Student athletes at Hall High School are questioning the importance of physical education in their daily schedules. In order to graduate, every student must fulfill at least 1.75 credits in physical education, per state requirements. Nonetheless, questions have still circulated through the school: Should student athletes be required to participate in physical education?

In a survey where four-hundred and twenty students were selected at random, an overwhelming 76.4 percent thought that student athletes should not have to participate in physical education.

Future Division I athlete and Hall student Chase Jeter weighed in, saying, “I don’t think they should. I know a lot of athletes are taking a lot of hard classes just like the rest of the students here, and after school, we don’t have as much time to do homework as a a lot of the other kids, so if we could have that extra period, we could use it to do homework instead of going to gym.”

The issue of balancing academics with athletics seemed to be a common theme. Another Hall student, Mike Farley, who does not participate in athletics, had a similar response to that of Mr. Jeter: “Athletes who spend a lot of time outside of school playing sports should be able to use this time to do school work.” Even though Farley does not play a sport, he recognizes that student athletes could utilize that extra period for their studies and make up for the hours after school they lose to their sport.

There is another side to the story, though. Physical education classes at Hall are not supposed to mimic a sports practice. Instead, they pose a vital role in helping students develop life skills, as well as teamwork. Hall High School physical education teacher and former college basketball player Mr. Archambault, who is currently in his first year at Hall stated that physical education and sports “do not go hand in hand.”

He went on to say, “Physical education is supposed to teach way more. It is meant to teach how to create a healthy and balanced lifestyle, how to create a fitness plan, and how to use a fitness center.” He acknowledged that while sports and physical education are both important, very few students actually continue their sport after high school.

Many student-athletes are looking at this issue in a very short term sense, when in fact, it should be the contrary. According to the NCAA, only about 480,000 of 8 million high school athletes ever compete at the next level. This is why Archambault believes that every student should have to participate in gym, to reinforce strategies in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle for a lifetime.

Similarly, 23.6 percent of polled students still felt that student athletes should have to take physical education. They did however comment on the policy regarding gym class make ups. The Hall High School Physical Education Expectations Sheet states that “Students are required to make up all excused absences in the fitness center after school within two weeks of any absence.”  Although the physical education teachers do recognize that students are often involved in after school sporting events, it is still a requirement.

This has been a controversial subject since the policy was implemented on the 2016-2017 school year. Hall junior Jack Mchale, who is a member of the Hall High School varsity football and lacrosse programs weighed in on the issue. He said, “I do think students should participate in gym class, but I feel that they should not have to make up a class if they are absent.” Mchale went on to explain how athletes’ time is better spent at their respective sports practice, as they are more likely to get a better workout experience.

When asked about the issue, Chase Jeter also had this to say, “I consider it a successful gym class if I even break a sweat.” This shows the frustration in athletes when they have to miss part of a practice in order to fulfill their physical education requirement, even though they feel as if they could be more physically active at their sporting event.

Another Hall athlete Hayden Meyer gave her opinion: “I think if you play a sport, and it’s right after school, you shouldn’t have to make up gym because you are already going outside to exercise.”

Hall student athletes seemed to be striking a similar chord. There are many valid arguments surrounding this topic. The likelihood of a change in the near future seems slim, but student athletes are willing to raise the question for the benefit of future Hall attendees.