Mandatory daily sports lesson in schools

[Del Tachi]

Strenuous physical activity not only improves health, but also builds character.

Mandatory physical education for all K-12 students in the United States.  At least an hour every day. 

How about forbidding parking at school, and promoting students travelling  by bike?

This is unreasonable in much of the United States; moreover, there are plenty of parents who would not be amenable to their children traveling to school alone.

Oh, I understand, we are only talking indoor sports here. Wouldn't it be quite costly to build the many sport halls required if physical education in school is to be extended?

Surprisingly maybe not...

Most Europeans would be disgusted to see how much sports-related infrastructure is already in place in many American high schools.  Many high schools, especially the larger suburban ones, have stadiums, gyms, and training centers that would rival a lot of smaller colleges. 

Additionally, many smaller schools may utilize corporate sponsorship to pay for sports-related infrastructure. 

[Blue3]

Perhaps weightlifting and running every day, but not sports.

[barfbag]

I'd like to see our nation more educated in sports history. Some colleges and universities are already offering courses such as "20th Century Sports History." Sports are what bring us together and make us one, but I don't think we need to be paying for classes on it in public schools if we're already in debt.

[Franknburger]

Strenuous physical activity not only improves health, but also builds character.

Mandatory physical education for all K-12 students in the United States.  At least an hour every day. 

How about forbidding parking at school, and promoting students travelling  by bike?

This is unreasonable in much of the United States; moreover, there are plenty of parents who would not be amenable to their children traveling to school alone.

Oh, I understand, we are only talking indoor sports here. Wouldn't it be quite costly to build the many sport halls required if physical education in school is to be extended?

Surprisingly maybe not...

Most Europeans would be disgusted to see how much sports-related infrastructure is already in place in many American high schools.  Many high schools, especially the larger suburban ones, have stadiums, gyms, and training centers that would rival a lot of smaller colleges. 

Additionally, many smaller schools may utilize corporate sponsorship to pay for sports-related infrastructure. 

 
O.k., let's get serious again and put this into context:
a:) In most European countries, some 7-10 school hours per week in middle and high-school are devoted to foreign language training. It is probably far less than that in the US, which frees up tine for other subjects, including PE. 5 hours PE per week may sound normal in the US, but in Germany (and I suppose Austria is not much different in that respect), 2-3 hours per week (out of 30-33 in total) are the standard.
b.) Here, sports is much more an after-school activity carried out in clubs. Sports clubs have been quite effective in integrating second-generation immigrant kids, who are not very well represented among high-school students, and generally have high drop-out rates already from middle-school. [You may even say that sport clubs are the only institutions that are effective tackling integration issues here, schools are definitely not.]

Under both aspects, stepping up PE in Austrian schools sounds to me like a pretty stupid move, very populist and unworthy of a social-democratic chancellor. It is either done at the expense of other subjects, or by extending overall school hours, which will negatively affect sports clubs and, ultimately, integration of second-generation immigrants. Asides, I doubt that the kinds of sports Austrians excel in (skiing, ski-jumping, bob, climbing etc.) will be taught at school..

[bedstuy]

O.k., let's get serious again and put this into context:
a:) In most European countries, some 7-10 school hours per week in middle and high-school are devoted to foreign language training. It is probably far less than that in the US, which frees up tine for other subjects, including PE. 5 hours PE per week may sound normal in the US, but in Germany (and I suppose Austria is not much different in that respect), 2-3 hours per week (out of 30-33 in total) are the standard.

5 hours of gym/PE per week is not normal in the US.  I never had more than 1 hour per week and I only had PE one out of four years of high school.

b.) Here, sports is much more an after-school activity carried out in clubs. Sports clubs have been quite effective in integrating second-generation immigrant kids, who are not very well represented among high-school students, and generally have high drop-out rates already from middle-school. [You may even say that sport clubs are the only institutions that are effective tackling integration issues here, schools are definitely not.]

Why can't those after-school clubs substitute in lieu of PE classes?  In the US, many schools will allow the basketball team or baseball team, for example, to get school credit for their sport, instead of taking PE classes.  That seems reasonable.

[TJ in Oregon]

Why can't those after-school clubs substitute in lieu of PE classes?  In the US, many schools will allow the basketball team or baseball team, for example, to get school credit for their sport, instead of taking PE classes.  That seems reasonable.

Ridiculously, my high school did not. No matter if I was running cross country, I still had to manage that sub-15:00 gym class mile

[H. Ross Peron]

As other said, I support daily PE lessons but not sports.

For the record, I personally had PE up to sophomore year in high school (starting regularly from the 6th grade) and PE was a mixture of sports and running depending on the day along with daily calisthenics.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

O.k., let's get serious again and put this into context:
a:) In most European countries, some 7-10 school hours per week in middle and high-school are devoted to foreign language training. It is probably far less than that in the US, which frees up tine for other subjects, including PE. 5 hours PE per week may sound normal in the US, but in Germany (and I suppose Austria is not much different in that respect), 2-3 hours per week (out of 30-33 in total) are the standard.

