| The Problem | | | | objectives that can be measured and graded like an |
| Teachers, students, and parents at Long Island | | | | academic class. Superintendents of Long Island |
| schools have been struggling with how to give credit | | | | schools determined that in implementing these new |
| for physical education classes. On the one hand, | | | | standards in the physical education curriculum, the |
| many argue that counting gym like an academic class | | | | schools would be able to give grades for |
| can badly affect the GPA of students who are | | | | accomplishing certain tasks rather than the all - |
| strong academically but do not do well in gym. On | | | | encompassing pass / fail marks. |
| the other hand, others argue that when students | | | | What People Think |
| know that the gym class does not affect their GPA | | | | Reactions to the change have been mixed. Some |
| they do not put the effort and attention into the | | | | parents are looking forward to counting the physical |
| class in order to improve their physical health. | | | | education class on the GPA while others are worried |
| Long Island Schools have decided to strike a middle | | | | about hurting the academic side of their child's report |
| ground and allow students to choose whether they | | | | card. One board member stated: "I think that phasing |
| want it to count or not. The decision only applies to | | | | it in provides us the opportunity to see how it goes. |
| current sixth through ninth graders so it will not | | | | Allowing the option would not hurt a student's GPA." |
| affect current graduating high school students. 24 of | | | | The decision also pleased Jonathan Estrada, who will |
| the 60 schools in the Suffolk County district have | | | | be a senior this fall at Northport High School. Earlier in |
| decided to handle gym in this way, hoping to please | | | | the school year, he had become concerned when he |
| groups on both sides while addressing the needs of | | | | learned that the new policy would be mandatory. "I |
| students. | | | | was immediately sort of troubled about it," he said. |
| The Process | | | | "You shouldn't be hurt from a grade that doesn't |
| Many of the changes were suggested by parents | | | | reflect the actual ability." |
| who signed petitions to allow physical education to be | | | | In academic circles, many educators are applauding |
| counted on GPAs instead of as a pass / fail mark as | | | | the change, citing the need for a stronger and more |
| it had been in the past. The superintendent and the | | | | comprehensive program in physical education to |
| school boards of Long Island schools met to consider | | | | tackle the current health problems of America's |
| the proposals from parents to figure out how to | | | | youth. University studies and national surveys all point |
| make the physical education curriculum the most | | | | to the increased grading and evaluating of physical |
| effective for students as well as the most | | | | education as key to keeping the class relevant and |
| standardized in grading. | | | | useful for students. Counting the class as a grade will |
| In addition to parental concern, there was also | | | | help students take the class more seriously, and |
| intense scrutiny of the new New York State | | | | hopefully translate into healthier students in and out |
| Standards for Physical Education. The argument here | | | | of Long Island schools. |
| is that the new standards have clear aims and | | | | |