Last week, I wrote a column calling for the end of HESF classes on college campuses, and more specifically at NC State. I received a large response with criticisms leveled against me, my argument, and my “generation” in general. In response, I wanted to expand upon this idea, address some of the concerns and widen the discussion to include topics and points that weren’t present last week.
To start, one valid reason for disapproving of nonmandatory PE and hesitation towards eliminating PE classes is the rate of obesity. At first glance, mandatory exercise seems to address this, but in reality, believing that PE can fix this is only wishful thinking. According to nutritional biochemist Shawn M. Talbott, “as a rule of thumb, weight loss is generally 75 percent diet and 25 percent exercise.”
It’s also dumbfoundingly easy to consume more calories in a matter of minutes than those that took hours to burn off. Given the physiological and nutritional limiting factors, PE at the college level unfortunately just isn’t a simple fix for obesity. College students are rather active already, and, in reference to the previous column, we have habits that have been established for years. Our demographic isn’t the ideal target for weight loss, especially through a concentration on exercise, and even more when considering the difficulty of these courses is either laughably easy or ridiculously difficult for the average student.
Some criticisms came from the many students who enjoy HESF classes. I, too, found mine to be refreshing compared to the more conventional classes. But this doesn’t mean they should be required for everyone. The courses that you may “hate” because of the level of difficulty shouldn’t outright be eliminated from the curriculum, just as the courses you enjoy and may find fun shouldn’t be required based on these feelings alone, especially when this mentally relaxing activity can be done on one’s own terms and isn’t limited to school.
Lastly is the claim the students need a “well-rounded” education as opposed to some educational institutions — like technical schools — that offer narrower scopes of study. This is a whole other topic altogether, since HESF classes hardly make a curriculum better-rounded, as they do not focus on academics. Regardless, all forms of higher education are meant to make us more career-ready, and HESF classes simply don’t make or break readiness for the real world. HESF courses are far from being the only “well-rounded” courses offered, and the hours dedicated to these classes could go towards other elective credits that truly fulfill a more well-rounded education.
The contributions that classes make to our futures should be foremost. I think it’s safe to say that no employer asks, nor cares, what HESF classes we took.
The number of colleges that require PE has dwindled for years. And the number of adults who are health-conscious and get the recommended amount of exercise has increased, suggesting there is little correlation between the mandating of PE in college and lifelong commitments to health. Fitness and exercise are tremendously important for success and well-being, but at least under the current circumstances and state of HESF classes, they aren’t generally effective.
