EMMA BROWN, staff writer
Personal fitness classes were established to advance student health and to educate students on every aspect of fitness. The classes include both written work and a certain amount of physical activity in order to inaugurate students into a healthier lifestyle. Students are expected to walk 702 laps throughout the semester, balancing out to 27 laps a day. Currently, at least one personal fitness class, which counts for half a credit, must be taken in order for a student to graduate high school. Personal Fitness classes are also available to take either online or during the summer with equal obligations.
“It is a requirement because research has shown personal fitness plays an important part in not only student behavior, but also in health,” said personal fitness teacher Coach Joey Matthews.
A general amount of knowledge regarding health is beneficial to any student, even if they are already an athlete. School sports offer an opportunity for students to acquire a fair amount of exercise; however, some student athletes might still lack knowledge about fitness elements such as body mass index and certain dietary needs. Personal fitness classes offer the essential amount of education on these subjects for any student.
Due to the intensity of school sport workouts, parents and coaches encourage a healthy diet and offer any further personal fitness information to student athletes. Furthermore, fitness classes come with the chance of injury that many athletes attempt to avoid at all costs.
“Athletes learn a lot about fitness in their chosen sport and from their parents without the extra risk of injury gym class offers,” said junior Brandt Pawlukowsky.
Personal fitness classes are a semester long which conflicts with student athletes’ already packed schedule.
“I am going to have to choose between dropping yearbook or Spanish in order to take personal fitness next year, even though I am on a varsity sport team,” said sophomore Allison Lopez.
Fitness is an extremely important category in life that must be influenced into every student’s life, whether through a sport or a gym class.