Why doesn't MCPS give PE credit for school sports

[Anonymous]

Anyone know the history?

[Anonymous]

Lots of schools don’t.

[Anonymous]

They should. My kid took a gym class that was a joke compared to what the sports kids do.

[Anonymous]

equity issues

[Anonymous]

Sports or optional extracurriculars PE is a required class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should. My kid took a gym class that was a joke compared to what the sports kids do.

Same. My daughter is a 3 season athletes and said pe was a joke. The kids don’t even have to change anymore.

[Anonymous]

I thought they used to (one semester only), if my memory serves correctly.

[Anonymous]

Maybe bc the health unit is intertwined and you need to be exposed and learn about other sports than just the 1 you're good at

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should. My kid took a gym class that was a joke compared to what the sports kids do.

Agree. One season of a JV or Varsity sport should exempt the kids from PE.

The kids don’t even do anything in PE many of the days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe bc the health unit is intertwined and you need to be exposed and learn about other sports than just the 1 you're good at

The health unit is taken a different year. Most kids don’t take PE and Health at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Back in the 1980’s, MCPS students could play a sport in lieu of PE in high school. If MCPS brought this back, then there are many electives students could take in lieu of a meaningless PE class. If there was a 1/2 credit financial literacy class, for example, that would be more important than PE and would be complementary to the 1/2 credit health class. Students definitely get more exercise from after school sports than PE.

The issue, however, may be a requirement from the Maryland State Department of Education. If they won’t allow the substitution of after school sports for PE, then MCPS cannot offer the option.

[Anonymous]

Why credit for only school sports? Or only sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 1980’s, MCPS students could play a sport in lieu of PE in high school. If MCPS brought this back, then there are many electives students could take in lieu of a meaningless PE class. If there was a 1/2 credit financial literacy class, for example, that would be more important than PE and would be complementary to the 1/2 credit health class. Students definitely get more exercise from after school sports than PE.

The issue, however, may be a requirement from the Maryland State Department of Education. If they won’t allow the substitution of after school sports for PE, then MCPS cannot offer the option.

That was 40hrs ago.

And there is an actual education component to PE that is more than just doing exercise. Sports are now mostly done outside of school and coaches can be unlicensed volunteers so there they are standardized.

Students can take financial literacy. There’s been a whole debate about it.

[Anonymous]

About 1/5 kids at our school does some kind of school sport. Imagine if they could be exempt from the PE class and take study hall instead. Mental health goes up, kids who take PE would have smaller classes and more attention. Who knows it might help some kids who previously did not like sports turn into kids who like sports and help with student health.

[Anonymous]

The board had discussed this a few years ago and asked Jack Smith to report back on its feasibility. Then the pandemic happened, and I don't know what became of the initiative.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BGEN8K5EB4AC/$file/20190923%20Awarding%20Academic%20Credit%20Interscholastic%20Athletic%20Pro.pdf