Health, physical education requirements may become optional through proposed legislation

By Dennis Archambault

Health is probably a subject that has minimal value to a culture programmed to succeed in some professional capacity, other than those focused on a health career. And for those who lack that ambition and are thinking about a non-professional livelihood, it probably has even less relevance. Hopefully, that’s not the case.

Having gone to schools that required physical education, or involvement in sports, I didn’t have a choice but to be fit. Speaking for myself, I probably would have opted out of health education or physical education in lieu of another literature course, or something more sedentary. In retrospect, I gained physical health habits and insight into my body that I have retained throughout life.

The legislation sponsored by Michigan State Senator Jon Bumstead, as noted in Bridge Magazine (https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/michigan-legislature-weighs-dropping-high-school-health-gym-requirements), is troubling. By making health and physical education optional, it gives many students like myself an option to the sweat and fatigue of physical exercise, and the perceived lack of relevance that a course on health might be. Additionally, as the Bridge Magazine article points out, there are problems with life stress and sexual activity that are adding to the urgency for maintaining, even increasing the emphasis on health and physical education.

There could be a deeper philosophic issue at stake. Sen. Bumstead is quoted in the article as telling the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee that he learned the skills he needed to build his business at a vocational education program. Those who believe in a holistic, “liberal” approach to education, providing “core competencies” required to prepare students for life as well as scholarship, should be on alert.

Dennis Archambault is vice president for Public Affairs at Authority Health.