Why should Physical Education be optional?
I would agree with JB that the main reason would be that if the main purpose of PE is to ensure physical fitness, students tend to come into school with very different levels of participation in physical activity. Very few students spend their spare time doing history or math, so it makes sense to require those things of all students. On the other hand, there are students who spend every free moment engaged in some sort of physical activity, and that time could perhaps be better used. I think I would focus on ensuring that all students were getting adequate physical activity, rather than on forcing every student, whether or not they were getting physical activity elsewhere, to take a Physical Education class in school. I might also point out that the usual regimented format of PE has caused MANY students to grow up hating physical activity. If the goal is to create a lifetime love of physical activity, so that the student will grow up to continue participating, it seems that requiring
