Discussion

Part of your assignment requires you to discuss the importance of physical education in school and comment on a quotation from Text I. We will cover each of these aspects separately, based on the information available in the two texts.

The importance of physical education in school

Both texts in your exam set argue for physical education in school and stress its importance for both students’ health and cognitive skills. Text I focuses on the importance of physical education in school as a way to improve academic performance. Text II focuses on health issues related to PE.

First of all, physical education in school is important because it has health benefits for students. Text I mentions that PE keeps students “fit” while Text II is more detailed. According to Text II, “children who are physically active during the day in school are much more likely to be physically active after school as well” (ll. 21-22).

Furthermore, PE can help reduce childhood obesity rates which are on the rise in the US: “But with the cuts in physical education coming at a time when childhood obesity rates are alarmingly high, health advocates fear that ultimately, children's health will be left behind.” (ll. 7-8)

...

Comment

The quotation that you have to comment on from “Pumping Up The Brain” (Tetx I) is: “Now, what's ironic is that some schools have cut back on PA* ... PE in favor of more academics when actually research is showing that physical exercise is what the kids need in order to excel academically.”

The quotation is a comment by Debbye Turner Bell, a reporter who covered the PE program introduced in a school in Illinois that is meant to boost children’s academic performance through physical exercise.  

The quotation emphasizes a paradoxical situation in the US.

...