Our school is well known for two things, academics and athletics. We are constantly being recognized and rewarded for well above average academics. We chose Marian because of the challenge and the potential it gives us to succeed. As freshmen, we were all aware of the heavy work load that we would receive for the next four years. We spend hour upon hour working on projects, doing homework, and studying for tests. Senior Sports Reflection:
by Michele Moore
Should Athletes be Required to take P.E.?
But what about the athletes? Numerous girls spend countless hours up at school practicing to be the best while others sit at home watching Saved By the Bell reruns. Athletes spend at least two hours after school at practice and often don't get home until 9 or 10 PM on game days. By the time an athlete's first book is cracked open, after dinner and a shower, most Marian girls are having sweet dreams about their favorite 'N SYNC member.
After much consideration, I have come up with a solution that would also improve athletes study skills and, ideally, the letters on their report cards.
Athletes should be able to count their sport as a P.E. credit. In my experience, your body is pushed harder in one practice than it is in a whole semester of P.E. And if you don't keep your body physically fit you will not be playing that sport for very long.
Also, the day of a big game, the last thing coaches want is for their athletes to run the mile or spend 40 minutes playing a basketball, soccer, or hockey game. It would not be fair to others if athletes were allowed to skip what the class was doing and still receive the same grade as everyone else just because they have a big game that night.
Granted we should have enough energy to handle both P.E. and a game, but you want to be your best at the ideal time for competition. You want to be your fastest and strongest when you have the opportunity to win a prize greater than the praise and awe of your P.E. classmates, some who haven't run a mile in their entire life.
No one has ever brought it up to the administration, but it could be an important thing for them to consider in the future. Many schools, such as Westside already give credits for playing a sport.
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