Why Girls Need Gym Class
Physical fitness has tangible effects on classroom performance, says a new study….
What’s the Latest? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surveyed 5,000 students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade and found that girls who got from 70 to 300 minutes of physical education per week scored consistently higher on standardized tests. More exercise also translated into increased classroom participation and concentration skills.
What about Boys? The study found no correlation between gym class and test scores for boys, but that may be because elementary-school-age males tend to be more active outside school. And according to the CDC, boys are often more physically fit than girls, meaning gym-class dodgeball might not be enough to give them the same beneficial physiological effects.
Why Does it Matter? Many school districts are slashing PE to meet budgets; math and reading are what count on standardized tests–and in assessing schools’ performance under No Child Left Behind. As a result, most kids have gym class only once or twice a week. The lack of physical exercise could be adversely affecting girls’ academic development.
