How PE affects students’ GPAs
November 29, 2018
In Physical Education classes, students are graded on how fast they can run, how many push-ups they can do and their overall endurance. These grades affect their overall grade point average, which ultimately influences colleges to accept them, or not accept them. This may seem extreme, but a student’s physical fitness really does affect their success in life.
In middle school, I struggled with PE. In fact, in eighth grade my lowest grade was in gym class. I constantly worried that I wouldn’t run fast enough or do enough sit ups to get an “A” in the class. I understand that it is important to be healthy and fit through exercise and eating habits. I feel that I make good choices in my eating habits and I go on walks and workout regularly. Considering this, I believe that students should be taught about healthy habits, but not graded on their personal physical fitness abilities.
When students feel like their GPA is on the line, they may push themselves too far. Students run faster and harder than their bodies are able to handle and find themselves dehydrated, dizzy and uncomfortable. This is unacceptable. If students have to run, they should be graded on their effort, not their time. Everyone is different and some people physically excel, while others do not. Those who are not as physically strong should not have to face a lower GPA because they could not force themselves to push past their body’s limits.
Approximately half of people between the ages of 12 and 21 do not exercise vigorously on a daily basis. Physical Education classes help to teach teens about the importance of exercise, but how fit they are personally should not affect their GPA. Teenagers should be graded on their test scores and participation, not how their bodies work and react to extreme physical activity. There are many teens, as well as adults, in America who need help with physical fitness, but this help should not come at the cost of poor grades and pressure. I recognize how important physical education classes are in schools. Students are taught how to keep their bodies healthy, something that is very important in a world of fast-food and tv shows. But when PE grades affect a students GPA, they often focus on their grade in the class rather than their bodies and personal limits. If students were taught to respect their physical boundaries rather than being told to run faster if they want a decent grade in the class, physical education in schools would have a much more positive effect on students.
Scotty • May 23, 2023 at 2:53 pm
While some are arguing about how it’s like math class, the point of a GPA is to show academic ability, not physical ability. This can negatively impact intelligent students who are not physically fit for certain things.
Steph • Mar 31, 2022 at 9:15 pm
To the people saying that this gives the jocks a chance to increase their GPA, I hate to break it to you, but intelligence is a lot more important in the real world than physical capabilities. School is about learning. You go to school to become more educated and improve your intelligence. Students should not be deluded into thinking that being physically fit will make them successful in life or get them a high paying job in a STEM field. Likewise, a student who excels academically should not be held back by their physical short comings.
I’m not saying that fitness isn’t important. It just doesn’t have anything to do with academia. I’m all for providing students with the information they need to stay healthy. But the key word there is ‘information.’ Give the students the knowledge about how the body works, but don’t force them to meet some arbitrary measurement of health in order to achieve a 4.0 GPA. It’s a cruel and unnecessary limitation that keeps our brightest students from achieving their full potential.
Colby • Oct 4, 2021 at 10:25 pm
I totally agree while people are usng the argument that some kids are bd at another class but we dont think we shouldn’t count it the problem with that argument is that yes while fitness is a important life skill you aren’t going to really use it in college or any higher education which is the big issue I have with pe as it affects your gpa which colleges will look at to determine your acceptance.
Ian • May 3, 2021 at 7:21 am
I strongly disagree. Students need to be motivated to push their bodies and be healthy. Do you think it is fair that people who are bad at math just don’t get math counted toward your GPA? NO. Exercising is a life skill that everybody needs. If you can’t do 10 push up than practice push ups at home just like studying for a math test. There is no difference between testing your body muscles than testing your brain muscles.
Eklavya • May 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm
“Practice push ups at home” Like it’s that easy – sounds like you don’t know how hard push ups are. It has been taking me 3 weeks to do a single pushup beacuse of my weak muscle strength, yet your comparing exercise to math. Being bad at sports is different then being bad at math, as most subjects require the use of your BRAIN, while exercise requires use of your muscles + heart + lungs. Using your reasoning, an asthma student should still be graded on his physical fitness right? 🙁
Oreo • Feb 24, 2021 at 7:05 pm
I totally agree. Students should exercise for health benefits not for grades.
Daniel Zamorano • Nov 13, 2020 at 1:56 pm
When I was in Jr High and High school I wasn’t physically active. I got bad grades in PE I didn’t even care even when my parents were always on my back about it. Sometimes bump heads with the PE teacher because I listened to my body. I always felt that wasn’t going to make me or break me. That was back in the early 1980’s to mid 1980’s I’m in my early 50’s now I’m a over the road truck driver and when there are loads that require the driver to unload I hire lumpers to do the unloading. Most of the time the pallets have to be restacked and I move too slow. I let the lumpers worry about that. Getting back to the main subject it should be against the law to judge students if they are not physically active because we are individuals not robots. I also don’t like to be micromanaged.
J • Sep 9, 2020 at 11:14 pm
I disagree. This is an opportunity for students who are strong in this area to have some confidence and earm their A. We are not equal. That is OK. It is also OK to push your limits and see if you can accomplish some goals. Physical goals are much easier to achieve by training than intelligence.
We are not all great at math and therefor our grade reflects that. My math grade never reflected the extra time i spent at school with my teacher trying to understand it. My grade did not reflect that i was also being tutored. It reflected my how and test scores.
Abe • Mar 31, 2020 at 6:42 am
At first, I agreed with your point that students shouldn’t be judged by a standard number of push-ups or levels of speed, but I have changed my mind. If Gym is to be graded like any other class, students should do a certain amount and if they don’t they will get lower grades. Certainly, if they have a physical disability or problem that prevents them from achieving the requirements then exceptions should be made. The problem you are truly addressing is whether or not schools should judge all classes by the effort students make or the percent of correct answers.
Kaiya • Mar 31, 2020 at 12:31 am
I strongly agree. Thank you, this is the first place I found actual information for my persuasive essay coming up. I promise I won’t copy, just reading really helped. School can be stressful, and I don’t do that good in PE, and I completely agree with you that it adds stress and worries to the load.
Paula • Jan 24, 2020 at 6:14 am
I think the same too because as kids we have to focus on our grades and especially if p.e counts we tend to put more effort into that plus this also takes a lot of energy indicating the fact that we will probably be tired to focus on other classes