Should swimming instruction be mandatory as part of physical education/gym classes in public schools?
The idea for this question arose from a comment made by someone else last week in another thread that had gone off topic, and was reinforced for me personally this past weekend when the 9-year old nephew (non-swimmer) of a close friend of mine nearly drowned (but for his observant and fast acting uncle) and again this morning with tragic news reported in a local newspaper of the drowning of a child in a neighbor’s back yard pool.
I believe there was a time when swimming instruction was fairly common in PE in public schools. Although there was no swimming instruction as part of gym classes when I was in school, we had a free swim (recreation, but no instruction) as part of gym class in Jr. High (a generation ago). Moreover, the university I attended required all students regardless of major to pass a very basic swimming test in order to get their bachelor's degree. That requirement went the way of the dinosaurs about the time I graduated. (I read somewhere that Harvard imposed the requirement (now abandoned, I believe) after one of its students (Widener, for whom the library is named) drowned when the Titanic sank). I am not aware of any colleges that require this today, and I haven’t heard of any local school districts (at least in the metropolitan Boston area) that require students to learn to swim. (I think a few of the more affluent Massachusetts towns that have pools may offer swimming, but as an elective only).
So, what do you think? Does your school district offer or require swimming instruction today? Should it be required? (The utopian/libertarian side of me recoils at the thought of mandating anything, but the pragmatic/utilitarian side often prevails). I imagine the cost of constructing pools would be the major issue, but with all the money that gets wasted on everything else it would not be out of the realm of possibilities if the will were there.
Thinking back on of all time wasted on the marginally useful activities they had us do in PE/gym class in school, the idea seems even more attractive. Teaching swimming would be an opportunity to teach something really, really useful--not only something that could be life-saving, but that could also provide a life time of healthy activity. (I'm reminded of Paul Simon's lyrics (dating myself): "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can even think at all.").
Parents
Former Member
Although I think swimming is a great sport and think everyone should know how to swim, I don't think it would really make sense to make lessons mandatory.
It seems like most drowning happens to young children. I may be wrong, but most elementary schools do not have pools. I've never seen one around here it least. It's not until middle school or even high schools that public schools are equipped. Middle school pools are rare though too. If you're waiting until middle or high school to make swim lessons mandatory, the majority of the years at which children are at the highest risk have already passed.
I think the group most at risk for drowning is ages 1-5 and it's usually in pools. The second highest is mid teens to early 20's but in lakes, rivers, ocean, etc. I think that probably has mostly to do with stupidity and risk taking than skill. Blacks and Hispanics also have substantially higher drowning rates.
I think it's essential for all kids to take swim lessons at an early age (but not those nut cases that teach 3 month old babies how not to drown). I'd like to think swimming opportunities should be provided as much as possible to students as they grow. If the schools have pools, they should take advantage of them and integrate them into physical education. High school girls wouldn't want to get their hair wet though, so idk how that would work. Very few public schools in CT have pools. They're obviously expensive to build maintain and it's probably cheaper to just rent lanes elsewhere. A lot of schools don't "have time" for PE anymore too.
I heard that in the middle school I attended students now must write essays in PE once a week instead of playing sports. What is the world coming to.
Although I think swimming is a great sport and think everyone should know how to swim, I don't think it would really make sense to make lessons mandatory.
It seems like most drowning happens to young children. I may be wrong, but most elementary schools do not have pools. I've never seen one around here it least. It's not until middle school or even high schools that public schools are equipped. Middle school pools are rare though too. If you're waiting until middle or high school to make swim lessons mandatory, the majority of the years at which children are at the highest risk have already passed.
I think the group most at risk for drowning is ages 1-5 and it's usually in pools. The second highest is mid teens to early 20's but in lakes, rivers, ocean, etc. I think that probably has mostly to do with stupidity and risk taking than skill. Blacks and Hispanics also have substantially higher drowning rates.
I think it's essential for all kids to take swim lessons at an early age (but not those nut cases that teach 3 month old babies how not to drown). I'd like to think swimming opportunities should be provided as much as possible to students as they grow. If the schools have pools, they should take advantage of them and integrate them into physical education. High school girls wouldn't want to get their hair wet though, so idk how that would work. Very few public schools in CT have pools. They're obviously expensive to build maintain and it's probably cheaper to just rent lanes elsewhere. A lot of schools don't "have time" for PE anymore too.
I heard that in the middle school I attended students now must write essays in PE once a week instead of playing sports. What is the world coming to.
