I often ask students in the Senior High School whether or not Physical Education is important, and collecting and analyzing their responses provided insights regarding their positive and negative attitudes toward the course which if not addressed could affect their learning and performance. Although many relegate Physical Education as somewhat less of a significance than academic subjects, it plays a huge role in the development of students, especially those whose skills and talents in kinesthetic aspect they could develop.
With that single question, data collected showed there are students who consider Physical Education and Health as a marginal subject. With this attitude, they display lack of interest in it by not showing active participation in the activities and tasks which they are required to perform. Some intentionally don’t attend to their schedules, incurring a lot of absences. Others refuse to submit their performance tasks regularly. All these negative attitudes affect students’ output.
On the other hand, there are students who show a positive attitude toward the subject. These students participate actively in all activities, show cooperation, creativeness, punctuality in the submission of assigned tasks, and never miss attendance in their classes.
I found that those who are given low grades for not passing their requirements and for their poor performance during assessment periods feel bad about it, with the claim that the subject is non-academic and is optional. Some even blame the subject if they are not qualified for scholarships because of their low mark. Others plead for consideration because they think the subject could be taken for granted.
Considering the subject as optional is a big error for the students since Physical Education and Health play a critical role in educating the whole being of the students. Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Thales (Miletus, 624 – 546 BC) emphasized the importance of “A sound mind in a sound body,” meaning the mind malfunctions in a sick body. The body which refers to the physical being needs to be healthy so that the brain in the body will function well. Physical Education and Health provide the services needed in order to make the body healthy.
Indeed, Physical Education and Health subject performs a very important role in educating the whole being of the students. It supports the curriculum’s vision to enable students to become self-reliant, attached, actively involved, and in the end become lifelong learners. It promotes critical thinking and action and empowers every student to understand the role and significance of the physical activity.
Nevertheless, there is a need for students to appreciate the subject and consider it an integral part of their education. They need to look at physical as means to develop leadership, teamwork skills and to facilitate transfer of knowledge to other learning areas. Teachers then have to consider this part of the teaching and learning process.
Once the students start to have that realization and respond to the performance of tasks and learnings, I believe, they will be empowered to get involved and be able to shape their own well-being. They can have a positive and active lifestyle and be a good influence on others to get involved in sport, dance, exercise, recreation, and adventure. With these experiences, they will be able to explore and develop their own decision-making skills. In the end, the students will be led to look into the many careers that involve working with people in education, health, justice, and social services.
(This article is contributed by Grethel Joy S. Obiar, Teacher III of Tabuk City National High School, Schools Division of Tabuk City.)
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