with manufacturing character and the shared regard required to prevail in a grown-up condition. Playing group activities assembles character and urges understudies to work with others, as they would be relied upon to do in many businesses or brandishing conditions. Game shows kids how to win and lose with great elegance and fabricates a solid school soul through rivalry with different organizations. It is significant to pervade with youngsters the sensitive harmony between a serious competition that empowers exertion and, then again, losing the decency and regard required to appreciate the sport. It is frequently the experience of playing in a group together which fabricates the most grounded kinships at school, which suffer for a considerable length of time a while later.

Taking everything into account, I feel that the schools should make sports and physical education required to keep their understudies genuinely and intellectually fit and to make mindfulness about the need of activity in one’s lives.

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Sport Should Be Compulsory In School. To What Extent Do You Agree Or Disagree?

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Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Computers are being used more and more in education. discuss the advantages and disadvantags., you should spend about 40 minutes on this task. write about the following topic. in some countries in europe, some children from the age of 11 or 13 go to schools to learn more practical skills that will help them get a job. other children stay in schools which provide a more general academic education. what should schools do to prepare students for the world of work give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience., you have seen an adverstisement for weekend work in a hotel in the town where you are staying. you have worked in a hotel before and think that the job would be suitable for you. you must apply in writing. write a letter to the hotel manager expressing your interest. in your letter . introduce yourself . explain why you think you would be suitable for the job . ask what work you would be expected to do, tourists to other countries need to follow local customs and behaviours. a few people consider it truthful. discuss both views and give your opinion..

