April Moyer
English 105H12
Proposal Argument
9 November 2000
P.E. AND G.P.A.’S AT WESTERN DUBUQUE HIGH SCHOOL
In high school, to many students, grade point average is a very important thing. Some students are extremely competitive and rush to the guidance counselors every semester to chek on their class rank. The grades that students receive mostly come from classes where they study out of books, take tests, and do homework. At Western Dubuque High School, the students receive a grade in Physical Education, and this grade effects the student’s G.P.A. Physical Education should not have an effect on a student’s grade point average.
First of all, it is true that physical education is a good way to get students out of the traditional classroom setting during the day. There are some students who say P.E. is their most enjoyable class. P.E. allows students to stay in shape and participate in team sports.
However, how can you put a grade on a student’s physical abilities? At Western Dubuque, it is mandatory that the students run a timed mile each semester. Each student’s grade for that day is based on his or her time in the mile. For example, if a male runs the mile in less than seven minutes, he gets an “A,” if he runs it in less than eight minutes, he gets a “B” and so on. Should a student’s G.P.A. be affected by how fast he can run the mile?
Also, Physical Education is a required class at Western Dubuque High School. Students have to take the class every year. Some students who really care about their G.P.A. have to worry about a grade that they can’t study for to improve, but have to run faster, lift heavier weights, or do more sit-ups in order to improve. Is that what a G.P.A. is for? Should students be forced to worry about a grade that is almost impossible to improve?
Putting a grade on Physical Education is inconceivable. Gym teachers should not be able to say what kind of physical performance is worth an “A” or a “C.” There are many factors that influence a student’s abilities in gym class such as experience. For example, if one boy has never played basketball, and another boy has been playing basketball for five years, it is unfair to grade them on the same scale. Another factor is heredity. Some people are just not born as physically able to run as fast as other people. Clearly, students should not be graded on running a mile. Furthermore, the grades that students do receive in P.E. should definitely not affect their G.P.A.’s, as students very well may not be physically able to perform any better.
Next, G.P.A.’s are used to determine who receives certain academic scholarships. If a student’s G.P.A. is lower because of a Physical Education grade, he is disadvantaged when it comes to being selected for a scholarship. The G.P.A. is taken into account because that is one way the student’s academic achievements can be measured. If there are two candidates who have the same grades in all subjects except P.E., the student with more physical ability and a higher P.E. grade will be awarded the scholarship because he will have the higher G.P.A. This is extremely unfair to the less athletic student.
Finally, there is a simple solution to the problem of physical education affecting G.P.A.’s. The Western Dubuque school board should do one of two things. First, the board could keep P.E. as a requirement for all students, but make it a class that is Pass/Not Pass so the students get credit for taking it, but do not have their G.P.A.’s affected by the class. A second choice that the school board has is to make P.E. an optional class that is graded. This way, students who don’t enjoy the class, or know they won’t do well in the class, won’t have to take it. P.E. will not affect the G.P.A.’s of the students who don’t want it to.
In conclusion, a grade point average should be determined by academic performances alone, not by physical abilities.