...I totally wasn't saying I'm out of shape or something. Quite the contrary, as I'm a dancer. But nobody has been kept in shape and healthy by gym class, as far as I know.

I've had mandatory physical education for all twelve years of schooling, and guess what? Forty-odd minutes of standing in a gym every other day hasn't kept me or my peers slim and trim. Unless PE is seriously reformed and made to be actual exercise and education, just get rid of it.

At this point, it's unfortunately all about money issues when it comes to this subject (and even the subject of keeping sports and/or art education on the books). For many, many reasons, local schools are being pinched from all sides to find the funds that they need just to get by teaching the most essential things that students need to learn. While I agree that getting kids (that probably spend waaay too much time at home in from the TV) active is an important thing, I unfortunately feel that it must be pushed aside so that other, more important forms of education are fully-funded. It's really a shame at this late date that we as a society don't value a really great education, as it's the one thing that can open so many doors for you.

"So you believe that teacher's workloads should increase as their break times are reduced."

Come on now...my mother was a teacher for over 35 years. Not all teachers use their break times wisely, and many don't even bother to take any of their work home with them at the end of the day. Having more time for actual teachers to actually teach actual students what they actually need to learn in order to become good citizens (learn to read, do math, have a working knowledge of history, etc.) can't be a bad thing.

"but also social and emotional wellbeing and covers topics such as drug education and sex ed."

I've never seen or heard of sex or drug ed. being taught in a real PE class. Health class yes...PE class no. We may be talking by one another in terms of what happens in the USA vs. other countries though.

"If we were to remove the teacher to cut expenditure then what would the children do during that time at school?"

Ummm, learn something that's actually important in another class, from a teacher that was already on staff.

"Yeah what 30k a year?"

Plus benefits, including, in the USA at least, health care & retirement costs. It adds up over time.

"The teachers are a small cost."

No, like most businesses, govt.'s highest expenditure is on its employees, period. There are also huge expenditures, again in the USA, on energy & other types of insurance costs.

"All schools should be able to afford them. It's the management of resources that wastes money."

Well, while I agree that there needs to be consolidation in the way that we administer schools (especially in rural area), the fact is that schools in the USA can't afford everything that they currently need...and something unfortunately needs to give. I think that something is sports, Phys. Ed. and arts education. Again, in a perfect or much fairer world, we could afford everything.

"P.E. shouldn't really cost anything."

What about the cost of the teacher??

I dunno what you are talking about here. Do mean to suggest that Phys. Ed. teachers have their pay cut or have their resources severely limited in order to continue teaching?

Look, in a perfect world, we would have all the resources that were necessary to teach kids everything that they need to know. I wish that this were the case, but I don't yet feel that we as a society value education enough to get all this done.

P.E should be something children choose, instead of something they will hate. How boring and hateful for the students to have something that should be fun be marked on.

Yeah, I'm all for the health side of things, but making kids chase after a soccer ball at 45 degrees during academic times is wrong. Sorry dudes, let's keep sport free

I agree, but what about recess?? When I was a kid, this was a time when we would run around & play tag & the like. I also agree about taking it out of high schools first, even though I had plenty of fun there because my high school Phys. Ed. teacher was a great guy. These are tough choices for sure.

No , i Think That Students Shouldn't Have Physical Education And Have Recess To . What About The Special Need Students Who Can't Take Gym ? You Have To Pass Gym To Move on To The Next Grade . in High School You Have To Take Swimming What About Those Who is Allergic To Clorine ? You A Straight A Student And You Can't Pass Gym . Should You Be Held Back For That And All Physical Ed is About is Exercising ! No Way , i Think They Should Just Take Physical Ed out Period . ___ !