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IELTS Essay # 1403
Write at least 250 words. Model Answer: Physical education and sports play a pivotal role in shaping the physical and mental well-being of children and teenagers. It is widely acknowledged that exercise is beneficial for the youth in various ways, including promoting physical health, fostering social skills, and enhancing cognitive development ...
Does competitive sport in school do more harm than good?
The incentive to win gives students the motivation for taking part in the physical activity or games, says Chris Tully, head of PE at a secondary school in west Yorkshire. It's a belief shared ...
IELTS Essay Compulsory sports in school
To sum up, sport definitely has a place in the school curriculum. Active participation in school sports will make our children fit and active. They will also learn important life skills. Therefore, the practice of mandatory physical education for all children who are physically able should be introduced. Feel free to call for suggestions and ...
Pros and Cons of School Sports
5. Playing school sports can teach life lessons. School sports offer students the opportunity to learn and practice traits that will come in handy not only in their immediate school life, but also later on in life. Psychology Today agrees. "Combining sports and school requires an ability to self-regulate.
Essay on Importance of Sports for Students
500+ Words Essay on Importance of Sports. First of all, Sport refers to an activity involving physical activity and skill. Here, two or more parties compete against each other. Sports are an integral part of human life and there is great importance of sports in all spheres of life. Furthermore, Sports help build the character and personality of ...
The Importance Of Sports In Schools
This is an important argument because it can change lives and has both positive and negative effects on young athletes. Sports should remain in schools for many reasons. The most significant of these include exercise, friendships and teamwork, and academics. Exercise is vital to the health of all animals, including humans, and sports provide ...
Sports should be compulsory in school
Band 8. Sports should be compulsory in school. To what extent do you agree or disagree. # sports # school. Being physical is an essential component of good health which is why most people often debate whether play should be part of. school. basic programs. I completely agree with the above statement and will discuss my reasons for taking that ...
Why Physical Education should be Mandatory in Schools(k-12)
Abstract. My paper is about physical activity being mandatory in schools. It is very important for. students to start physical activity early in life. One reason for starting physical activity early is to. get in a habit of working out to where it is a part of your lifestyle. Another reason is it helps you.
Why Make Sport Compulsory at School?
Sports professionals, such as AOC president John Coates, advocate the introduction of compulsory sport (excluding PE lessons) in schools, claiming that the lack of emphasis on sport in the curriculum contributed to the disappointing performance of Australian athletes in the 2012 Olympics. However making School Sport compulsory is not about creating great athletes. It's about making sport…
Sport Should Be Compulsory In School
Sport is becoming more and more popular discussion topic among the public, which argues whether it is important lesson for young learners in school. So, should it be obligotary for pupils in the curricullum or should we remove the lesson anytime soon? I completely agree that physical education lessons should be compulsory in schools, answering on this question | Band: 5
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The Debate Is Getting More Tense. Debates are roiling across the country over the role that high school sports should play as schools reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. Decisions handed down ...
Games and sports should be made compulsory for students
Model Essay: I am quite positive that physical activities and brain teasing games should be made mandatory for students. One of the reasons that I have this opinion is because physical exercise helps students to make better and faster decisions. A related reason is because exercise has an effect on the overall health of the brain.
Why Sports Should Be Made Mandatory for All Students
In fact, as per our philosophy, all students should take active participation in sports activities. Sports education in India is now a big thing, and everyone should adopt it as a tool to make students active individuals. Here are some reasons why sports should be made an integral part of the school's curriculum: Teaches Essential Life Skills
Why Should Sports Be Compulsory For All Students?
In such a milieu, sports is one of the few things that can offer holistic development to students. De facto, based on our philosophy, we believe that all students should participate in sports activities. Sports education in India is the need of the hour. Therefore, every school must embrace it as an instrument to make students active individuals.
Physical Education In Schools Should Be Compulsory
Individuals should have the right to control their own bodies. Students should have the right to choose which subjects they complete at school. Compulsory physical education risks unnecessary and costly injury. Physical education is best taught to selected groups. Sport is a waste of school time and resources.
Sport Should Be Compulsory In School
While, some people think that problems faced by human beings should be given previlage. I believe that both issues should be solved concurrently. In this essay, I will review both side of the debate. 6. band. Nowadays there is an increase in people with an unhealthy diet and not doing enough physical exercises.
PDF Argumentative essay on sports should be compulsory in schools
Aside from these essential skills for success, having compulsory sports can also promote social interaction among students across all ages and backgrounds—making schools more inclusive places for everyone. Physical activity is beneficial for both physical health and mental well-being. Studies have shown that regular exercise promotes better ...
Why Sports Should Be Made Compulsory in School?
Nonetheless, sports are indeed, can help those who are needed to be able to afford their education. In a nutshell, sports should be made compulsory in school. Without sports, students will become unhealthy, introvert, individualistic and so on. In addition, discipline problems will arise among students when there is no focus on sports in school.
Sports should be made compulsory in schools
Sports should be made compulsory in schools Syed Mohd Zeeshan @ Just life Jul 13, 2020, 22:59 IST The advantages sports has on kids and adolescents are various.
Sport Should Be Compulsory In School
In recent decades, many researchers have studied the importance of group-level cognition. Indeed, to my mind, there is now convincing evidence that group activities improve the intelligence of individuals. In this essay, I shall examine how research in team-games and study-groups supports this view. 4. band.
Sport at School Should Not Be Compulsory Free Essay Example
6456. Sport at school should NOT be compulsory. Sports training and PE take up time that could be better spent learning other subjects, and PE and Sport are not as important as other subjects like maths, science etc. It is also my belief that it students should have the right to choose whether or not we do sport/PE, because we are allowed to ...
Sport Should Be Compulsory In School
Parents throughout the world place spend time reading with their offspring to prepare them for school where their literacy skills are further developed; however, recent research suggests that focusing on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in fun activities would be far more beneficial.
An Argument Against Compulsory Sport in Schools
I strongly believe that sport at school should not be compulsory for the following reasons: The General assembly of United Nations and the beckration of human rights states: Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. Therefore, schools...

Does competitive sport in school do more harm than good?

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Physical Education In Schools Should Be Compulsory

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Sport Should Be Compulsory In School. To What Extent Do You Agree Or Disagree?

Support ideas with relevant, specific examples

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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