Why Physical Education Should be Included in the Elementary School Curriculum I strongly feel that Physical Education should be a high priority in the curriculum of every elementary school. Each part of a student’s education plays an important role in their learning experience. Education for children in K-6th grades is very important and is the building blocks for a lifetime of learning. Physical education is important because it is one of the blocks of a student’s foundation of learning and in the “big picture” will provide a way to teach the student as a whole. The physical aspect of a child’s learning should as important as other subjects because it adds to the growth of a child through experiences involving their social, emotional, mental and physical development (Gordon 19). All areas of a child’s education are very important. Mathematics, Science, History, English and Social Science have been included in the school’s curriculum because these are areas that a child will use for the rest of their lives. We focus on these areas so the children will prepare themselves for whatever career they choose as adults and to expand and enhance their knowledge for a productive life as an adult. These areas, I agree, are vital to the education of a student. Equally important is the knowledge and awareness of our physical bodies and how being active can expand and enhance physical skills and attitudes towards shaping a healthy active lifestyle. A mistake that educators often make is using physical education as a reward or a punishment for behavior in the classroom setting. My children, who are all elementary school age, have told me those students who are well behaved and finished all their assignments on time will receive extra P.E. time. The students who are excessive talkers and misbehave will have their P.E. time totally removed from their schedule for the week. The educators in the classro...
