Could Attitude toward Physical Education and Activity be the Key that Fits for Opening the Door to Academic Success? Let’s Turn It and Find Out

In a recent New York Times blog entitled How Physical Fitness May Promote School Success, Gretchen Reynolds provides commentary and support for the idea that a more physically fit student performs better in the academic classroom and on academic standardized tests.  She references a large-scale school study on physical activity and academic achievement as well as a smaller, more controlled study on learning and the impact of physical activity to validate the premise that a physically fit student is a better learner.  So the question that one must ask if this premise is in fact true is:  why don’t more legislators, administrators, parents and concerned citizens of this great country create more opportunities during the school day to get students moving and physically active? 

While there is no simple answer to this question, there are a number of issues that can be seen as contributing to the dilemma of getting students more physically active and engaged.  An often opinioned reason for the lack of physical activity opportunities is the need for more time on subjects such as a reading and math due to global competitiveness.  Other reasons include financial limitations, space constraints and the availability and access to parks, recreational activities and community resources after-school.  All of these reasons hold value but not quite enough to fully and sufficiently answer the question of why more students aren't engaging in more physical activity. 

Perhaps the missing, essential ingredient to the solution of getting students more physically engaged in activity is to improve their attitudes toward physical activity and education.  To improve student attitudes towards something that should be a part of their everyday lives is not an effortless or rudimentary task but one that can be solved.  By placing a greater emphasis on the importance of one’s body during the school day through physical education classes and instruction is key.  Students live in an advanced society and are now forced to choose between an abundance of activities and tasks to engage, mainly as a result of technology development.  While these widgets and gadgets often spark creativity and intellectual performance, they also have created a sedentary by-product of individuals who are now at risk for issues concerning their physical and intellectual development. 

Placing a greater emphasis on physical education programs and the activities, resources and programs that they are associated with, our country may just increase students’ attitudes toward physical activity and changing their lifestyle habits and choices.  Providing them with greater balance in their lives can make them not only healthier but also improve their chances for school and academic success.