More PE to graduate high school?

The Texas Legislature has increased the number of electives that high school students may take to graduate. Under current law, students are limited to two credits in PE or PE substitutes (band, cheerleading, football, etc.) during their four years. As of January, 2010 they may take up to seven credits of the 26 needed to graduate.

JC Westbrook

The original intent of the legislation was to give students more course options in preparing for college or post-secondary programs. No one thought of the possibility that under the change a student could take seven credits of PE only.

The state has what’s called a “four-by-four” requirement to graduate. Students must take four years of four subjects – English, math, science and social studies. However, the Legislature dropped health education and computer technology as required courses.

Since the new law doesn’t go into effect until 2010, changes are possible. What do you think of one-quarter of your required credits allowed in PE or related classes? For the majority of student athletes who will not go on to a career in sports, is 7 credits for playing a sport too much? or too little? Under the present system in Texas, athletes earn credits for only two years of sports even if they play all four years.

There’s no question that playing sports builds character – the question becomes how to balance academic classes with non-academic ones.