5 hours of gym/PE per week is not normal in the US.  I never had more than 1 hour per week and I only had PE one out of four years of high school.

5 hrs/wk may not be the case everywhere, but it is normal. at least it's not abnormal, or didn't used to be.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Why can't those after-school clubs substitute in lieu of PE classes?  In the US, many schools will allow the basketball team or baseball team, for example, to get school credit for their sport, instead of taking PE classes.  That seems reasonable.

Ridiculously, my high school did not. No matter if I was running cross country, I still had to manage that sub-15:00 gym class mile

Jesus! How do you do that? I got like a 16:16 in my one time doing the 1600--of course I was out of shape and hadn't run XC (16:40 for a mile) in a while, but come now.

[bedstuy]

Why can't those after-school clubs substitute in lieu of PE classes?  In the US, many schools will allow the basketball team or baseball team, for example, to get school credit for their sport, instead of taking PE classes.  That seems reasonable.

Ridiculously, my high school did not. No matter if I was running cross country, I still had to manage that sub-15:00 gym class mile

Jesus! How do you do that? I got like a 16:16 in my one time doing the 1600--of course I was out of shape and hadn't run XC (16:40 for a mile) in a while, but come now.

You must be confused.  A 15 minute mile is basically walking quickly.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Why can't those after-school clubs substitute in lieu of PE classes?  In the US, many schools will allow the basketball team or baseball team, for example, to get school credit for their sport, instead of taking PE classes.  That seems reasonable.

Ridiculously, my high school did not. No matter if I was running cross country, I still had to manage that sub-15:00 gym class mile

Jesus! How do you do that? I got like a 16:16 in my one time doing the 1600--of course I was out of shape and hadn't run XC (16:40 for a mile) in a while, but come now.

You must be confused.  A 15 minute mile is basically walking quickly.

Ah crap. Yeah. I keep forgetting that it was a "6:16" and a "6:40". Nevermind then.

[barfbag]

Why can't those after-school clubs substitute in lieu of PE classes?  In the US, many schools will allow the basketball team or baseball team, for example, to get school credit for their sport, instead of taking PE classes.  That seems reasonable.

Ridiculously, my high school did not. No matter if I was running cross country, I still had to manage that sub-15:00 gym class mile

Jesus! How do you do that? I got like a 16:16 in my one time doing the 1600--of course I was out of shape and hadn't run XC (16:40 for a mile) in a while, but come now.

What are your best times?

mile 4:59
2 mile 11:07
5K 16:49

[TJ in Oregon]

What are your best times?

mile 4:59
2 mile 11:07
5K 16:49

From high school:
1600: 4:50
2300: 10:15
5k: 16:49

College:
1600: 4:32
5k: 15:40
8k: 25:59
10k: 32:56

Now days, I'm retired from competitive running though

[All Along The Watchtower]

Mandatory PE, choice of sports (or no sports). Especially in America, the Nation of Fats.

[angus]

Especially in America, the Nation of Fats.

That is a different issue! 

Obesity, chronic heart disease, diabetes, cancer, sexually-transmitted diseases, male impotency, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, and all the rest of those "first world health problems" arise as a result of long-held social conventions which give us a certain lifestyle.  A few hours of physical education for a ten-year period early in one's life will not eradicate these problems, although it may alleviate them somewhat. 

If you want a thread about lifestyle changes in the USA, then create one.  I still assume this thread is about "sports lessons" which is clearly indicated in the OP.  Those teach co-ordination and teamwork.  If they also help overcome some health problems, then that's okay too, but the primary focus of any sports lessons should be teamwork (socialization) and not health.

[Redalgo]

I reckon it should be a republic/province level decision.

Personally, if we are just talking about sporting for its character and teamwork building boons, I recommend moving away from lessons and time spent on physical contests and more towards team-oriented console or PC gaming at school.

My opinions of programs and classes to promote physical fitness are a separate matter.

[Peter the Lefty]

No mandatory sports lesson at all. I hate sports.

[AkSaber]

Perhaps weightlifting and running every day, but not sports.

Agree.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I reckon it should be a republic/province level decision.

Personally, if we are just talking about sporting for its character and teamwork building boons, I recommend moving away from lessons and time spent on physical contests and more towards team-oriented console or PC gaming at school.

My opinions of programs and classes to promote physical fitness are a separate matter.

Console gaming is going to give you the character it takes to run three miles in freezing rain wearing naught but a cross country uniform?

And let's not pretend the mind is everything for all the sports/physical activity haters out there. I take it they'd prefer us to be giant floating brains, relying on machines for movement and lifting, or maybe pale ghoul-like creatures whose only muscles are contained in the fingers needed for keyboard tapping. Hilarious how the death of Man shall come about.